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UK
Catchment Description: |
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Project
Tasks: UK project component
In England
and Wales, water abstraction is generally licensed, the process being
administered by the Environment Agency. In 1999, the UK Government
proposed 'Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies' (CAMS), for
sustainable management of water resources at a local level. England
and Wales are now divided into 129 CAMS 'areas'.The
UK project team is working with the Environmental Agency, as they
develop their management strategies for the area.
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The Loddon Catchment:
The catchment
of the River Loddon, and associated smaller tributaries and streams,
covers an area of 680 km2, including parts of the counties of Surrey,
Hampshire and Berkshire.
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- The
source of the river rises from the chalk area at the southern end
of the catchment, flowing north-easterly over first chalk then clay,
and eventually joins the Thames River.
- The
main tributary, the River Blackwater flows mainly over sands and gravels,
and joins the Loddon about half-way along it's length.
- The
catchment is predominantly rural and agricultural, and contains many
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), which are primarily
located in the south.
- The
rivers within the Loddon are generally of good quality water with
extensive coarse and salmonid fisheries.
- Supplying
public water demand is achieved entirely from groundwater, and this
use accounts for 55% of the total abstractions within the catchment.
- One
major issue facing the Loddon catchment in the near future is urban
development and expansion. The growth in areas around Basingstoke,
Reading and the Blackwater Valley are likely to put increasing pressure
not only on increasing the demand for water, but also the subsequent
increase in treated effluent.
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- The
challenge is to maintain water supplies to a rapidly increasing urban
population, while attempting to retain sufficient water in the natural
system for recreational use and to support river bank and wetland
habitats.
- The
Environment Agency posted 400 leaflets
to potential stakeholders and stakeholder groups asking for comments
on the proposed Loddon Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS).
Based on the responses, a number of stakeholders were selected to
form the Loddon CAMS stakeholder group.
- Loddon
CAMS Stakeholder Group Membership
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