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Chalk streams are one of the rarest freshwater habitats on Earth, and England is home to approximately 85% of them. Found mainly in the south and east of the country, chalk streams are fed by groundwater making the good management of the chalk aquifers (stores of water in porous rock) essential to achieving good ecological health of chalk streams.
Watch a video explainer on X (Twitter) for a quick introduction to chalk streams.
What are the issues facing chalk streams?
Chalk streams have been badly damaged over many years through over abstraction of water, pollution, and poor management of their channels, floodplains, and catchments. The 2019 water framework directive classification results showed that only 17% of chalk streams meet ‘good ecological status’.
What action are we taking?
The future of chalk streams is dependent on action by everybody: government, regulators, water companies, farmers, and landowners. We’re making progress, but there’s a lot more to do. Together with our partners, we have a plan to restore chalk streams and improve their resilience to climate change.
The strategy sets out actions and recommendations for government, regulators, and the water industry on water resources, water quality and habitat restoration and management. This is the ‘trinity of ecological health’. The case studies below show some examples of our work.
Case studies
Working to Improve chalk streams
The Lincolnshire chalk streams have helped shape the Lincolnshire Wolds landscape over the past 10,000 years. Over the last 10 years, we have worked with partners on projects that create and improve these habitats.
Urban chalk stream restoration
To restore a chalk stream in the Southeast, the Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust and the Environment Agency, have been leading a project to re-route the Broadwater Brook across land at Sompting, West Sussex.
A new wetland haven in Buckinghamshire New life has been breathed into Buckinghamshire’s Hamble Brook in work led by the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project, the largest scheme of its kind involving the Environment Agency.
What is a chalk stream?
Chalk streams are one of the rarest freshwater habitats on Earth, and England is home to approximately 85% of them. Found mainly in the south and east of the country, chalk streams are fed by groundwater making the good management of the chalk aquifers (stores of water in porous rock) essential to achieving good ecological health of chalk streams.
Watch a video explainer on X (Twitter) for a quick introduction to chalk streams.
What are the issues facing chalk streams?
Chalk streams have been badly damaged over many years through over abstraction of water, pollution, and poor management of their channels, floodplains, and catchments. The 2019 water framework directive classification results showed that only 17% of chalk streams meet ‘good ecological status’.
What action are we taking?
The future of chalk streams is dependent on action by everybody: government, regulators, water companies, farmers, and landowners. We’re making progress, but there’s a lot more to do. Together with our partners, we have a plan to restore chalk streams and improve their resilience to climate change.
The strategy sets out actions and recommendations for government, regulators, and the water industry on water resources, water quality and habitat restoration and management. This is the ‘trinity of ecological health’. The case studies below show some examples of our work.
Case studies
Working to Improve chalk streams
The Lincolnshire chalk streams have helped shape the Lincolnshire Wolds landscape over the past 10,000 years. Over the last 10 years, we have worked with partners on projects that create and improve these habitats.
Urban chalk stream restoration
To restore a chalk stream in the Southeast, the Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust and the Environment Agency, have been leading a project to re-route the Broadwater Brook across land at Sompting, West Sussex.
A new wetland haven in Buckinghamshire New life has been breathed into Buckinghamshire’s Hamble Brook in work led by the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project, the largest scheme of its kind involving the Environment Agency.
for visiting our new water hub. This is a pilot service. We acknowledge not everything is covered here yet, this is a new offering which will grow over the coming months.
