Why River Health Matters
Ever wondered what is happening beneath the surface of rivers? The Riverfly Monitoring program supported by Enstone Eco on the River Glyme is a hands-on way to discover what’s going on in our local rivers and more importantly, to help protect our waterways!
Every month, volunteers at Enstone Eco work locally to count and monitor riverfly and other creatures in our waterways, contributing to a national log of river health, in partnership with the Evenlode Catchment Partnership (ECP). This blog post gives an overview of our work in this space and some content to help you understand the process further.
The Bigger Picture: Pollution and River Health
The health of our local rivers has been increasingly threatened by pollution and physical modifications to waterways in the UK. For example, run-off from agricultural land and untreated sewage from overloaded treatment works are often dumped into rivers, particularly during heavy rains, and can have an adverse effect on wildlife and the environment. These pollution surges compromise water quality and damage the delicate ecosystems that rely on clean, flowing water.
Why Monitor Riverfly Populations?
By testing the rivers frequently, we can quickly detect any changes to the water, and prevent further damage.
Riverfly larvae are highly sensitive to pollution, making them reliable indicators of river health. By monitoring the increase and decrease of these populations, we can detect drops in water quality early, which enables us to report potential issues to the Environment Agency for investigation. This data contributes to a national effort to keep rivers healthy. We also unearth local patterns of pollution in Oxfordshire and understand what's in our rivers.
This is a fantastic example of citizen science in action!
In Enstone, a local resident allows Enstone Eco to test in their garden where the River Glyme runs through which in the long-run, helps us curb larger environmental damage.
What to Expect When Testing
Below is a video from Ian explaining the process of going into the river for to collect a sample. Using some specialist equipment and wading into the river, the Enstone Eco team collect samples that are then examined and matched to an official guide. For your own safety, do not attempt to try this at home.
One of our Eco Volunteers, Dawn, also conducts water quality testing as you can see in the other video too!
These findings are then logged onto a national databases which show trends and patterns in the water quality.
Riverfly Sample Collecting
Water Testing
What is Being Done Elsewhere?
Across Oxfordshire, various groups are tackling river pollution. The Evenlode Catchment Partnership (ECP), for example, collaborates with Thames Water and the Environment Agency to monitor pollution and demand changes in sewage treatment practices. Other groups, like Thames 21 and the Crane Catchment Citizen Crane initiative, also combine riverfly monitoring with water quality assessments, helping to bring attention to pollution hotspots and advocating for stricter regulations and better treatment infrastructure.
You can read more about these partnerships here:
Take Action: How You Can Help Beyond Monitoring
You can support the health of Oxfordshire’s waterways in several ways:
Become a citizen scientist and continue monitoring and reporting on local water quality. Come to the next testing event with Enstone Eco!
Avoid flushing non-biodegradable items and reduce the burden on sewage systems.
Keep an eye out for non-clear, flowing water spots in the village and report it to Enstone Eco or the Environment Agency.
Together, we can create a cleaner, healthier environment for the River Glyme and all who rely on its ecosystem.
October 2024 - Riverfly Testing, Enstone
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