A new chalk stream strategy sets the future direction needed to protect and enhance England’s chalk streams, including Lukely Brook here on the Isle of Wight.
Recommendations in the strategy, published by Catchment Based Approach’s (CaBA) Chalk Stream Restoration Group (CSRG), include enhanced status to drive investment in water resources – to help reduce pollution and eliminate over-abstraction – and restoring physical habitat and biodiversity. The strategy has bought together partners including the Environment Agency, Natural England, Defra, water companies and environmental organisations.
Chalk streams are a rare and valuable habitat, often referred to as the equivalent of England’s rain forests or Great Barrier Reef. 85% of all chalk streams are found in England, mainly in the south and east of the country, as well as dozens of smaller chalk springs and watercourses. They stretch from Yorkshire through East Anglia, the Chilterns, Kent, Hampshire and Dorset, and are important for biodiversity.
Chalk aquifers are also an important source of water for drinking, agriculture and industry, support angling for trout, salmon and coarse fish, are important for recreation and are a valued part of the English landscape. They need good quality water in order for the different species of fish, plants and insects, many unique to them – such as the southern damselfly – to flourish.
However, they face unique challenges in the 21st century because of complex problems exacerbated by climate change and population growth. They flow through some of the most urbanised, industrialised, and intensively-farmed parts of the country. Over-abstraction, pollution, and habitat degradation are serious concerns for environmental groups and other stakeholders.
The Environment Agency has played a key role in the CSRG, drawing on its experience of enhancing and protecting them with such partnership projects as Lukely Brook in Newport; a small chalk stream that is heavily modified due to structures being built to manage flows and water levels, negatively impacting the natural river corridor. The Environment Agency is working with Southern Water, who are leading this £1million project, which includes building 3 new fish passes.
This strategy at https://catchmentbasedapproach.org/learn/chalk-stream-strategy/ is for everyone who has responsibility for, or uses, chalk streams. It sets out actions and recommendations for government, regulators and the water industry on water resources, water quality and habitat restoration and management.
Environment Agency Chair Emma Howard Boyd said:
“England is home to 85% of the world’s chalk streams and their future depends on collective action from water companies, farmers, and landowners as well as government and regulators.
“No one should undermine the value of chalk streams, and today’s report adds clarity and certainty about what is expected of all their users.
“The National Framework for Water Resources encourages water companies to open up new infrastructure to reduce reliance on chalk aquifers. This is one of the many good proposals in today’s report that needs collective action.”
All very well but if Clause 82 of the Environment Bill is not approved without amendment in Parliament this week then Water Companies will still be allowed to discharge untreated sewage into rivers whenever a bit of rain exceeds their capacity to cope wit it.
Wait until the oil drilling chemicals leach into our pure chalk water reservoirs.
Apparently we thirsty Islanders are draining that important chalk stream, the River Test, dry. Will this strategy affect that?
And where are “England’s rain forests” exactly?
The article implies that the chalk streams are Englands equivalent to the rain forests and Great Barrier Reef.
Stop spraying pesticides would be one small step in the right direction
And stop using weedkiller chemicals would be another sensible move.