Eden Demonstration Test Catchment

This project is all about finding out whether it is possible to produce food on farms and have clean water in our rivers.  Will Cleasby at ERT is the Project Engagement Officer.

Three areas in the Eden Valley are being looked at in detail – the Morland Beck and Dacre Beck near Penrith and the Pow Beck near Dalston.  Monitoring stations have been installed along the rivers to look at water quality and the weather conditions are also taken into account because this affects what farmers do on their land.  Information on the plants and bacteria in the river is also collected and looked at in conjunction with the water quality data.

Various techniques are being trialled to trace the origin of potential river pollutants from the land.  For example, soil and manure samples have been taken from around the valleys being studied and these are compared to samples taken from the river.

Farmers have been keeping diaries of their activities and providing details about their farms.  This will be looked at in conjunction with the monitoring information collected.

The British Geological Survey has been taking samples of various springs.  They are looking at how long it takes for water which falls as rain to filter into the ground and re-emerge at the springs.  This helps us to understand how water moves through the landscape.  The soil types and underlying rocks present influence how water moves and this study will help us identify ways to improve water quality through better land management.

The most important role for ERT in this project is to maintain close contact with the farming community because the findings of the studies may have implications for the future.  For more information please contact Will Cleasby at the Trust offices or visit the website www.edendtc.org.uk.

See us planting trees for Dacre Beck on YouTube here