Fen Management Handbook - Scottish Natural Heritage

Another consideration is the likely cumulative effects on the condition of underlying
aquifer, and fens which rely on these aquifers, where more than one abstraction
point is involved.
It is also important to take account of the spatial layout of the boreholes, fens, and
the topography. A point of stagnation is identified downslope of the borehole, most
of the flow towards it comes from the upslope part of the aquifer. While this may
be difficult to visualise without a considerable array of complex measurements,
it serves to illustrate the range of factors that need to be taken into account in
determining adverse effect, and that a simple prediction of drawdown on a plane
surface is inadequate.
Although the issue of abstraction close to the Norfolk Valley Fens has been
investigated as an effect on the chalk aquifers (which may be fractured into subunits),
it may be made even more complex by the possibility of there being smaller
aquifers within the overlying drift. These may also provide important amounts of
groundwater for the fens.
Wider relevance
The complex eco-hydrological setting of these sites is repeated in many parts of
the UK. For example, the multi-layered deposits underlying the New Forest valley
bogs is similarly complex, some strata acting as aquifers, others as aquitards; some
are base-rich, others are base-poor. While the abstraction issue is not so evident in
the New Forest, the same sort of information about water supply is required for the
design of any management measures.
Gooderstone Common:
downstream of springs
Reference
Wheeler, B.D. & Shaw, S.C., 2001. A Wetland Framework for impact assessment
at statutory sites in Eastern England. Environment Agency Research &
Development Technical Report W6-068/TR1.
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