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Here is the latest blog post from our Seasonal Ranger, Jason Wilding
Loch Ken Ranger Patrols – part 2
It’s Sunday again and I’m going out again on patrol this time on the boat, so on the loch not around it. You get a completely different perspective from the water and the focus of what we’re doing changes slightly, I say we as boat patrols are undertaken in pairs as a minimum due to the increased water safety risk, the difficulties of launching and mooring the boat and of driving and spotting at the same time. We’re still looking at the shoreline to ensure day trippers, picknickers and anyone camping or angling is aware of the potential rising water levels and are acting responsibly (as defined by the Scottish outdoor access code).
The loch and surrounding land is complex in its various ownerships and all the land is privately owned therefore anyone fishing or launching a powered craft do so with the landowner’s permission and often they charge a modest sum for the privilege. Any craft with an engine over 6 horsepower must be registered and insured and there are approved places to launch. So, on the water we’re checking boat registrations, that the speed limits of the loch are being adhered to and hopefully encouraging visitors to use the bio security stations recently installed to prevent their crafts from transferring unwanted wildlife into or from the loch.
I’m out today with Leanne, she’s the head ranger and captains the boat, I’m hoping to gain my power boat license soon so with the help of volunteers we will be able to increase the volume of boat patrols as the summer comes into full force. At the moment it’s great to learn about the loch, its depths, currents and obstacles as there are lots of rocks and shallow areas that need to be avoided. One current piece of work we’re beginning is to map the loch and identify such hazards, repositioning marker bouy’s where needed and considering where additional markers need to be.
Also with us today is Chris, he’s just started volunteering, has a background of studying conservation and ecology and is looking to gain some practical experience; the trust is always keen to hear from anyone who is interested in volunteering and wants to get involved.
We keep the boat moored at Galloway Activity Centre on the eastern bank, it is a kind of rib with a solid hub and a 30hp engine, the temperature is always cooler on the loch than the shore so with buoyancy aids and jumpers on we cast off and weave our way through the wobbly water park out into open water. Most of the visitor ‘action’ takes place form here southwards on this bank, the western side is mainly the preserve of anglers, occasionally swimmers and kayakers.
It’s still quiet around the loch as the weather is dull and the summer holidays are not yet in full swing, this gives us the opportunity for some maintenance and we’re almost finished working on refreshing the speed signs around the loch. There is a 10mph limit for powered craft other than around the holiday park and public slipway where the limit is 6mph. There is also a high-speed zone, where water sports can take place, this is a one mile stretch in the middle section of the loch, centred around the marina at Laggan. Today we’re collecting another volunteer, Guy who’s head of technical matters, he’s at the public slipway and has made a double-sided speed sign, with concrete base, so it’s an effort to load it into the boat along with spade, pruning saw and big hammer. We are able to beach the boat on the far side and with a team effort, cut back some of the undergrowth, dig a hole for the post and locate the sign. A quick photo similar to that of the first moon landing and we’re away. As we drop Guy back to shore we see Andy a local lad who’s just launched his boat but is struggling to start the outboard motor, we watch him back to shore and he’s off to find a few spanners to rectify the problem. There’s also a group of lads setting up to fish from the public slipway so we advise them fishing is not allowed here but offer information about other nearby fishing spots and advise where they can obtain a permit and we carry on down the loch. We’ll check on them on our way back and Leanne contacts the owner of the holiday park to advise that they may have visitors seeking permits soon.
Beyond the holiday park which today has very few visitors enjoying the bank or the water the loch narrows and winds for a couple of miles towards Crossmichael where the majority of locally based fishing boats are moored. As it’s mid afternoon and we cannot see any other craft in the distance we turn back for home. Chris is still with us soaking up the scenery and giving ballast to the front of the boat, we try to help him understand the layout of the loch, the wildlife that can be seen, which today has been little more than two herons, two flocks of Canada Geese, some ducks and a regular sight and the odd crow annoying the Red Kites.
We’re passing the public slipway again and clearly the group of lads had hoped we were on a one way trip, we have a bit of friendly chat as they pull in their lines and nets and head off to the fishing pegs up the loch and see Andy still struggling to start his craft, but he needs no help and so we move on.
Next we’re passing through the high-speed zone, there are two boats here, one with a young wakeboarder and the other with a donut, we give them plenty of room so as not to create additional wake, the boat occupants wave and we leave them to rescue their youngster who has just bombed.
Rounding the second of the islands we come back to within sight of the activity centre, it’s almost closing time there so is an easy navigation to the mooring. We tie the boat to the jetty, refill with fuel and disembark. We talk about plans for the coming week, patrols, some possible boat maintenance and thank Chris for joining us. As the weather looks to improve and the holiday season begins in earnest, we’ll be out on the loch again soon.
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