WSA Seminar Series: The CaBA chalk stream restoration strategy

Описание: Charles Rangeley-Wilson

Abstract
Chalk streams are among the most biodiverse of the UK’s rivers. Nearly all the world’s chalk streams are in England and they represent one of the UK’s most important contributions to global biodiversity. These clear-watered streams are a valuable habitat for Atlantic salmon, sea trout, grayling and lamprey, for otters, water voles and kingfishers, for rare invertebrates such as the winterbourne stonefly, and plants like stream water crowfoot.

If we are to achieve the goal of our 25-year Environment Plan and leave the natural environment in a better state than we found it, we must address the multiple threats to the ecological health of our chalk streams. Our chalk streams flow through landscapes heavily impacted by agriculture and urban development. They are threatened by water abstraction , by pollution, by invasive species, and by habitat degradation: canalisation, siltation, ditching and the many barriers built at locks, watermills and culverts.

The chalk-streams restoration strategy is a comprehensive, up-to-date analysis of the issues threatening chalk streams in England, of the ways in which ecological pressures are assessed and regulated. It includes multiple pragmatic recommendations to bring about the ecological recovery and good health of our chalk streams. It gives clear justifications, direction and guidance to government and businesses, water companies, Rivers Trusts and stakeholders.

Charles will discuss the report and its key recommendations covering abstraction and flow, water quality and pollution and physical habitat quality and restoration.

About the speaker
I’m a writer and conservationist with a lifelong passion for rivers and most of all for chalk-streams.

I caught the chalk-stream bug and became interested in river restoration in the early 1990s when working as a teacher in Dorset. I met Simon Cain and inspired by his work at Ballington Manor on the River Wylye began a restoration project on the River Stour, in the grounds of the school.

A few years later in 1997 I founded the Wild Trout Society which went on to become the Wild Trout Trust. Since then I’ve served as voluntary director and then President. I am currently honoured to serve as one of several vice-presidents.

I have also worked with WWF UK on various campaigns and reports including Rivers on the Edge , the 2014 State of England’s Chalk Streams report and Flushed Away.

In 2011 I co-founded the Norfolk Rivers Trust with sponsorship from WWF and Coca Cola wrote The River Nar Catchment Restoration Strategy.

Since then I have been coordinating a catchment-scale programme of restoration on the River Nar, designing and managing a variety of projects including: 7km of Large Woody Debris installation, 2km of re-meandering and relic channel recovery, 2km of restored gravel river-bed and riffles. Our projects continue with a scheduled re-location / recreation of 2km of natural, meandering channel to replace a dredged mill-leat which was completed in September 2021.

In 2014 I received the Bernard Venables Award for wild trout conservation. I am also an Angling Trust ambassador and honorary life-member of the Wild Trout Trust.

I am a Vice President of the Wye and Usk Foundation, whose marvellous work I wholeheartedly support as a beacon of excellence in the rivers trust movement.

Since late 2020 I have been chairing the CABA Chalk Streams Restoration Group.