This weekend around 20 volunteers surveyed 23 sites on the waterways in the Blackwater Valley for nitrates and phosphates and also took a turgidity test. This is an amazing accomplishment to get this all together. The surveys are going to be repeated every month for the next few months. The data is uploaded onto the Blackwater Valley Actions for Rivers special site installed on the ArcGIG Survey 123 app that some of us have installed on our phones.
The above pictures show some of the sites tested. The intention is to use the evidence collected as part of a campaign to demand clean water for nature and people. The two go hand in had and it is horrifying that we need to do this to persuade people in power to do the right and just thing.
The pond in Crondall (source of the River Hart) has completely dried up after the driest Spring on record. The vegetation is extremely high due to the high nitrate levels. Hopefully the present rain will alleviate the lack of water.
Thanks for the comment Angela, before your post I did not know the pond was the source of the River Hart. Such bad news that the pond has dried up for the moment.