After the events of the last winter and spring it is encouraging to be able to report some positive news.  Hopefully those events will have some effect on the powers that be and the associated publicity will have done some good.

In late June we ventured out with a work party clearing a couple of fallen trees and overgrowth from Chalfont St Peter tennis courts towards the Community Centre.  However, looking at the state of the water upstream, we held off further activities while waiting analysis.  As you may know, the Parish Councils were unable to obtain meaningful advice from either Environment Agency or Thameswater due to “ongoing investigations”.   The Parish Councils therefore commissioned their own comprehensive biological and chemical analyses and, with satisfactory results for E Coli returned (OK for “bathing” !!), albeit with significant other pollutants, we were delighted to join with Chalfont St Giles Council and begin the task of resuscitating the river in their village centre.  A good morning’s work brought immediate results and it was great to see them making headlines in the Bucks Free Press.

Meanwhile, things have been generally settling down.  There has been a little flurry of photos of fish in the river through Old Amersham and near Shardeloes – I am told trout, roach and rudd.  As groundwater levels slowly drop, water is receding from the floodplains and highlighting how much vegetation has been generated by the extra nutrients in the water this year.  It will take a lot to get the river flowing as cleanly as it was last autumn in the next 3 months.

As commented before, the very high groundwater levels of the last six months have been generally very similar to, or in some cases marginally less than those of 2000/2001 and other notable years as 2013/14  and 2020/21.  Really only the area around Amersham By-pass and Quarrendon Mill (+1.5m) and locally at Chalfont St Peter (+0.24m) have exceeded previous highs.   It has been the sewage pollution, particularly from Amersham Balancing Tanks and Gerrards Cross STW, that has been unprecedented.  Although I make no apology for repeating that we have seen similar high levels before, the range of levels is such that, for example at Chalfont St Giles, August groundwater levels are more than 3m above the 30 year August average – so already well charged for the coming winter?  As far as I know, no-one has yet properly looked into any linkage between the levels around Amersham by-pass and Quarrendon Mill compared with 2000/2001 and the recent realignment of the river and creation of the “wetlands” in that area.

Many thanks to Mel, Mike and others who once again flew our flag at Chalfont St Peter Feast Day and to Paul and Trish at the Boug’s Meadow event in Great Missenden.  A big welcome to a good number of new supporters!

Away from the river, several sets of meetings chaired variously by Chiltern Chalkstreams Project “Mending the Misbourne” initiative, Chalfonts Parish Councils, Bucks County Council, and ColneCAN and including Chiltern Conservation Board, Chiltern Society, Environment Agency, Thameswater, our very supportive MP, flood groups etc continue.  Key points of focus for all are to eliminate the dreadful sewage overflows and to ensure that flooding is avoided when future very high groundwater levels occur – with an interim position that, should tankering be required, it does not cause large scale disruption.  To date, there seems little scope for optimism on any of these outcomes.  Many other lesser initiatives are also mooted but have yet to become real “projects”.  Of particular relevance to us would be improved education regarding, and enforcement of, landowners’ responsibilities to maintain the watercourse through their property.

Nevertheless, we will continue to do what we can practically and by lobbying.  It would be good to have a strong turnout for the next few work parties to really make a difference where we can.  If you can join us on Saturday 31st August morning or afternoon, and/or Tuesday 3rd September morning please let me know.  We will have our next “not-a -meeting” chat and plan session at the Greyhound on Wednesday 28th from 7.15 – all very welcome – to confirm arrangements and will then advise locations etc plus dates for subsequent work parties.  (Also if you would be able to offer any other days/times and organise a session with a few others, that would be wonderful).

The WhatsApp group is a good way of keeping up with things and now has about 60 members from the current list of some 500 supporters.  Do let me know if you would like to join.

And, finally, mention above of the next “three months” prompts me to remind you of our Annual Dinner on Wednesday 11th December – hopefully already in your diary?

Hoping to see you by or in the river soon,