25. Restoring sustainable river flow

Aims: Improve wildlife corridors; Manage flow; Work together

Water body: River Misbourne
Project description

The River Misbourne between Amersham and Chalfont St. Peter suffers from low flows partly as a consequence of overabstraction for public water supply. Affinity Water plan to reduce abstraction in the this area to restore river flows.

As part of its Water Resources Management Plan, Affinity Water have set out an ambitious strategy of abstraction reduction across the Chilterns and Hertfordshire area in the next 25 years  These reductions are being carried out to help improve flows in the areas' pressured chalk streams.  Affinity Water plan to reduce average abstraction in the middle Misbourne Valley by 5 milllion litres per day in two phases: Amersham (3ML/d) and Chalfont St Giles (2ML/d).  In tandem with this reduction, Affinity are also planning a programme of river habitat restoration along the river to help improve its condition.

Project lead: Affinity Water
Project partners: Chilterns Chalk Streams Project, Environment Agency, Chiltern Society
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Project start: 2018
Project end: 2020
Funding source:

Design by LTD Design Consultants and build by Garganey Consulting. From an original concept by the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust.