With signs of spring, our first work-parties of the year did a grand job clearing winter debris, fallen trees, blocked fences and general overgrowth by Amersham Tesco, in CStP including rejuvenating the “back stream”, and downstream at “Over the Misbourne”. As always, the aim is to encourage brisk flow, with minimum disturbance of the natural watercourse and bank vegetation, in the hope of a bright clear stream over a gravelly bed, with fish to follow as below.
Routine observation of groundwater levels and invertebrate populations continues as usual with nothing untoward to report. Early days, but with the winter charge continuing steadily, it seems likely that this will be another year of good flow for many months without risk of flooding. While Thameswater have been working on upgrades to the Amersham Balancing Tanks, you may have noticed a number of discharges into the river reported on their EDM (Event Duration Map). In fact, the probe detector of a discharge has only recently been calibrated for the new installation so most (all?) of this year’s alarms to date have been false. Unfortunately, this is not the case at Gerrards Cross STW where discharges have continued and improvements are not planned until 2030.
An element of the upcoming “Mending the Misbourne” programme of work is the identification and removal (or control) of Invasive Non-Native Species – (INNS). Work is in hand preparing for surveys of river banks during May to locate stands of particularly Himalayan Balsam but also any Japanese Knotweed or Giant Hogweed (these last two requiring specialist attention). “Balsam-Bash” work parties will follow. If you are, or have contact details for, any landowner with waterfront allong the river – whether domestic or larger enterprise – that you could share with us, obviously with their permission, please let me know. Also, if you would like to be part of the survey and/or removal exercises you might like to join the separate WhatsApp Group in which case please contact trish_mallett@outlook.com
Usual wide-ranging conversation at our March 9th well-attended “not-a-meeting” included feedback from a recent MoRPh (Modular River Physical) training session. This survey method is used to assess and monitor the physical character, habitat, and vegetation structure of rivers and streams. Like the invertebrate surveys, results can be loaded onto a national data base and all help to build up the picture of the health of our rivers. Our next “not-a-meeting”, again at the Chalfont Sports Club, SL9 0QA – (what 3 words = “robots.lime.inform”) – is to be on Monday13th April from 7.15pm – All very welcome!
Apologies for late notice – our next working party day is scheduled for next Saturday 28th March. Not sure yet, where we will find ourselves but, if you would like to join us, please let me know and “orders of the day” will follow, probably on Friday evening. I will leave the WhatsApp group to sort any other days between then and our chat on 13th when further tasks and dates will be decided.
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