The Chess flows for 11 miles from Pednormead End through Chesham, Latimer, Chenies, Sarratt Bottom and Loudwater to its confluence with the Colne at Rickmansworth.
21. Trout in the Classroom
Aims:
Involve people with their local waterbodies
Trout in the Classroom is an initiative of the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project and River Chess Association and has been run in the Chess Valley since 2009. Currently, 8 schools are taking part. The project actively educates 250 local children each year about chalk streams and the life cycle of brown trout. As part of the project, in summer pupils are treated to a return visit to the river to participate in a number of activities aimed at helping them learn more about the wildlife that lives there.
19. Loudwater water vole habitat enhancement scheme
Aim:
Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve wildlife corridors
This scheme aims to improve the quality and continuity of habitat for water voles through the Loudwater Estate.
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18. Latimer Park Water Vole Habitat Creation Scheme
Aim:
Improve wildlife corridors; Work together
Partnership project to restore habitat for water voles and help them to recolonise the upper river. The work is being carried out in support of the R. Chess Water Vole Recovery Scheme.
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17. R. Chess Low Flows Investigation
Aims:
Manage flow
An investigation led by the Environment Agency, is currently being carried out into the possible role of abstraction in the persistent low flows impacting the headwaters of the R. Chess.
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20. Scotsbridge Mill, river restoration
Aim:
Improve wildlife corridors; Manage flow
The River Chess at Scotsbridge Mill suffers from a range of problems linked to when the channel was redirected to power the mill.
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16. Chesham Water Group
Aim:
Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve water quality; Manage flow; Work together
A partnership of local community groups, agencies and water companies working together to deliver real benefits for both Chesham’s water environment and its residents.
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15. Chesham flood alleviation project - Pednormead End
Aim:
Improve wildlife corridors; Manage flow; Work together
Project to reduce the risk to residential properties from fluvial and surface water flooding in the Pednormead End area of Chesham.
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14. Riverfly monitoring
Aim:
Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve water quality
A Riverfly monitoring group was set up by the River Chess Association in 2010.
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13. Invasive non-native plant control strategy
Aim:
Control invasive non-native species; Improve wildlife corridors; Work together
Strategy to control or eradicate non-native invasive plant species from the Chess Valley led by the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project.
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12. Water Vole Recovery Scheme
Aim:
Control invasive non-native species; Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve wildlife corridors
An integrated mink control and habitat enhancment scheme to reverse the decline in the Chess water vole population.
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11. Scotsbridge Mill habitat enhancement
Aim:
Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve wildlife corridors; Manage flow; Work together
Project to enhance habitat along a heavily degraded section of the river near Rickmansworth.
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10. Sarratt Meadows Project
Aim:
Improve wildlife corridors; Manage flow; Work together
Opportunity to restore grazing to riverside meadows, create wetland habitat and improve fish passage.
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9. Chenies Bottom habitat enhancement
Aim:
Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve wildlife corridors
Project to improve instream habitat along an overwide section of the river carried out by the River Chess Association.
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8. Mill Farm Meadow enhancement
Aim:
Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve wildlife corridors
Scheme to enhance habitat in a side stream of the R. Chess for fish and wildlife.
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7. Latimer Park habitat enhancement
Aim:
Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve wildlife corridors
Project led by the River Chess Association to restore nature river function through installation of Large Woody Debris features.
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6. Canon's Mill bypass channel
Aim:
Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve wildlife corridors; Work together
Project which removed an obstruction to fish passage and improved public access.
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4. Lords Mill - fish pass scheme
Aim:
Improve wildlife corridors; Manage flow
Project to install a fish pass and repair the mill weir.
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5. The Moor - channel enhancement
Aim:
Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve wildlife corridors; Manage flow
Opportunity to remove concrete revetments, reinstate natural banks and narrow river.
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1. Impress the Chess
Aim:
Involve people with their local waterbodies; Work together
A local community initiative set up to protect and enhance the River Chess in Chesham.
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2. Chesham Pollution Prevention Project
Aim:
Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve water quality; Work together
Partnership project to identify and address persistent pollution of the Chess from urban and rural sources.
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3. Meades Water Gardens Regeneration
Aim:
Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve wildlife corridors; Improve water quality; Manage flow; Work together
River restoration and access improvement scheme close to Chesham town centre.
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Potential: Opportunity identified, further consultation required
Planned: Consultation, costing and/or fundraising in process
Ongoing: Project currently being implemented
Completed: Project finished
Potential
Planned
Ongoing
Completed