The River Ogmore is the Westernmost river of the South East Wales Rivers Trust. After years of industrial pollution from mining and heavy industry the Ogmore like many rivers in South East Wales is improving beyond recognition. It supports a healthy population of diverse aquatic invertebrates and provides good spawning for the salmon and sewin which run the river. A recent advisory visit from the Wild Trout Trust to the Ogmore in 2008 found that there wasn't a great deal to be done in terms of work to the habitat of the Ogmore and its tributaries that could make a significant improvement to its potential for spawning fish - an enviable situation indeed.

The river isn't without its problems though and abstraction, the proximity of large industrial complexes, invasive weeds, insensitive urban development and litter pose a threat to the catchment.

Never the less, both the Ogmore and the Ewenny hold good stocks of wild brown trout and although some stocking still continues the river is underrated for this aspect of angling. Grayling choose to live in the Ewenny where they can grow to a good size but do not favour the Ogmore where they are rarely found. Having no barrage at its mouth the Ogmore is the best salmon and sea trout fishery in the SEWRT.

River Ogmore at Ogmore Castle and adjacent stepping stones - largely unchanged for over 100years.
 

The estuary to the west of the Ogmore at Merthyr Mawr, an SSI, is notable for its extensive sand dunes that continue for miles along the coast until their abrupt end at the Corus steel plant.