Do you have a favourite river that you live near or visit? Last year, the 2024 State of The Rivers report found no single stretch of river in England is in good overall health. Only 15% of English river stretches reach good ecological health standards. If you are concerned about the condition of your local river, you can contribute to a national observational study of the ecological health of our waterways.
Twice a year, The Rivers Trust runs The Big River Watch. The Trust is asking the public to join their week long, citizen science survey of river health. This year, between 19-25 September, the public is being asked to record observations of their local river using the free app.
- The survey includes questions on river wildlife, signs of pollution, and health and wellbeing.
- If you sign up for a test kit in advance, you can also test the water and monitor nitrate and phosphate levels between 19-21 September.
- Results will be updated in near-real time on an interactive data dashboard.
- More than 9,000 people have previously taken part in the Big River Watch, many new to citizen science.
Anyone can join in by downloading the free ‘Big River Watch’ app, from the usual app stores. Then spend 15 minutes by their local river, answering the simple survey questions. After uploading your observations to the app, you’ll be able to see national results on the interactive dashboard. This evidence will help drive action to improve rivers via campaigns and political advocacy.
Emma Brisdion, Communications and Campaigns Manager at The Rivers Trust, said:
“Rivers are under increasing pressure from climate change, pollution, and other human impacts threatening both waterways and the wildlife that rely on them. In response, more people want to step up to protect the rivers they care about. The Big River Watch makes it easy for everyone to do just that; by tracking the health of local waterways, your survey can help provide vital data that drives real change. This September’s survey response will help us better understand how our rivers have responded to a very hot, dry summer. Every observation matters, strengthening our understanding, connecting communities with nature, and making a lasting impact.”
River users
Across East Anglia individuals, groups and councillors are campaigning to improve river quality in their area. In Norwich a group of dedicated wild swimmers are working with Norwich City Council to achieve designated bathing water status on the River Wensum, at Cow Tower.
Graeme Thomas, Team GB Rower and Olympian, spoke in support of the campaign:
“The UK’s rivers and lakes have provided me with a wonderful office for the last 15 years as a rower. It’s always a joy to see wildlife in and around the river, but I have always felt there could be more. Given half the chance, our waterways could truly be teeming with life everywhere. However, this is not the case for rivers across the UK and Ireland making monitoring our rivers more important than ever.
“Cleaning untreated sewage, road tar and who knows what else off my boat isn’t caused only by the occasional high rainfall event in winter, but something that poses a threat to rivers all year round.”
Local trusts
The Big River Watch gives communities an easy opportunity to be part of protecting rivers. It empowers people to develop stronger support for their local river by signposting them to further activities such as volunteering with their local Rivers Trust.
Thomas urges individuals to participate:
“By spending just 15 minutes surveying your local river, the data collected from the Big River Watch will help pinpoint issues and will paint a picture of the scale of the problem. It is a fantastic citizen science opportunity to gather as much data as possible to help restore and protect our rivers for the future.”
In East Anglia the local trusts are Norfolk Rivers Trust, River Waveney Trust, Essex & Suffolk Rivers Trust, Great Ouse Rivers Trust and Thames Rivers Trust.
This map shows which Trust covers your area. Results and insights for your local River Trust are published here.
East Anglian rivers
In our region, we are blessed with many beautiful rivers about which we have often written. During River Watch week, we are republishing some of these articles which focus on their environmental state, and projects underway to restore them.
This article is based on a press release from the Rivers Trust.
