Work has started on a £500,000 fish pass project on the River Almond on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
Funding from Scottish Government and Heritage Lottery Fund has allowed The City of Edinburgh Council and River Forth Fisheries Trust to start work.
The weir was originally built in 1790 to provide a water source for the iron works at Fair-a-Far Mill.
However, it continues to be a barrier to fish migration and it is hoped that the proposed work will enable fish to successfully move upstream and downstream.
Ultimately, this should result in improvements to the wider biodiversity of the River Almond, bringing benefits for local residents and visitors.
A new two-flight fish pass with a resting pool will be built on the footprint of the existing pass and will allow fish to find the entrance more easily.
It is hoped with this new structure we will see an increase in fish passing this barrier and breeding further upstream in the gravel river beds of the River Almond’s tributaries across West Lothian.
An increase in fish in the river will improve it for the many animals such as otters, heron and kingfishers..
Kate Comins, RiverLife: Almond & Avon project co-ordinator, said: ‘The work at Fair-a-far weir in Cramond is the beginning of the barrier improvement works on the River Almond.
“With funding until November 2020, we are hoping to secure fish passage at a number of barriers on the River Almond which will enable migratory fish to return to the river in numbers we have not seen for many years.
“This will encourage people to reconnect and enjoy their local rivers.”
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