The Severn Vale area includes many of the small rivers and brooks that drain into the lower River Severn or directly into the Severn estuary. The land is variable with mixed urban, agricultural and forested areas. The main urban areas include Gloucester, Cheltenham, Ledbury and Stroud. Arable land dominates the Leadon catchment, which suffers from poor water quality due to excessive quantities of silt and high levels of phosphate and nitrate.
Extensive woodlands are present in the Forest of Dean, where there are also water quality problems associated with uncontrolled discharges from former mine workings. These are often acidic and contain metals and other harmful substances that can have significant ecological impacts. Abstraction within the catchment is mainly for public water supply and agriculture. The Cinderford and Glynch brooks are over abstracted and groundwater is used to enhance low flows in the Glynch Brook during summer months. Low flows are thought to be adversely affecting fish populations, particularly spawning and nursery areas, in some parts of the area.
Severn Vision
Please see the link below for the Severn Vale catchment output document ‘Severn Vision’. Severn Vision Report
Severn Vale Evidence Review
The Severn Rivers trust as part of the catchment Based approach mapped a variety of evidence to discover where land use projects would have most effect. Please Click the Link Below to see these maps. severn-vale-evidence-review
Gloucestershire Frome
Restoration of Bonds Mill Paleo Channel Since the meeting in June this year we have been working with the Environment Agency to increase our understanding of how the river works and what will be necessary to restore the disused channel. Two continuous water level monitors have been installed and multiple additional flow gaugings are being…