Low water levels in the Kennet

[tiddlertamer]

According to the Guardian, there are low water levels in the upper stretches of the Kennet. It's so bad there's been fish kill and this is in a month where you would expect much higher water levels.

 

It probably affects game fishermen more than coarse fishermen in this case but I wondered if any other rivers or stretches or river had been similarly affected?

 

Here's the article:

 

Guardian

 

What's the situation in your local area?

[Anderoo]

What's the situation in your local area?

 

Dire. I've barely fished for ages. Even a load of rain recently hasn't made any actual difference, the rivers still aren't flowing.

[watatoad]

So where is the water management?

 

So who is responsible?

 

Is this a deliberate act to prevent anglers fishing?

 

I do not believe that this is a natural occurrence.

 

Who nicked the water?

 

Too much extraction?

 

About time anglers started some 'Government petitions' to stop this carry on.

 

We need to find out why and tell everyone via the media.

 

What is the Trust saying?

[Anderoo]

So where is the water management?

 

So who is responsible?

 

Is this a deliberate act to prevent anglers fishing?

 

I do not believe that this is a natural occurrence.

 

Who nicked the water?

 

Too much extraction?

 

About time anglers started some 'Government petitions' to stop this carry on.

 

We need to find out why and tell everyone via the media.

 

What is the Trust saying?

 

It hasn't rained.

 

There, solved it.

[Dales]

Too much extraction?

 

That's my initial thoughts but to be honest I just don't know. I guess it's a number of different factors.

 

Not a great deal of water in the rivers around here.

[watatoad]

It hasn't rained.

 

There, solved it.

 

Not quite I have looked into it, have you? That is just a convenient excuse.

 

Unless you are suggesting we all write to all the various Church leaders and make a complaint and request that they take it up with their various Bosses.

 

Now that would be interesting, do we then sue every religion for failure to maintain effective control over the environment?

[Chris Plumb]

Kennet is usually at its lowest in late autumn/early winter as it is predominantly spring fed (especially upstream of Aldermaston). This year it is particuarly low (2cm lower than last year at Hungerford). We need rain to swell the aquifers so that the springs 'break' later in winter. However we've already had a dry autumn here (just 54% of average rainfall). December looks like being close to average ATM but the damage may already have been done. Legend has it that the river rises on New Years day from Swallowhead Springs close to Silbury Hill - not this year it won't. I'm preying for a REALLY wet winter down here else next autumn is going to be truely dire...

 

 

C.

[tiddlertamer]

Is it just the south having a problem with a low level of water in our rivers?

 

Perhaps we are just exagerating?

 

How are you angling northerners getting on?

 

Or are certain rivers being hit hard?

 

A lack of rain?

 

Abstraction?

 

What's really going on?

[Chris Plumb]

Abstraction?

 

 

That's what's hitting the Kennet - Thames Water's bloody bore hole at Axford...sends most of its water over the downs to Swindon - so it's completely lost from the system....

 

C.

[arbocop]

That's what's hitting the Kennet - Thames Water's bloody bore hole at Axford...sends most of its water over the downs to Swindon - so it's completely lost from the system....

 

C.

 

I have been monitoring the levels from the Environment Agency website and their publications. Overall it seems August and September were wetter than average, but the dry spring and previous dry winter has meant low groundwater levels and therefore low flows and levels across the south east. Although recent rainfall has prevented a drought, a heavy and prolonged winter recharge is needed for rivers to fully recover.

 

The Thames is currently lower than normal levels, but the Wey, Lea, and Medway are considerably lower for the time of year, and the Kennet even lower.

 

The low flows are not only exposing fish and drying out the rivers, the reduced water concentrates pollutants such as road run-off, so any rain which would top up the system is more toxic. Phosphates and nitrates from land use and sewage treatment are a particular problem. The Kennet suffers from algae on the bottom in particular, as a result of the increased phosphates, and this in turn prevents aquatic plants such as water crowfoot from developing. Aquatic plants help to increase levels by filling the water as well as providing places for fish to hide and spawn. The stretch I fish is so shallow and clear you can see the bottom and walk accross in wellies where 14lb barbel used to lurk. I assume they've dropped downstream.

 

If it doesn't rain then there will be enough in the aquifers to maintain a chalk stream. If we suck all the water up out of the aquifer (cheap water) to clean cars, water lawns, washing machines, and all the stuff we use indirectly via manufacturing or food production, then we are all guilty. I looked up some details on line and discovered a report by OFWAT. It suggested that we have one of the highest water demands in Europe per household.

 

The average usage in the UK is shocking - 150 litres, per head, per day - no wonder the rivers are low, and it's only going to get worse.