Issued by the Salmon and Trout Association (UK):
The local bespoke targets are set around the number of key water invertebrates - that should be expected in a 3-minute kick-sweep sample in these ‘Classic’ chalkstreams. The targets are for the rivers to support at least 10 separate mayfly species and 500 freshwater shrimps known as Gammarus, in the middle and lower reaches of the catchment - all of which are susceptible to different forms of pollution and so their presence or absence gives an accurate analysis of the environmental health of a river. Targets for the upper reaches are still being developed.
These local bespoke targets, supported by independent evidence and the EA’s own data, are one major result to come from S&TC UK’s Riverfly Census research, carried out by Dr Nick Everall of Aquascience Ltd across more than 20 rivers in England and Wales.
River flies play a vital role in a river’s food chain - lose them, and other aquatic wildlife will follow. Water invertebrates matter for fish, mammals and birds, and the rivers in which they live matter for everyone.
S&TC UK is fighting to stop an alarming downward trend in the water life of our chalkstreams. Its national Riverfly Census data has showed that fine sediments and excessive phosphate nutrient are especially damaging to mayfly species, and while Gammarus are also susceptible, they are particularly sensitive to a whole host of other contaminants.
The EA routinely monitor chemical water quality and river ecology as indicators of river health. These new local bespoke mayfly and Gammarus targets will now feature in the way the Environment Agency monitors the health of the Test and Itchen.
Nick Measham, S&TCUK’s Freshwater Campaign’s Officer, said, “This could and should mark a major step forward in the way we manage our rivers in the future for the benefit of aquatic invertebrates, fish and the many birds and mammals that depend on clean rivers to survive. S&TC UK will seek to establish similar targets for the other 18 rivers currently in the Riverfly Census by working to agree bespoke river targets with the relevant local EA scientists.
“This development is very important,” Nick Measham continued. “The Environment Agency has recognised that our species-level data analysis is an extremely accurate way to monitor the health of a river and we are delighted that the EA in Hampshire has developed and agreed these targets with us. Understanding why and to what extent riverfly numbers are declining is the first step in the process of safeguarding the aquatic environment – and this is the first time this first step has been taken!”
S&TC UK’s Head of Science, Dr Janina Gray, said, “While our recent analysis painted a generally worrying picture on the health of mayfly and Gammarus populations, we have now identified and agreed a simple scientifically credible benchmarking figure for invertebrates in a healthy river. Once we have a standard for all rivers along the lines of the local bespoke Test and Itchen agreement, we can help local river managers to develop solutions and so restore our waterways to their former glory.
Paul Knight, S&TC UK’s CEO, said, “Our research is the first of its kind to give such a microscopic picture of the health of our river systems. We are delighted that the Environment Agency in Hampshire is leading the way in recognising the benefits of this detailed sampling and analysis and we hope that it will be a catalyst for their colleagues across the country to take up the cause and so provide the background scientific evidence which points to solutions that will lead to cleaner, healthier rivers for the benefit of all aquatic wildlife.”
Mike O’Neill, Environment Manager for the Agency in Hampshire said, “Working in partnership with S&TC UK, using the latest research and pooling our data and expertise has been a valuable process. Developing local bespoke targets for mayfly and Gammarus on the Test and Itchen enhances our ability to protect these sensitive chalk rivers, now and in the future. These species are important to the river ecology in their own right, but are also important indicators to river health. Ensuring that these keystone species remain abundant is a vital part of the wider work being carried out on these rivers to ensure that water quality and quantity are improved, for people and wildlife.“
END
Notes to Editors:
Salmon & Trout Conservation UK (S&TC UK) was established as the Salmon & Trout Association (S&TA) in 1903 to address the damage done to our rivers by the polluting effects of the Industrial Revolution. Throughout its history and to the present day, S&TC UK has worked to protect fisheries, fish stocks and the wider aquatic environment for the public benefit. S&TC UK has charitable status in England, Wales and Scotland and its charitable objectives empower it to address all issues affecting fish and the aquatic environment, supported by robust evidence from its scientific network, and to take the widest possible remit in protecting salmonid fish stocks and the aquatic environment upon which they depend. www.salmon-trout.org
The S&TC UK has worked in partnership with the Environment Agency in Hampshire to develop these local bespoke targets for the Test and Itchen rivers. The collaboration involved sharing invertebrate monitoring data, knowledge and expert local judgement.
The EA in Hampshire have determined that the River Test and Itchen are not in favourable condition. Applying the Water Framework Directive standards, the two rivers meet some environmental quality standards, but not all. These new local bespoke targets will assist the EA and everyone to assess ecological condition and monitor progress of restoration actions.
Both the Agency and S&TC UK endorse the agreed local targets for mayfly and Gammarus bespoke to the Test and Itchen.
The targets are in the middle and lower reaches of the Rivers Test and Itchen, Hampshire, we would expect to find least 10 separate mayfly species across all sample seasons and, in the autumn sample period, 500 freshwater shrimps known as Gammarus. This would require a qualified ecologist to deploy our standard three-minute kick-sample methodology.
These numeric targets are not directly transferable to other rivers.
The S&TC UK will seek to work with the Agency elsewhere in the country to develop local bespoke targets for 18 other rivers currently in the Riverfly Census, across the country.
The EA in Hampshire have determined that the River Test and Itchen are not in favourable condition. Applying the Water Framework Directive standards, the two rivers meet some environmental quality standards, but not all. These new local bespoke targets will assist the EA and everyone to assess ecological condition and monitor progress of restoration actions.
More...
The local bespoke targets are set around the number of key water invertebrates - that should be expected in a 3-minute kick-sweep sample in these ‘Classic’ chalkstreams. The targets are for the rivers to support at least 10 separate mayfly species and 500 freshwater shrimps known as Gammarus, in the middle and lower reaches of the catchment - all of which are susceptible to different forms of pollution and so their presence or absence gives an accurate analysis of the environmental health of a river. Targets for the upper reaches are still being developed.
These local bespoke targets, supported by independent evidence and the EA’s own data, are one major result to come from S&TC UK’s Riverfly Census research, carried out by Dr Nick Everall of Aquascience Ltd across more than 20 rivers in England and Wales.
River flies play a vital role in a river’s food chain - lose them, and other aquatic wildlife will follow. Water invertebrates matter for fish, mammals and birds, and the rivers in which they live matter for everyone.
S&TC UK is fighting to stop an alarming downward trend in the water life of our chalkstreams. Its national Riverfly Census data has showed that fine sediments and excessive phosphate nutrient are especially damaging to mayfly species, and while Gammarus are also susceptible, they are particularly sensitive to a whole host of other contaminants.
The EA routinely monitor chemical water quality and river ecology as indicators of river health. These new local bespoke mayfly and Gammarus targets will now feature in the way the Environment Agency monitors the health of the Test and Itchen.
Nick Measham, S&TCUK’s Freshwater Campaign’s Officer, said, “This could and should mark a major step forward in the way we manage our rivers in the future for the benefit of aquatic invertebrates, fish and the many birds and mammals that depend on clean rivers to survive. S&TC UK will seek to establish similar targets for the other 18 rivers currently in the Riverfly Census by working to agree bespoke river targets with the relevant local EA scientists.
“This development is very important,” Nick Measham continued. “The Environment Agency has recognised that our species-level data analysis is an extremely accurate way to monitor the health of a river and we are delighted that the EA in Hampshire has developed and agreed these targets with us. Understanding why and to what extent riverfly numbers are declining is the first step in the process of safeguarding the aquatic environment – and this is the first time this first step has been taken!”
S&TC UK’s Head of Science, Dr Janina Gray, said, “While our recent analysis painted a generally worrying picture on the health of mayfly and Gammarus populations, we have now identified and agreed a simple scientifically credible benchmarking figure for invertebrates in a healthy river. Once we have a standard for all rivers along the lines of the local bespoke Test and Itchen agreement, we can help local river managers to develop solutions and so restore our waterways to their former glory.
Paul Knight, S&TC UK’s CEO, said, “Our research is the first of its kind to give such a microscopic picture of the health of our river systems. We are delighted that the Environment Agency in Hampshire is leading the way in recognising the benefits of this detailed sampling and analysis and we hope that it will be a catalyst for their colleagues across the country to take up the cause and so provide the background scientific evidence which points to solutions that will lead to cleaner, healthier rivers for the benefit of all aquatic wildlife.”
Mike O’Neill, Environment Manager for the Agency in Hampshire said, “Working in partnership with S&TC UK, using the latest research and pooling our data and expertise has been a valuable process. Developing local bespoke targets for mayfly and Gammarus on the Test and Itchen enhances our ability to protect these sensitive chalk rivers, now and in the future. These species are important to the river ecology in their own right, but are also important indicators to river health. Ensuring that these keystone species remain abundant is a vital part of the wider work being carried out on these rivers to ensure that water quality and quantity are improved, for people and wildlife.“
END
Notes to Editors:
Salmon & Trout Conservation UK (S&TC UK) was established as the Salmon & Trout Association (S&TA) in 1903 to address the damage done to our rivers by the polluting effects of the Industrial Revolution. Throughout its history and to the present day, S&TC UK has worked to protect fisheries, fish stocks and the wider aquatic environment for the public benefit. S&TC UK has charitable status in England, Wales and Scotland and its charitable objectives empower it to address all issues affecting fish and the aquatic environment, supported by robust evidence from its scientific network, and to take the widest possible remit in protecting salmonid fish stocks and the aquatic environment upon which they depend. www.salmon-trout.org
The S&TC UK has worked in partnership with the Environment Agency in Hampshire to develop these local bespoke targets for the Test and Itchen rivers. The collaboration involved sharing invertebrate monitoring data, knowledge and expert local judgement.
The EA in Hampshire have determined that the River Test and Itchen are not in favourable condition. Applying the Water Framework Directive standards, the two rivers meet some environmental quality standards, but not all. These new local bespoke targets will assist the EA and everyone to assess ecological condition and monitor progress of restoration actions.
Both the Agency and S&TC UK endorse the agreed local targets for mayfly and Gammarus bespoke to the Test and Itchen.
The targets are in the middle and lower reaches of the Rivers Test and Itchen, Hampshire, we would expect to find least 10 separate mayfly species across all sample seasons and, in the autumn sample period, 500 freshwater shrimps known as Gammarus. This would require a qualified ecologist to deploy our standard three-minute kick-sample methodology.
These numeric targets are not directly transferable to other rivers.
The S&TC UK will seek to work with the Agency elsewhere in the country to develop local bespoke targets for 18 other rivers currently in the Riverfly Census, across the country.
The EA in Hampshire have determined that the River Test and Itchen are not in favourable condition. Applying the Water Framework Directive standards, the two rivers meet some environmental quality standards, but not all. These new local bespoke targets will assist the EA and everyone to assess ecological condition and monitor progress of restoration actions.
More...