Fen Management Handbook - Scottish Natural Heritage

Groundwater inflow. Groundwater levels in the underlying Sherwood Sandstone
have been lowered significantly by groundwater abstraction. Local sandstone
groundwater levels were 1-4 m below ground surface over most of the site,
indicating that there was no groundwater discharge to the site. However, there
is anecdotal evidence of groundwater discharge to the site via peripheral springs
within living memory.
Groundwater outflow. There was a downwards hydraulic gradient through the low
permeability floodplain sediments into the Sherwood Sandstone, and therefore the
potential for loss of water from the site through downwards percolation. The amount
of water lost in this way was difficult to quantify.
Surface water inflows. These represented the only significant source of water for
the site. Because of lowered groundwater levels in the Sherwood Sandstone, there
is negligible groundwater-fed baseflow discharge in the Blakedown Brook. Flows
were maintained almost exclusively by a constant 3.4 million litres per day discharge
of treated sewage effluent upstream of the site.
Knowledge of the water transfer mechanisms for the site was used as a basis for
development of a detailed hydrological conceptual model. This model was then
used as a basis for the initial design of a range of remedial measures, the feasibility
and cost-effectiveness of which were being explored at the time of writing (autumn
2008).
Water Transfer mechanisms for Hurcott Wood
Acknowledgements: Sarah Gaskill and Mike Averill (Environment Agency), Paul
Allen (Wyre Forest District Council), Anthony Muller (Natural England), Paul Inman
(WMC), and others too numerous to mention.
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