Kennet Catchment Partnership

Catchment partnership vision

To create healthy rivers, streams and canals throughout the Kennet Catchment.

Action for the River Kennet

Related websites

Find out more about the activities and ambitions of this catchment partnership and how you can get involved to help improve the water environment in the catchment.

Catchment challenges

Current challenges identified by partnership

  • Physical modifications

    Impact of Kennet and Avon Canal on River Kennet and chalk-stream habitat

  • Pollution from waste water

    Untreated sewage entering rivers due groundwater infiltration overloading sewers and sewage treatment works

  • Changes to the natural flow and water levels

    Historic mill structures and weirs restrict fish passage

Wider water environment challenges identified by partnership

The partnership have not identified any wider water environment challenges

Future challenges predicted by partnership

  • Invasive Non-native Species

    INNS including American Signal Crayfish, Mink, Himalayan Balsam, Azolla, Floating Pennywort & Crassula all cause significant management challenges which are likely to get worse

  • Changes to the natural flow and water levels

    Population increase throughout the valley will put pressure on water supplies pushing the abstraction vs recharge ratio to a critical point

  • Pollution from waste water

Future challenges predicted by Environment Agency

Future challenges in 2050

  • Invasive Non-native Species
  • Changes to the Natural Flow and Water Levels
  • Pollution from waste water

Emerging challenges

  • Changes to the Natural Flow and Water Levels
  • Pollution from waste water
  • Pollution from Towns Cities and Transport

Partnership success highlights 2016 to 2021

Between 2016 and 2021 the partnership has increased its activities and expanded its geographical reach. The number of organisations attending and making positive contributions to meetings and projects has also increased, which has resulted in action to improve rivers. The partnership were involved in improving fish passage on the Og, Lambourn, Kennet and the Dun. Habitat has been improved at ten sites, with the focus expanding beyond the SSSI to include the Dun, Holy Brook, Padworth and Theale as well as several sites on the upper and middle Kennet. Five new rain gardens in schools were built as well as another community wetland, with plans for several more being developed. The partnership continued to provide farm advice and raise awareness of the impact of farming on rivers, and new farmer groups have been established and are working with the Kennet Catchment Partnership to reduce the impact of farming on water quality. Both the fishing clubs and rivers trust have seen increases in practical volunteer activities and citizen science. The Kennet catchment now has more than 60 regularly monitored riverfly sites.

Action for the River Kennet

Partnership development plans

Refer to Catchment Management Plan

Partnership priority actions and measures for 2022 to 2027

  • Confident

    Enhancement/no deterioration measures in 2020-2025 Water Industry National Environment Programme

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage point source discharges
    Delivery mechanism
    Confirmed water industry national environment programme 2020-2025
    Location
    Kennet

  • Confident

    Habitat improvements to the Shalbourne and the Dun (Sparkling Streams)

    Reason for measure
    Manage modified habitats
    Delivery mechanism
    Heritage Lottery Fund
    Location
    Shalbourne (source to Kennet at Hungerford)

  • Confident

    Thames Community Eel project (walkover survey of Kennet Catchment to assess barriers to fish migration)

    Reason for measure
    Manage modified habitats
    Delivery mechanism
    Heritage Lottery Fund
    Location
    Kennet

  • Confident

    Water quality improvements through better understanding of pollution sources

    Reason for measure
    Feasibility study to build commitment to deliver
    Delivery mechanism
    WEIF Water Environment Improvement Fund
    Location
    Kennet

  • Confident

    Water Matters Community water efficiency programme & rain garden training

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage abstractions
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Location
    Kennet

  • Less certain

    Kennet Wetlands - design and build of a network of wetlands

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage rural diffuse pollution
    Delivery mechanism
    WEIF Water Environment Improvement Fund
    Barriers to delivery
    Funding option needs to be identified
    Location
    Kennet

  • Less certain

    Habitat restoration beyond SSSI

    Reason for measure
    Manage modified habitats
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Barriers to delivery
    Funding option needs to be identified
    Location
    Kennet

  • Less certain

    Invasive species (Mink/Himalayan balsam/Floating pennywort) removal programme

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage invasive non-native species
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Barriers to delivery
    Funding option needs to be identified
    Location
    Kennet

  • Less certain

    Rain gardens - programme of rain gardens in urban areas

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage urban diffuse pollution
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Barriers to delivery
    Funding option needs to be identified
    Location
    Kennet

Catchment Partnership contributors

Partners involved in the creation of this page and the actions of the partnership: