Colne Catchment Action Network (ColneCAN)
Catchment partnership vision
Our vision for the Colne catchment is a place where everyone is working together to protect and improve the water environment for all. Where water is clean, plentiful and sensitively managed, meeting the needs of all those that rely on this precious resource. Also enabling it to reach its full biological potential, supporting rich and diverse populations of fish, birds and other wildlife. We will collaborate to ensure the right amount of water, of the right quality is in the right place, providing a healthy, economically vibrant environment. Creating a natural and attractive amenity for people to enjoy and improving social wellbeing for present and future generations.
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
Changes to the natural flow and water levels
As water demand in the catchment increases, so does the pressure on our chalk streams, rivers and wetlands
Pollution from waste water
Discharges from water treatment works and failing waste water infrastructure continue to pollute the catchment
Physical modifications
Modifications to rivers and streams limit habitat connectivity, exacerbate drought conditions and reduce biodiversity
Wider water environment challenges identified by partnership
Nature Recovery, protect and enhance rare habitats including chalk streams
The Colne hosts six chalk streams, rare habitats which are under pressure from population growth, development, abstraction and climate change
Reduce storm overflows and drainage system incidents
Population growth and increasing demand for homes in the Colne adds pressure on water treatment systems and risk additional pollution events
Connecting communities with nature
Due to limited public access to blue spaces many of the watercourses are unknown and not valued or protected by the community
Build environmental resilience and adaptation to climate change
Numerous sensitive species and habitats such as chalk streams require increased resilience and adaptation to ensure their survival
Removing plastics/litter from the water environment
Litter and landfills leach toxic chemical into the river ecosystem requiring removal and mitigation to prevent further water quality degradation
Support levelling up, growth and jobs
Green jobs and green development are key for empowering people and securing a sustainable and positive future our environment and waterways
Future challenges predicted by partnership
Changes to the natural flow and water levels
Aquifer-fed chalk streams, aquifer-supplied large and growing population that has amongst the highest water usage/head in the country
Pollution from towns, cities and transport
Multiple developments (some legal/permitted, some not), large towns, lack of enforcement from local authorities and statutory agencies
Invasive Non-native Species
Resources available to tackle the increasing INNS in watercourses are simply inadequate relating to the scale of the problem
Future challenges predicted by Environment Agency
Future challenges in 2050
- Pollution from Towns Cities and Transport
- Invasive Non-native Species
- Changes to the Natural Flow and Water Levels
Emerging challenges
- Pollution from waste water
- Changes to the Natural Flow and Water Levels
- Pollution from Towns Cities and Transport
Partnership success highlights 2016 to 2021
Our annual conference is open to all local stakeholders. The event provides a focus on the challenges facing the catchment and showcases the latest projects to resolve them. Colne Valley Landscape Partnership Project: led by catchment host Groundwork South, the Colne Valley Landscape Partnership Project is bringing £2.5 million of improvements to the Colne Valley, focusing on countryside & river settings. Chiltern Chalk Stream Project: led by the Chilterns Conservation Board, is a partnership of local stakeholders committed to raises awareness and conserve the chalk streams in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Chiltern Chalk Stream Project also co-host the South Chilterns Partnership to collaboratively protect, enhance & improve its water environment. Affinity Water & the Environment Agency are working to restore chalk streams to improve wildlife, recreational value & environmental resilience. The programme has reduced groundwater abstraction by 63 million litres per day since 1993 & has improved 120 kilometres of watercourse. Affinity Water are committed to further reducing abstraction by 36 million litres of water per day by 2025. Colne Floating Pennywort Project: facilitates Invasive Non-native Species management at a landscape scale by engaging partners through regular events, facilitating annual survey work, implementing contractor & volunteer control programmes & by promoting best practice management. River Chess Smarter Water Catchment Project: led by River Chess Association & Chilterns Conservation Board, Thames Water, is a pilot project working in partnerships to co-create & co-deliver innovative solutions to enhance the River Chess environment.
Partnership development plans
We intend to improve the effectiveness of the Colne Catchment Action Network by including additional roles for partnership and project management. This will increase the number of projects, increase capacity and further support contribution from all stakeholders. We will work to ensure our aims are reflected in local plans and strategies, are aligned with business planning cycles and reflect the ambition of all stakeholders.
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
- Colne
Confident
Rediscovering the River Colne (Watford) ecological enhancements
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Location
- Colne (Confluence with Chess to River Thames)
Confident
Rediscovering the River Colne (Watford) water quality enhancements
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage point source discharges
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Location
- Colne (Confluence with Chess to River Thames)
Confident
Smarter water catchments - River Chess partners working creatively to understand and achieve catchment needs
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage point source discharges
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Location
- Chess
Confident
The Lower Colne Catchment Fish Passage Improvement Programme
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Location
- Colne (Confluence with Chess to River Thames)
Confident
Improving rivers impacted by highways infrastructure and historical modifications
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Highways England Programme
- Location
- Colne (Confluence with Chess to River Thames)
Less certain
CaBA Chalk Stream Restoration Group: Influence and support chalk streams restoration plan
- Reason for measure
- Feasibility study to build commitment to deliver
- Delivery mechanism
- Potential future water industry programme
- Barriers to delivery
- Project feasibility is being examined in regard to environmental benefit and local support
- Location
- Misbourne Surrey Ash Pinn Horton Brook Alderbourne Colne Brook
Less certain
The Colne Catchment floating pennywort project
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage invasive non-native species
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Barriers to delivery
- We need to identify an appropriate funding source for the continuation of the project
- Location
- Colne (Confluence with Chess to River Thames) Bulbourne
Less certain
The Landscape Partnership Project
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Barriers to delivery
- We need to identify an appropriate funding source for the legacy of the program
- Location
- Colne (Confluence with Chess to River Thames)
Less certain
Eel Passage Program
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Barriers to delivery
- Maintenance and monitoring of eel passages once installed
- Location
- Colne (Confluence with Chess to River Thames)
Wider water environment
River Chess Smarter Water Catchments
- Reason for measure
- Reduce storm overflows and drainage system incidents
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Location
- Chess
Wider water environment
Rediscovering the River Colne
- Reason for measure
- Connecting communities with nature
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Location
- Colne (Confluence with Chess to River Thames)
Wider water environment
Green Team
- Reason for measure
- Support levelling up, growth and jobs
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Location
- Colne (Confluence with Chess to River Thames)
Catchment Partnership contributors
Partners involved in the creation of this page and the actions of the partnership: