caba london 12 allen beechey, chiltern chalk streams project
TRANSCRIPT
Experiences
Allen Beechey – Chilterns Chalk Streams Project
of setting upa Riverfly hub
Chilterns Chalk Stream Project
Created in 1997 Prompted by persistent low flows in the
1990’s Partnership project Led by Chilterns Conservation Board
Hertfordshire Living Rivers Project
Set up in 2012 Prompted by poor condition of chalk
streams in Lea catchment Partnership project Similar objectives to CCSP Landscape-scale nature
conservation on Herts river valleys
Our catchments
Chilterns Chalk Stream Project
HMWT’s Living Rivers Project
CaBA
• Catchment hosts• HLRP –Upper, Middle &
Lower Lea• CCSP – co-host of Colne &
steering group member of S. Chilterns sub catchment
Riverfly Monitoring• Simple tool to monitor health of rivers• Monitor presence and abundance of 8
groups of invertebrate• Trigger levels• Data sent to EA• EA investigate if trigger breeches occur
ARMI in Chilterns & Herts
• Started in 2010• River Chess Association• ARMI on 4 rivers by 2013
Why was a hub needed?
• Local groups concerned at health of their rivers
• Most keen to do more but…
• Lack of training opportunities• Course & monitoring
equipment expensive
Revive the Wye – one of many active river groups in the hub area
Riverfly Hub
• Set up in 2014• Partnership initiative• Provide ARMI training & support• Hub catchment area – 3,271km2 • Covers Lea, Colne & South Chilterns
catchments• 34 rivers• Hub supported by catchment
partnerships
Setting up the hub
• Hub steering group established• £11K funding for Yr 1 secured• Hub kit purchased• Five people certified as trainers• Annual event planned• Branding agreed
Progress to date• 6 tutors trained• Hub kit purchased x2• >90 monitors trained• ARMI groups on 18 rivers• Annual Event - Riverfly Day• Helping to support neighbouring
catchments• Supporting development of Riverfly+• Thames Water Blitz• Monitoring CPAF projects
Hub Riverfly sites - 2015
Benefits
• Comprehensive network of sites• Monitoring health of rivers at greater frequency than
EA can• Greater potential for detecting pollution events and
identifying polluters• Valuable long-term dataset• Monitoring success of restoration projects• Gateway to further monitoring opportunities
Challenges
• Time spent on Hub coordination• Uncertainty over continued funding
support for hub• Funding to support equipment
purchase for new monitors• Uncertainty over future coordinator
capacity• Retention of surveyors
Ambition for the future
• Active ARMI groups on every river in hub area
• Every new volunteer within CHM hub trained, supported & supplied with kit
• Self-sustaining hub• Development of external course
income to support hub• Riverfly+