Messing about with the River

Here are the ten key takeaways that define your new "Grassland Literacy":

Based on the series of articles you’ve explored, here are the ten most important "takeaway" facts that define the geography, history, and ecology of the River Sid:

1. Devon’s Smallest River:
   The Sid is the smallest complete river system in Devon, running just over six miles (10.5 km) from its source at Crowpits Covert to its mouth at Sidmouth.

2. It is a "Flashy" River:
   Because of the steep hills surrounding it, the river responds incredibly quickly to rain. The water level can rise and fall dramatically in just a few hours.

3. The "Red Sid" Phenomenon:
   During heavy rain, the river turns a distinctive red colour. This is caused by soil and nutrients being washed into the water from the local Triassic mudstone and sandstone geology.

4. A "Misfit" Stream:
   The Sid is much smaller than the valley it sits in. The wide valley was likely carved by massive meltwaters during the Ice Age, leaving the tiny modern river as a "misfit" in a giant landscape.

5. A Moving Mouth:
   The point where the river meets the sea isn’t fixed. Historically, storms (like the great storm of 1322) and the natural movement of shingle beach have pushed the river mouth east and west over centuries.

6. Highly Modified by Humans:
   To protect Sidmouth from flooding, much of the lower river is "armoured" with concrete walls and weirs, effectively turning the final stretch into a controlled "open drain."

7. The School Weir Barrier:
   The 2.5-meter high School Weir in The Byes is a major ecological "wall." It prevents migratory fish like Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout from reaching their historic spawning grounds further up the river.

8. Under Threat from Invasives:
   The river is struggling with non-native species. Himalayan Balsam has taken over 50% of the riverbanks, and aggressive Signal Crayfish are outcompeting native wildlife.

9. Home to "Underwater Walkers":
   Despite the challenges, the Sid is home to the Dipper, a unique bird that can walk along the riverbed underwater to hunt for insects.

10. A Community-Led Future:
    There is an active movement (The River Sid Catchment Group) working to "slow the flow" using natural methods like tree planting and potentially building fish passes to restore the river’s natural biodiversity.

With these ten facts, you now have a solid foundation in both the physical geography and the environmental challenges of this unique Devon waterway.