River Chess Association

Yesterday was a good day, Clean Water March followed by a presentation to the people of Lee Common at the top of the River Chess catchment. The most fascinating of venues the Old Church. A great audience with some challenging question. ⁦
Chiltern SocietyChilterns Chalk Streams ProjectChilterns National LandscapeChesham Environmental Group
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A report on the Clean Water March yesterday.

Protesters call on government to tackle water pollution Protesters from across the UK marched through London to call on the government to tackle water pollution.

A fantastic turnout along the Thames today for the March for Clean Water.

The Chess was well represented.

Chilterns Chalk Streams ProjectChesham Environmental GroupChiltern Society

Lats hope the Government is listening.

Getting ready for the March for Clean Water this morning. "Blue Train" leaving Chesham at 9.26am heading for Vauxhall. Remember wear blue.

See you there.

March for Clean Water March for Clean Water in London is a one-off event organised by River Action to petition the government for clean water throughout the UK.

This is a must read for those attending tomorrow's March for clean water. The plight of our rivers, especially chalk streams is more than just about sewage pollution. Chilterns Chalk Streams ProjectChiltern SocietyChilterns National LandscapeChesham Environmental GroupChesham Town Council
Abstraction, runoff from highways, arable pollution all have a major impact.

The abandoned chalk stream recovery pack. On the weekend when river lovers march for clean water, it can be revealed that Defra has abandoned the promised chalk stream recovery pack. A great shame for beleaguered chalk streams like the Ive…

Out yesterday with the Flood Drought Research Infrastructure and Environment Agency flow gauging teams. They were trialling new flow gauging equipment at a number of locations on the Chess. We have named it Floaty McFlow Face.

At the The Queen's Head, Chesham gathering eDNA and invertebrate samples with volunteers and the Natural History Museum, London. This should help us identify the species of fish, birds, invertebrates and mammals in or on the River Chess. Chilterns Chalk Streams ProjectChiltern SocietyChilterns National LandscapeChesham Town CouncilChesham Environmental Group

The Natural History Museum, London are working on a project GeneFlow, to assess the Ecological DNA of various rivers. One of the rivers they are looking at is the River Chess. Along with citizen scientists they are gathering water and invertebrate samples. Through analysis of the water samples we should be able to list all the species of fish, invertebrates, birds and mammals living in or on the river.

Chilterns Chalk Streams ProjectChiltern SocietyChilterns National LandscapeChesham Environmental Group

GeneFlow Map of chalk streams in England and GeneFlow rivers and sampling sites. Includes fish barriers and connectivity.

The March for Clean Water 3 November 2024. There are various groups from the Chess Valley attending the march on Sunday.

https://marchforcleanwater.org

They will be leaving on the "Blue Train" form Chesham Underground Station departing 9.26am. You can join this train at Chalfont and Latimer at 9.37am, Chorleywood at 9.41am and Rickmansworth at 9.48. We arrive at Vauxhall at 10.48 close to the muster point at the Albert Embankment.

Please remember to wear blue.

Issues for the Chess are clean water free from sewage, emerging chemicals and road, arable and urban runoff. Particular to the Chess a reliable flow, un-impacted by abstraction.

Chilterns Chalk Streams ProjectChiltern SocietyChilterns National LandscapeChesham Environmental GroupThe Queen's Head, CheshamChesham Town Council

March for Clean Water March for Clean Water in London is a one-off event organised by River Action to petition the government for clean water throughout the UK.

In case you had not seen this change of date. See you on the 3rd November. We are not only marching for clean water but also for having water in our rivers. Stop unsustainable abstraction otherwise the critical headwaters will dry more often and for longer. Chiltern SocietyChesham Environmental Group.

**CHANGE OF DATE** MARCH FOR CLEAN WATER NOW SUNDAY 3RD NOVEMBER - River Action UK Due to a recently announced protest scheduled to take place in Central London on October 26 and for reasons of public safety, the March for Clean Water will now be taking place on Saturday 3rd November.

Meeting in 90 minutes in the Water Meadow Car Park Chesham. Sunday 27th October. Chilterns Chalk Streams ProjectChiltern SocietyChilterns National LandscapeChesham Environmental Group All welcome for a guided walk around the headwaters the River Chess. All ages, about 2 hours easy terrain. Suitable for push chairs. Its a beautiful morning.

You may see survey teams out on the Chess over the next few weeks. The Flood Drought Research Infrastructure Project has kicked off in the River Chess Catchment this week. One of three Rivers being studied to understand the impact of floods and droughts, the others being the Severn and Tw**d. This work will build on the activity of the Chess Smarter Water Catchment volunteers sponsored by Thames Water and will help create a more resilient river catchment. FDRI are undertaking surveying activities during this week.

The survey should cause minimal disruption and involves the following:

• Electromagnetic Terrain Conductivity Survey - requiring access to the river channel(s) and the fields either side, with 1-2 people walking in the river and along the river bank with a long horizontal probe and a GPS.

• Electrical Resistivity Tomography Survey - temporarily inserting small electrodes up to 20cm in the ground along a 100 -300m long transect.

Land owners are being very supportive.

The information collected from the survey is for environmental data modelling purposes and will help identify potential sites for the FDRI project within the catchment.

Chilterns Chalk Streams ProjectChiltern SocietyChilterns National LandscapeChesham Environmental GroupChesham Town CouncilEnvironment AgencyAffinity Water

We will be meeting at the Chesham Water Meadows Car Park on Sunday at 10am 27th for a walk along the urban stretches of the River Chess, celebrating the renaissance of nature in this chalk stream. Chilterns Chalk Streams ProjectChiltern SocietyChilterns National LandscapeChilterns Walking FestivalChesham Environmental GroupChesham Town Council

Here is a precise what3words address

https://w3w.co/paid.rods.good

Remember the clocks go back this weekend.

You will be aware that the Environment Agency were starting work to resume abstraction at Alma Road, Chesham. Abstraction had been stopped back in 2020 to help maintain flow in the upper Chess. We objected strongly to the proposed resumption when we were notified back in July 2024. The Environment Agency have announced this morning that work to resume abstraction at Alma Road, Chesham has been halted. Affinity Water have been asked to stop work. The Chiltern Society , River Chess Association and Chilterns Chalk Streams Project have been told that the EA want to engage with local stakeholders to present their evidence. The River Chess Association feel there will be little data to support the resumption of abstraction but will listen. They believe the focus should be on tangible flood risk identified by volunteers over the past 5 years not theoretical models.

We look forward to finding solutions to these problems with Buckinghamshire CouncilThames WaterAffinity WaterChilterns National Landscape and Chesham Town Council

Interesting statement in this article from Bucks Radio.

"Both parties (Environment Agency & Affinity Water)have said that pumping water out of Buckinghamshire’s precious chalk aquifer is necessary to reduce the risk of flooding.”

This is a bold and misleading statement and we would challenge this, there is no evidence that abstraction is "necessary to reduce the risk of flooding” in any useful or meaningful way. It might impact flow and groundwater very marginally but not in a way that mitigates flooding events. The only way to seriously mitigate flooding events in Chesham is by addressing infrastructure bottlenecks and operational maintenance issues, these have been ignored by the Environment Agency. The River Chess Association took advantage of last winters high groundwater event, 3rd highest in 40 years, to have volunteers out observing and measuring flooding events and we have come up with a long list of issues that need to be addressed and all the while the EA sit in their offices polishing their deeply flawed theoretical model.

New water abstraction from River Chess in Chesham sparks fears of more drying events A secret agreement to abstract of millions of litres of water from the River Chess in Chesham has been agreed between the Environment Agency (EA) and Affinity Water.

We have the Water Situation Report from the Environment Agency for our region for September. It shows exceptional rainfall for the month and for the previous 12 months. Out of the last 12 months we have seen 10 months significantly above average. Groundwater levels at Ashley Green observation borehole are already rising, earlier than normal and from higher starting point. All good pointers that we should be preparing for a wet winter. Here we should be ensuring drains are free of blockages, culverts are clear and vegetation in river channels is managed. Chilterns Chalk Streams ProjectChiltern SocietyChilterns National LandscapeChesham Environmental GroupChesham Town CouncilBucks Free PressBucks RadioBuckinghamshire Council

BucksFree Bucks Free Press Cover the disastrous decision to resume water abstraction in Chesham, it will result in more frequent drying and longer events damaging wildlife.

New water abstraction from River Chess in Chesham sparks fears of more drying events A secret agreement to abstract of millions of litres of water from the River Chess in Chesham has been agreed between the Environment Agency (EA)…

https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/24635668.chesham-water-abstraction-set-river-chess/

New water abstraction from River Chess in Chesham sparks fears of more drying events A secret agreement to abstract of millions of litres of water from the River Chess in Chesham has been agreed between the Environment Agency (EA)…

We were out with the Chesham Environmental Group yesterday clearing a stretch of the upper Chess on Pednor Road, preparing for replacement railings.

Great work from the Chesham Environmental Group

A number of you have asked who to contact regarding the resumption of abstraction. We would be pleased if you could contact your local MPs who constituencies cover the River Chess Catchment. A simple question "Were you consulted about this unnecessary retrograde step to resume abstraction in the Upper Chess that will damage this globally rare habitat? If not ask for an enquiry as to how this was approved."

Sarah Green Chesham and Amersham [email protected]

Greg Smith Mid Buckinghamshire
[email protected]

Gagan Mohindra South West Hertfordshire
[email protected]

We would also suggest you contact the Environment Agency and ask for the technical and financial justification for the resumption of abstraction in the Upper Chess Catchment.

Here you should address you comments to Christopher Wilson Regional Director Hertfordshire and North London
[email protected]