Strategy to Restore and Protect England’s Chalk Streams Launched

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The Chalk Stream Restoration Working Group, set up by Catchment Based Approach partners including Defra, the Environment Agency, Natural England, water companies, Ofwat and eNGOs, has set out a series of recommendations to protect and restore England’s rare chalk streams.

The Chalk Stream Strategy primarily recommends enhanced status for chalk streams, through a statutory designation, to drive investment to prevent pollution and over-abstraction, as well as restoring habitat to boost biodiversity. Other recommendations focus on the three key components of ecological health: natural flow, clean water and natural habitat.

Examples of recommendations include:

  • Endorsing the use of integrated constructed wetlands at small, remote works where conventional treatment is too difficult or expensive and of catchment-scale nutrient-reduction strategies.
  • Creation of an accurate chalk stream map and online data and information hub.
  • Development of a simple, replicable and standardised monitoring initiative, covering the key
    components of habitat, biology, quality and flow.
  • Introducing compulsory rules for farming in chalk stream catchments that are adopted into the new Sustainable Farming Incentive.
  • Working with water companies and other partners to deliver a national network of flagship catchment restoration projects.
  • Setting a target for “sustainable groundwater abstraction” in chalk stream catchments.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:

Chalk streams are both incredibly rare and a hugely important part of our environmental heritage.

That’s why on behalf of the government I called for the creation of an independent CaBA-led working group, the Chalk Streams Restoration Group last year and welcome its ambitious strategy. Action is in progress wherever possible with our flagship projects programme underway. A third of the strategy recommendations are already being taken forward by government, regulators and other CSRG members.

I look forward to seeing how the work progresses and continuing to work together on ways to further protect and restore this vital habitat.