Title: Chalk stream malaise : anglers' views on contributory factors
Author: Environment Agency South West Region
Document Type: Monograph
Abstract:
During the year 2000 a 'Chalk Streams Fly Trends Study' was carried out involving the analysis of questionnnaire responses from 365 fly fishermen, angling club secretaries, and river keepers from chalk rivers in southern England. The study tackled two issues; firstly to evaluate trends in aquatic fly abundance over recent decades and immediate past years, and secondly to ascertain from the respondents what their views were on the 'Chalk Stream Malaise'. The 'Report on the Millennium Chalk Streams Fly Trends Study' is published by the Environment Agency and the Wiltshire Fishery Association as a separate report. 'Chalk Stream Malaise' is a generic term, coined by anglers and often ascribed to any symptoms and observations relating to a deterioration in classic chalk stream habitat. As such, the various elements reflect both 'factors', for example low flow, and 'drivers' i.e. things which influence the factors such as in this example abstraction or drought conditions. It is also recognised that many of the elements listed in the questionnaire are inextricably linked, e.g. low flows could increase the concentration of pollutants, rate of siltation, and indirectly affect weed growth, algae on weeds, all of which could be exacerbated by channel modification and poor habitat.
Publisher: Environment Agency
Publication Date: 2000
Publication Place: Exeter
Subject Keywords: Chalk streams; Angling; Rivers; Environmental surveys; Habitat assessment; Water abstraction; Questionnaires
Geographic Keywords: Wiltshire
Extent: n.p. [6]
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:590
Total file downloads: 343
Download PDF Display PDF in separate tab