A load of the Loddon

September 22, 2009

The Environment Agency is transforming a river in Winnersh back into a free flowing river as contractors clear away the many trees that block the picturesque waterway.

The River Loddon, which is a tributary of the Thames, is an important part of the Wokingham landscape, supporting a diverse range of wildlife and providing a valuable recreational amenity for local people.

Over time, trees have fallen into the watercourse which can restrict the flow of water in periods of high flow and become a potential flood risk.

Ian Stretton, from the Environment Agency’s Operations Delivery team said:

“By removing the trees, we not only minimise flood risk but also prevent the build up of litter and other debris which can float down the Loddon and become lodged in the branches that sprawl across the water. This is a real eyesore for the local area and can impact negatively on wildlife.”

The Operations Delivery Team work hard throughout the year to maintain rivers in the area; controlling aquatic weeds, grass cutting on river banks and the trimming or removal of trees which, if left unmanaged, leave local people vulnerable to the devastating effects of flooding.

Ian added: “We work on one bank of the river to reduce the effect we have on the wildlife habitat. We tend to operate one bank one year, then the other bank the following year. That way we are leaving some of the vegetation for birds and other animals whilst we carry out this work.”

The Environment Agency also looks after the long-term health of rivers and groundwater by monitoring and assessing the quality of rivers with the aim of maintaining and improving water quality. In the Loddon catchment, 206.7 km of river is routinely monitored. The chemical, biological and aesthetic quality of the watercourse is assessed using the General Quality Assessment - GQA - Scheme.

The work is being carried out by Breheny Civil Engineering on behalf of the Environment Agency.