Drought killing fish across England and Wales

August 9, 2006

Britain Times Online August 09, 2006 The bottom of the fishpond in Ashtead Park, Surrey (Richard Pohle/The Times) Drought killing fish across England and WalesBy Sam Knight and agencies The Environment Agency asked members of the public to report fish deaths and toxic algal blooms today as its scientists gave warning that Britain's drought was affecting the health of rivers

up and down the country. The agency said two dry winters and this summer of record temperatures had reduced rivers to trickles and posed a danger to wildlife at more than 100 sites across England and Wales. Low water and oxygen levels are suffocating fish and stranding insects that are used to moving from stream to stream, the agency said. Trees have been also been shedding their leaves because of the water shortage. Over the last two months, the agency said that it had discovered bacteria outbreaks, wetlands drying up and the deaths of thousands of fish, mainly in the South East. Frogs are struggling to breed and the mayfly has not been seen in its traditional breeding rivers. "This drought is not only affecting people in the way we use water — we’ve now seen 21 months of below-average rain and the environment is suffering, too. We’re seeing ponds and rivers drying up, fish becoming stranded and algal blooms," said Dr David King, director of water management at the agency. "At first, we couldn’t see the impact of the drought around us as the real problems were low groundwater levels in the South East. But the continued lack of rainfall, low water levels and recent high temperatures have put pressure on the environment right across England and Wales. "It’s now clear that the impact of the drought is no longer just contained to the South East of England, where water shortages were impacting on people’s water use. The environmental problems are much more widespread. "If we get a third dry winter in the South East and the dry conditions continue across the rest of England and Wales, we’re going to see our

environment suffer even more," added Dr King. "With our water environment already under pressure, there are no excuses — we can all do our bit to save water." Dr King asked members of the public to call the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 if they see dead, dying or distressed fish. The report came as a poll revealed that as many as 3 million people could be secretly flouting the hosepipe bans that apply to more than 12 million people in the South East. The poll, carried out by ICM on the motoring section of the website, eBay, found that 29 per cent of people living under water restrictions had broken them, a proportion that translates to more than 3.4 million people. The study, conducted in July, found that 35 per cent of those who broke the ban did so to water plants; 27 per cent used their hoses to fill up a pool or paddling pool while 26 per cent broke the rules to clean their car. Twenty-three per cent of

those who broke the ban did so under cover of darkness, according to the poll of 1,036 people.Peter H

All new Mail "The new Interface is stunning in its simplicity and ease of use." - PC Magazine

August 9, 2006

ah..at this rate, soon you'll be sliding down the dunes of north london...

peter VV Aug 9, 2006 1:06 PM Re: Drought killing fish across England and Wales

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Britain

Times Online

August 09, 2006

The bottom of the fishpond in Ashtead Park, Surrey (Richard Pohle/The Times)

Drought killing fish across England and WalesBy Sam Knight and agencies

The Environment Agency asked members of the public to report fish deaths and toxic algal blooms today as its scientists gave warning that Britain's drought was affecting the health of rivers up and down the country.

NI_MPU('middle'); The agency said two dry winters and this summer of record temperatures had reduced rivers to trickles and posed a danger to wildlife at more than 100 sites across England and Wales.

Low water and oxygen levels are suffocating fish and stranding insects that are used to moving from stream to stream, the agency said. Trees have been also been shedding their leaves because of the water shortage.

Over the last two months, the agency said that it had discovered bacteria outbreaks, wetlands drying up and the deaths of thousands of fish, mainly in the South East. Frogs are struggling to breed and the mayfly has not been seen in its traditional breeding rivers.

"This drought is not only affecting people in the way we use water weve now seen 21 months of below-average rain and the environment is suffering, too. Were seeing ponds and rivers drying up, fish becoming stranded and algal blooms," said Dr David King, director of water management at the agency.

"At first, we couldnt see the impact of the drought around us as the real problems were low groundwater levels in the South East. But the continued lack of rainfall, low water levels and recent high temperatures have put pressure on the environment right across England and Wales.

"Its now clear that the impact of the drought is no longer just contained to the South East of England, where water shortages were impacting on peoples water use. The environmental problems are much more widespread.

"If we get a third dry winter in the South East and the dry conditions continue across the rest of England and Wales, were going to see our environment suffer even more," added Dr King.

"With our water environment already under pressure, there are no excuses we can all do our bit to save water."

Dr King asked members of the public to call the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 if they see dead, dying or distressed fish.

The report came as a poll revealed that as many as 3 million people could be secretly flouting the hosepipe bans that apply to more than 12 million people in the South East. The poll, carried out by ICM on the motoring section of the website, eBay, found that 29 per cent of people living under water restrictions had broken them, a proportion that translates to more than 3.4 million people. The study, conducted in July, found that 35 per cent of those who broke the ban did so to water plants; 27 per cent used their hoses to fill up a pool or paddling pool while 26 per cent broke the rules to clean their car. Twenty-three per cent of those who broke the ban did so under cover of darkness, according to the poll of 1,036 people.

Peter H

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