What we do

The data the project collects is vital in our fight to save the River and its catchment. Find out how.

The Chess Smarter Water Catchment project is collecting a range of data from its initiatives, including information about water quality, water vole populations, and results from citizen-science surveys. As we progress with our work, we will provide feedback on this data for our volunteers, stakeholders and the public.

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Water quality monitoring

As part of the project, we have placed sondes (multiple sensors) into the River Chess to give us live 15-min interval information on its water quality characteristics.

Ecology and wildlife monitoring

We are monitoring wildlife along the River Chess and in its catchment to understand how it is responding to threats and challenges, and how conservation works may help to restore it.

Reports

The State of the River Chess is a baseline report for the Chess catchment. Find it and other key reports here.

Our achievements

Our Chess Smarter Water Catchment project is tackling the issues that face the river and its catchment through partnership working.

Chess Watch is a partnership between the Queen Mary University of London, River Chess Association, Chilterns Chalk Streams Project and Thames Water. The partnership is monitoring water chemistry in the River Chess, increasing public awareness about the threats to water quality and river health, and providing educational materials about chalk streams and the links between water quality and water quantity issues in rivers.
A Natural Capital Assessment – a project to collect data on the extent, condition and change in ecosystems, natural capital, and the benefits to society – is being undertaken in the Chess catchment. Baseline data has been complied to provide evidence for the issues and challenges in the area.

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If you’d like to receive our monthly newsletter with survey results, volunteer stories, event dates, information about restorative work and more, please do sign up below!