About

The catchment comprises an area of approximately 921 km2, with major urban areas including Whittlesey, March, Ramsey and Chatteris. It is dominated by the Middle Level System, the Counter Drain and the Hundred Foot Washes. The economy of this rural area has evolved around agriculture, the catchment being almost entirely Grade 1 agricultural land due to the historic draining of the fens. The underlying geology of the area is clay and peat. Few of the watercourses in the catchment are natural; the majority are artificially dug drains, with the movement of water being driven by pumping and drainage operations. Management of the water is undertaken by Internal Drainage Boards and the Middle Level Commissioners. Water is transferred into the Middle Level system from the River Nene at Stanground and discharged from the system at St. Germans pumping station. The Ouse Washes are a significant feature of the catchment. Created in the 17th century to provide flood storage, they run 32 kilometres from Earith to Denver. The seasonally flooded washes support important numbers of wintering wetland birds and are important for water plants and invertebrates. A keen recreational boating community exists in the navigable drains and rivers. The catchment has waters that are internationally regarded coarse fisheries and are popular angling locations. The Great Fen Project, a major project in the catchment, seeks to connect currently isolated areas of wet woodland reinstating historic washlands. The wildlife reserves across the catchment are managed by charities and are popular visitor attractions.