Why monitor the Chess?
Key features
Like many chalk streams, the Chess plays vital local roles, suppling drinking water to surrounding communities and sustaining a rare ecosystem.
But, as a river running through a highly urbanised area on the edge of London, it is under pressure. This includes threats to water quality from run-off and sewage treatment [can we mention this?], alongside vulnerability to severe flooding and droughts, affecting local homes, businesses, farms and habitats.
Impact
Nationally significant data: FDRI's work in the Chess will build an evidence base to help researchers better understand flooding, drought and the impacts of groundwater abstraction locally as well as across the 283 globally rare chalk streams in the UK.
Building the UK's resilience to extremes: The research facilitated by FDRI will give local authorities, national government, regulators and water companies the information and models they need to make better, more timely decisions: protecting communities, improving water security and safeguarding one of the UK’s most precious and vulnerable freshwater ecosystems.
Current work in the Chess
- Building a perceptual model: a 3D image to establish how water moves through the catchment.
- Creating a catchment monitoring design: using the perceptual model and consultation with landowners, the wider community and researchers to establish what we should be monitoring, and where.
- Installing monitoring equipment: working with local landowners to put low-profile equipment in place on suitable sites.
