River Rother update

ERA has been carrying out river monitoring surveys of the Rother for over a year now, under the Freshwater Watch (FWW) scheme. Recently we have been contacted by the Arun and Rother Rivers Trust (AART) and also South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), concerning initiatives by them that could take this important work further forward.

ARRT have joined the Catchment Systems Thinking Cooperative (CaSTCo) project (funded by OFWAT), which prioritises citizen science and community river monitoring. The hope is to develop a catchment wide river monitoring project here, using volunteers. This would cover some indicators not covered by the Freshwater Watch system that we are currently using, and would give more precise data in some areas. It would also be fully funded, unlike FWW. ERA is keen to know more and to give this new project serious consideration.

We also recently met with our local SDNPA ranger who is collating data about Invasive Non-Native Species, specifically Himalayan Balsam, but also Skunk Cabbage, along the Rother and its tributaries. ERA has been out this year Balsam pulling in various areas and the problem is significant. We will fully support any efforts from SDNPA to address this issue. Please do continue to let us know where you spot any Himalayan Balsam (and thank you to those of you who have already done so), especially if you are a land owner along the river.