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| The Chiltern Chalk Stream Project |
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| The Group is concerned with monitoring the state of health of the rivers, streams, ponds and wetland areas within the Chilterns, to ensure that: |
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Habitats are managed sensibly |
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Rivers remain pollution-free |
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These features contribute in a major way to the natural beauty of the area |
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They aim to secure the water
environment for the continued enjoyment of us,
our children and grandchildren, not to mention
a diverse wildlife.
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Some of their members act
as Water Watchers for a particular watercourse,
reporting any significant changes in its flow
patterns and advising of any perceived threats,
such as instances of pollution and inappropriate
development.
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They welcome such reports
from any member of the public and report all cases
that they feel justify follow-up action to the
appropriate authorities. They work closely with
other environmental groups as well as the Environment
Agency and the Water Supply Companies.
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Low Flow Rivers
Since the middle of the 20th
century, increasing abstraction of groundwater
from the chalk aquifer to enable the water companies
to meet consumer demands has exacerbated seasonal
drying out of chalk streams in the Chilterns.
It is now widely recognised that licensed abstraction
has, in many cases, exceeded the capacity of the
aquifer to provide supplies without degrading
surface flows.
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The Ver and the Misbourne
were acknowledged to be among the United Kingdom's
worst affected streams and Alleviation of Low
Flow (ALF) schemes have now been implemented in
order to improve flows. The Chiltern Society played
a major part in pressing for action on the Misbourne
and the Ver Valley Society for the Ver.
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| Further improvements
may yet be needed before flows on these streams
are considered to be satisfactory. Remediation schemes
have also been agreed for the Bulbourne and Wye,
plans are being considered for the Mimram, and the
position of the Gade is currently under investigation |
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