River Avon SAC AMP4 Low Flows Study
APEM were commissioned by Wessex Water to design and undertake a large-scale field investigation to assess the effects of groundwater abstraction on the ecology in the upper River Avon catchment. The survey design was statistically robust and was based on the outputs of an integrated hydrological groundwater-surface water. APEM undertook sampling of macroinvertebrates at 30 sites in spring, summer and autumn in 2006 and 2007 and processed all samples to LIFE species level in the laboratory. Macrophytes were surveyed at the same 30 sites and electric-fishing surveys were undertaken at 90 sites in 2006 and 2007. APEM worked closely with hydrogeologists as part of the scientific investigation team to assess the scale and magnitude of ecological effects at abstraction impacted sites compared to non-impacted sites that were identified by hydrological models. This investigation, undertaken in 2006 and 2007, yielded robust data that has been subject to detailed statistical interrogation to identify the effects of abstraction on the river ecosystem. The final report was submitted to the Environment Agency in March 2008 and will form the basis of their Review of Consents for Wessex Water’s abstraction licences.
