Thames Upper Operational Catchment

About

The Upper Thames operational catchment includes stretches of the River Thames extending from its source south west of Cirencester at Kemble to Lechlade in the Cotswolds. The largest tributaries are the Coln, the Ray (Wilts), the Churn and the Cole. The principal towns in the Upper Thames catchment are Swindon and Cirencester, however there are many smaller market towns located throughout the catchment. The predominant land use in the area is farming. There are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the Upper Thames catchment that are dependent on local hydrology. A few examples of these are the Cotswold Water Park (CWP), Barnsley Warren and Elmlea Meadows. 1 Special Area of Conservation within the catchment is a wetland named North Meadow and Clattinger Farm located near Cricklade. There is 1 designated bathing water within the catchment, located in the CWP.

Ampney Brook

Classifications data for Thames Upper Operational Catchment

Number of water bodies

The number of water bodies in the river basin district. It shows whether these are natural, artificial (such as canals and reservoirs) or have been modified ('heavily modified') for particular uses.

Water body categoriesNaturalArtificialHeavily modifiedTotal
River, canals and surface water transfers320133
Lake0112
Coastal0000
Estuarine0000
Groundwater0000
Total321235

Ecological status for surface waters

Table summarises the current ecological status of surface water bodies. Water bodies are classified as being at high, good, moderate, poor or bad ecological status or potential.

Ecological status or potentialBadPoorModerateGoodHighTotal
Number of water bodies17243035
Number of water body elements5244238201310

Chemical status for surface waters

Table summarises the current chemical status of water bodies. These are classified as being at good or fail.

Chemical statusFailGoodTotal
Number of water bodies35035
Number of water body elements88400488

Why do all water bodies have a chemical status of fail?

Quantitative status for groundwater

Table summarises the quantitative status of groundwater water bodies. These are classified as being at good or poor.

Quantitative statusPoorGoodTotal
Number of water bodies000
Number of water body elements000

Chemical status for groundwater

Table summarises the chemical status of groundwater water bodies. These are classified as being at good or poor.

Chemical statusPoorGoodTotal
Number of water bodies000
Number of water body elements000

Challenges data for Thames Upper Operational Catchment

Reasons for not achieving good status by business sector

The issues preventing waters reaching good status and the sectors identified as contributing to them. The numbers in the table are individual counts of the reasons for not achieving good status with a confidence status of 'confirmed' and 'probable', where the latest classification is less than good status. There may be more than one reason in a single water body. Note, table does not include reasons for deterioration.

Significant water management issueChanges to the natural flow and level of waterInvasive non-native speciesPhysical modificationsPollution from abandoned minesPollution from rural areasPollution from towns, cities and transportPollution from waste water
Agriculture and rural land management00701500
Domestic general public0000000
Industry0000000
Local & central government0010000
Mining and quarrying0010000
Navigation0000000
No sector responsible0110000
Other0020000
Recreation0020000
Sector under investigation0000000
Urban and transport0010030
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Water Industry20000016
Total2115015316

Objectives data for Thames Upper Operational Catchment

Ecological status or potential objectives for surface water bodies

Table summarises the ecological status and ecological potential objectives set for water bodies in the river basin management plan. Each water body is only counted once in this table. Each water body objective consists of a target status and a date when it was, or is expected to be, met.

StatusBadPoorModerateGoodHighTotal
By 201500105015
By 2021000202
By 202700114015
By 2039001203
Total001223035

14 of the "by 2027" objectives are low confidence

Chemical status objectives for surface water bodies

Including those with less stringent objectives and extended deadlines

StatusFailGoodTotal
By 206303535
Total03535

0 of the "by 2027" objectives are low confidence

Quantitative status objectives for groundwater

Including those with less stringent objectives and extended deadlines

StatusPoor
GoodTotal
Total000

0 of the "by 2027" objectives are low confidence

Chemical status objectives for groundwater

Including those with less stringent objectives and extended deadlines

StatusPoor
GoodTotal
Total000