Thanks to RevIvel for an informative tour of the Ivel Springs this week. One key takeaway: It's vital that excessive water abstraction from chalk stream source aquifers is reduced, to restore natural waterflow. Healthy, flowing watercourses are critical for our wildlife, and indeed for ourselves.

Did you know the study of environmental DNA (eDNA) of microbes could transform how we understand and protect freshwater ecosystems? Dr Amy Thorpe, a molecular ecologist at UKCEH, shares insights from the first national survey of microbial eDNA in English rivers 🦠🔬

Exploring the hidden microbial diversity of England’s rivers

In a blog, Dr Amy Thorpe, a molecular ecologist at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, discusses the findings of the first national survey of microbial eDNA in English rivers, involving the…

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Beautiful light this morning. Frost squeezing the water out of exposed chalk lumps and causing them to crumble. #northherts

Seen my first trout in the River Oughton. Bet it's warmer in the water than it is out here...

A lovely early winter dog walk in North Herts this morning. @northessexnotes.bsky.social @bbcweather.bsky.social

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CHRISTMAS QUIZ GIVEAWAY Today's Question: Complete the name of this species of stonefly, found only in Britain, named after the month in which they usually emerge: ‘Northern ……………. Red’.

Hi #freshwater folks 👋 The Freshwater Biological Association have announced a new initiative to assess one of our rarest fish, the Arctic charr, in Windermere. There is a crowd funder, too, to support the work ☺️ (And here's a bit of #SciArt from me!) 🧪💦 www.fba.org.uk/lake-distric...

A month ago, we had the immense privilege of not only taking over the Patagonia shop window (which is still there!) but also hosting a fantastic evening to talk about our campaign. Once again, we had the honour of sharing the stage with the formidable @jamie-woodward.bsky.social

Did you know... 1️⃣Stoneflies belong to the order Plecoptera, which means ‘braided wings’ 2️⃣Over 3,500 species belong to this family worldwide. 3️⃣The endemic species 'Northern February Red' is named so as they begin to emerge in February

Pretty new on here and wanted to share some film of the Sea Trout building Redds & spawning in Norfolk’s rare Chalk streams. Sadly I can only show 60 seconds of film so you’ll have to watch on Twitter

This plan is so ridiculous I can't believe I'm about to write these words - water companies want to build pipelines to divert sewage away from protected rivers to... other rivers & lakes with fewer legal protections...& they want to raise our bills to pay for it... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Customers set to pay for new sewage pipelines - BBC News

Water companies are to spend billions of pounds of consumers' money building new pipelines.

bbc.co.uk

This juvenile Calanoida copepod sashayed with style across my slide. 🦑

So sad to see the water run off from roads and fields polluting the Vale Brook which flows into the River Chess in Chesham. Yes, that clear water above is what a chalk stream looks like, the rest is pollution. #riverpollution #chalkstreams #riverchess

🌊 NEW 🌊 Now the Supreme Court has removed barriers that stopped people taking on polluting water companies, Jo Bateman is expanding her case. https://buff.ly/49aMrGf

Jo Bateman broadens her challenge against South West Water - Good Law Project

Now the Supreme Court has removed barriers that stopped people taking on polluting water companies, Jo Bateman is expanding her case.

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My most memorable Orca encounter ever was this sighting of the West Coast community Orcas John Coe and Aquarius from the Ullapool to Stornoway Ferry. Sadly these 2 males are the only members of the pod left and given their age (60 years +) will not be with us too much longer #Orca #MarineLife!🦑

I had a chat with NHBS about Marsh Tits, Willow Tits, woodlands, a bit of #rewilding and my new #book in the Poyser series, coming out in 2 weeks: Author interview with Richard Broughton: The Marsh Tit and the Willow Tit www.nhbs.com/blog/author-... #ornithology #ukbirding #forestecology #nature

Author interview with Richard Broughton: The Marsh Tit and the Willow Tit

Marking the first monograph for either species, Richard Broughton’s The Marsh Tit and the Willow Tit reveals the remarkable lives of these wonderful little birds. Compiling decades of personal researc...

nhbs.com

Here is a mid-week Mayfly to remind us of warmer months...🥶

One of the inspirations behind the Save Windermere campaign. This is just one of the iconic animals we’re striving to protect by demanding an end to sewage pollution in Windermere. Sign up to help ⬇️ www.savewindermere.com One of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken. Copyright: Save Windermere

A few pictures from latest trip on the CalMac Ferries Ullapool - Stornoway crossing. In total we had 13 separate sightings of cetaceans & saw 4 different species, Common dolphins, porpoise, Minke and Fin whale. Also a distant sighting of a White Tailed Sea Eagle sitting on Priest Island #cetaceans

A lump of chalk on a frosty morning demonstrating its ability to store water. Unfortunately Affinity Water currently take 53% of all available water from the upper Ivel catchment, up to 14 million litres per day! @beneath-b-waters.bsky.social @stormwater-jo.bsky.social @welshriversunion.bsky.social

Highway runoff causes horrific pollution of rivers every time it rains. This outfall in Lancashire discharges toxic, hazardous substances into the River Lostock, causing it to fail to meet env. standards. These substances are toxic to the invertebrates living in the river. #StormwaterPollution

A great starter pack full of freshwater scientists.

Carlos Cano-Barbacil@canobarbacil.bsky.social · 2y ago

I made a #Bluesky #FreshwaterEcology and #BiodiversityConservation starter pack. If you'd like to be included, please comment bellow 👇🏼 go.bsky.app/ShC6bp7

What an inspiring rewilding success story. It took only two months for salmon to reach ancestral spawning grounds that had been cut off for more than a century! www.latimes.com/environment/...

'A beautiful thing': Klamath River salmon are spotted far upstream in Oregon after dam removal

The removal of dams on the Klamath River has enabled salmon to swim far upstream to spawn. Wildlife officials have found salmon upstream in Oregon.

latimes.com

UK imports of US fracked gas will soar if Labour’s #CCS plans go ahead—which are mostly about new gas power stations and blue hydrogen plants. The Gov must listen to the scientists and go all out for renewables instead.

Simon Oldridge@sioldridge.bsky.social · 2y ago

The UK’s £22 billion carbon capture plans are a Big Oil scam to keep the gas flowing. They’re mostly about 𝙣𝙚𝙬 gas infrastructure - with minimal retrofit of existing plants. Why scientists are so alarmed👇 www.mpwatch.org/blog/carbon-... #CCS

So if your interested in our work check our website, sign up to our mailing list and if local come volunteer and support us in our work. www.welshdeetrust.com

We also have two policy based programmes. Environmental flows which is aiming to reduce the damage caused by dams to the river And Catchment based approach which aims to improve planning and actions. Currently awful but so important.