Water quality monitoring

Water quality in the River Chess

As part of the Chess Smarter Water Catchment project, we have placed sondes (multiple sensors) into the River Chess to give us live 15-min interval information on its water quality characteristics, including turbidity, pH, electrical conductivity, nitrate, dissolved oxygen and ammonia concentrations, water level, and temperature. We are currently analysing the data we have collected from this initiative, gaining a clear understanding of the current water quality of the river. This will, ultimately, highlight any dangers or threats, making it possible to devise on-the-ground actions for improving the water quality of the Chess.

The project’s citizen scientists are also assisting in the assessment of emerging contaminants in the River Chess. This involves taking a sample of river water from different locations along the Chess and sending them to Imperial College, London, to be analysed. This information will be vital in understanding the concentration of certain chemicals and any potential risk they pose to wildlife.

Volunteer Hefin with the technical dashboard he has created for the River Chess

Water flow in the River Chess

In spring 2022, more than 40 enthusiastic volunteers signed up for training in survey techniques, such as MoRPh (Modular River Survey), which is an excellent tool for monitoring changes in river channels and riparian buffers. More than 60 hours of surveys have already taken place – and more are planned – across two different stretches of the River Chess at Restore Hope Latimer.

The first survey location is a reach on the main River Chess. This is the site of a restoration scheme aiming to reduce shading to encourage in-stream and bankside vegetation, increase the variation in flows within the channel, and increase the suitability of habitat for water voles. Surveys before and after restoration work help us to evaluate the effectiveness of the works.

The second survey location is on the Little Chess where the River Chess Association have been introducing in-channel deflectors over several years to increase flow variability. The Chess Smarter Water Catchment project has also funded new fencing work along this stretch of river. Previous water vole surveys have shown that there is a healthy population here, and that they could benefit from an expanded area of suitable river habitat. We are closely monitoring this area using MoRPh and water vole surveys to record the habitat that is developing around the deflectors, to see how the new fencing alters the riverbank vegetation over the coming years, and to understand if there are positive outcomes for water voles in the area.

What we do

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