Crane and Black-bourne Brook investigations

Award outcome

Description

This project aims to undertake an investigation into water flows, levels, and apportionment at Chasewater Reservoir (NGR: SK0346807715) within the Crane Brook catchment. The project is being driven by the Client's requirement to determine a New Authorisation application from the Canal & River Trust (CRT) to abstract water from Chasewater Reservoir to fill the Wyrley & Essington Canal, and a requirement to deliver improvements against the Water Framework Directive (WFD) for the Crane Brook - source to Footherley Brook Water Body (GB104028046480). The Crane Brook is heavily impacted by restricted reservoir flows, in part due to Chasewater Reservoir fully impounding it. The Crane Brook surface water body is classified as band three failure, known as a Serious Damage water body, and is classed with Does Not Support Good for Hydrological Regime under WFD. The only onward flow to the Crane Brook is from seepage through the reservoir dam and from a canal overflow which is not continuous. Further evidence is required to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a compensation flow to benefit the Crane Brook, taking into account the requirements of the reservoir Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and canal Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The compensation flow may become a condition the CRT abstraction licence upon licence renewal.

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