It was a great pleasure to welcome Jack Knott, Cotswolds Rivers Trust manager, at OWN to give a lecture about the work the Trust is doing.
Jack touched upon the history of the Trust and its key priorities, including water quality, river restoration, and climate resilience to flooding and drought, as well as engaging with the public, farmers and schools.
Sewage pollution, agricultural runoff and rural land management together with physical modifications of the river flow are among the Reasons for Not Achieving Good status for the Cotswolds rivers, according to the Water Framework Directive classification. The issues pertaining to river restoration revolve around rive straightening, agricultural intensification, physical blocks, and invasive species, such as American crayfish. Finally, extreme weather patterns have been causing increased risks of flooding and drought in the area.
To address the above, stakeholder engagement, reporting, water quality testing, modifying framing practices, and supporting Nature-based Solutions are crucial.
Jack also spoke about the Winrush Catchment Partnership, hosted by the Cotswolds Rivers Trust, which represents a Catchment Based Approach to river management, which is community-led and delivers partnerships. collaboration and direct action.
If Jack's work is of interest to you, reach out to Ira at owncoordinator@water.ox.ac.uk and she'll be happy to connect you.
