Useful information pertinent to Friends of the River Rib & Quin.
River Rib Water Level Monitoring
Buntingford
Wadesmill
River Quin Water Level Monitoring
Braughing
Wild Trout Trust Fishery Reports
River Rib, Latchford Lake Fishery, February 2021
River Rib, Upp Hall Fishery, Puckeridge, September 2004
River Rib, Upp Hall Fishery, Puckeridge, November 2019
Environment Agency Catchment Data Explorer
The quality of our river environments is monitored by the Environment Agency. These environments are divided into catchments. Our rivers are part of the Lea Catchment and have a specific Rib & Quin Catchment Partnership, like all our local rivers, administered by the HMWT.
Environment Agency monitoring data for our specific catchment is divided into three parts and can be viewed via the links below;
– River Quin
– Upper River Rib
– Lower River Rib
Defra Chalk Stream map and data sets
Last updated in December 2001, this is an Environment Agency low resolution indicative trace of chalk rivers and streams created from OS maps. Chalk rivers are recognised as a priority habitat for protection under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan;
– Chalk Stream Map Explorer
– Datasets
Environment Agency Water Quality Archive
The Water Quality Archive provides data on water quality measurements. Samples are taken at sampling points around England and can be from coastal or estuarine waters, rivers, lakes, ponds, canals or groundwaters. They are taken for a number of purposes including compliance assessment against discharge permits, investigation of pollution incidents or environmental monitoring. The archive provides data on measurements and samples dating from 2000. Here are links to specific sampling points in our catchment
– Rib At Latchford Farm Ford
– Rib at Standon
– Standon STW
– Braughing STW (Hay Street)
– Rib Below B1386, Gatesbury
– Quin At Braughing Bridge
– Buntingford STW
– Rib above Buntingford Stw
– Rib at Aspenden Bridge, Aspenden
– Rib at Westmill
– Cherry Green Barns STW, Westmill
– Rib at A10 Road Bridge
– Throcking STW
– Rib below Therfield STW, Chapel Green
– Therfield STW, Chapel Green
– Barkway STW
– Barkway Park Golf Course STW, Barkway
– Buryfields C/H STW, Anstey
– Lincoln Hill C/H STW, Anstey
– Misc.10 Km Sq Langley…………….Tl43
– Ashleigh Park STW, Barwick
– Raj Villa STW, High Cross
– Hamels Park Farm STW, Buntingford
– Ware, Moles Farm Borehole
– Rib at Bengeo Hall
– Chapmore End Stw
– Crouchfields Stw :Chapmore End
– Rib Above Westmill Trout Farm ( Intake )
– Rickneys Farm Stw :Bengeo
– Westmill Farm Stw :Ware
– Westmill Trout Farm T/E
Environment Agency advice
Owning a watercourse
Government policies specifically impacting the Rib and Quin Catchments
Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017
This defines the legislative structure for the regulation of water in England and Wales and can be viewed here
River Basin Management Plan
RBMPs define the overall management strategy for each of the country’s river basins. For us this is the Thames River Basin and the RBMP can be viewed here
WISER
Water Industry Strategic Environmental Requirements (WISER) are a strategic steer to the water industry from Environment Agency and Natural England as to their expectations. It describes the environmental, resilience and flood risk obligations that water companies must take into account when developing their business plans. WISER can be viewed here
Chalkstreams in general
Here are links that give information on England’s chalk streams and rivers and why they are so important
The Chalk Aquifer Alliance is a network of river groups and organisations standing up for chalk streams across the chalk aquifer of England. They have hosted a series of talks and presentations pertinent to chalk streams and rivers, which can be viewed in their talk archive here >>
Chalk streams Restoration Strategy 2021 – a new document prepared by CaBa’s Chalk stream Restoration Group, chaired by Charles Rangeley-Wilson
Chalk streams in crisis – A 2019 report by the Rivers Trust, supported by HMWT and a number of other river, angling and wildlife charities, that makes a series of recommendations and features Buntingford in the Lea Catchment case study.
WWF – UK Rivers and chalkstreams
2014 UK Chalkstream report
Catchment Based Approach resources
The threat to chalk streams, our unique contribution to global ecology – The Guardian, July 2014
Why Britain’s chalk rivers are under threat – The Telegraph, June 2016
Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust Living Rivers Project
Information about HMWT’s Living Rivers project, River Lea and Colne Catchment areas and other Hertfordshire River’s friends groups are listed here
HMWT Living Rivers
River Lea Catchment Partnership
Rivers Rib & Quin Catchment Management Plan
Colne Valley Catchment Partnership
HMWT/HertsCC/EA Local Wildlife Sites partnership newsletter 2017
includes information on the Mimram SSSI project, River Lea Catchment Partnership and EA permits required for projects on a river floodplain
Other Independent River Groups in Hertfordshire
Friends of the Mimram – Facebook Group
River Beane Restoration Association
Charities and Organisations
Below are river conservation organisations and charities working locally and nationally
Water21 is a not-for-profit organisation that works with landowners and communities to develop sustainable protection against flood, drought, and public health risks in the community.
The Rivers Trust are the umbrella body of the Rivers Trust movement, working to protect, promote and enhance our freshwater ecosystems for both people and wildlife.
UK Drought Monitoring
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Mapping site
National and Local Government and Utilities Supplier Plans, Policies and Reports
Environment Agency – The state of the environment: water resources – May 2018
Environment Agency – Upper Lee Abstraction Licensing Strategy – February 2019
Affinity Water – Water Resources Management Plan 2020 – 2080
Hertfordshire County Council – Recycling, waste and environment
Hertfordshire County Council/East Herts District Council Landscape Character Assessments for our catchment
Sacombe Park Estate Farmland – Area 74
Lower Rib Valley – Area 75
Ware Parklands – Area 76
Wareside – Braughing Uplands – Area 89
Middle Rib Valley – Area 90
Upper Rib Valley – Area 91
Puckeridge Parklands – Area 92
Cherry Green Arable Plateau – Area 141
High Rib Valley – Area 142
Wyddial Plateau – Area 143
Buckland Plateau – Area 144
Upper Quin Valley – Area 145
Hormead Wooded Plateau – Area 146
Hertfordshire County Council Environment and Infrastructure Services Map
Neighbourhood Development Plans
Standon and Puckeridge – Standon Puckeridge Neighbourhood Development Plan
– SPNDP Environment report – SNP4
Braughing – Braughing Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan 2017 – 2033
Hertfordshire Geology
An introduction to the geology of Hertfordshire
The Geological Conservation Strategy for Hertfordshire 2003 contains interesting information on our local geology and particular geological highlights that can be found in our catchment.
Learning
Water in the UK – a free learning course on water supply in the UK from the Open University
Wildlife
Recording the wildlife in our catchment using iNaturalist – Friends of the Rib & Quin Catchment project page
Wildlife Species identification
Harvestmen of Britain and Ireland – an online key dedicated to identifying species of harvestmen found in Britain and Ireland
Water Quality
Environment Agency – Phosphorus and Freshwater Eutrophication Pressure Narrative – Published October 2019
Thames Waterblitz – part of a pan-european project monitoring water quality through citizen science
Clean Water for Wildlife Technical Manual – Evaluating PackTest nitrate and phosphate test kits to find clean water and assess the extent of nutrient pollution – an assessment of the accuracy of the PackTest kits used in the Thames Waterblitz
Freshwater Watch interactive map – combining EA, Waterblitz and Riverfly Monitoring Data
Is my river fit to play in? – An annually updated interactive map from the Rivers Trust that tracks sewage spills into the nation’s river system
2019
2020
The Riverfly Partnership – a citizen science based scheme monitoring freshwater invertebrates to measure water quality. Explore the data through the Data Explorer
Friends of the Rib and Quin 