Risks to water security from invasive by non-native species

This project will make an initial assessment of the likelihood of transfer and establishment of INNS through bulk water transfer by assessing how established INNS communities differ between a range of bulk transfer inlet and outlets points. This will identify key species for further assessment. Further work will be based on the North Tyne to Hallington Reservoir transfer system managed by Northumbrian Water. This will measure the physical stresses encountered during transit through the water transfer process. The laboratory element of the project will then assess the effects of the measured stresses on the survival and viability of selected INNS, including their different life stages and key associated pathogens. These will include the non-native American Signal Crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus and the associated crayfish plague Aphanomyces astaci, which already pose a risk to the native White Clawed Crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes in this system. It is expected that the work will also include assessment of a freshwater plant and a mollusc based on initial findings. These findings will then be used to assess the risks posed by bulk-water transfer in this system, and the potential mitigation methods in association with Northumbrian Water.