Celebrating 25 Years of the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project

WWF-UK, The Wildlife Trusts, The Rivers Trusts and other groups including the Chilterns Chalk Streams
Project and the River Chess Association. Amongst other measures, the Charter called for abstraction reform
and greater use of reservoir storage for winter runoff. The Charter recognised the particular threat to the
undesignated streams of the Chilterns arising from over half a century of over-abstraction, and recommended
that the Chilterns be the focus of a government pilot to restore specific rivers to good ecological health.
There have been multiple assessments of the issues over the last 25 years but little by way of robust strategy.
Throughout this period the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project has been calling for:
• Special status for chalk streams
• The need for Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, to consider the environment in its
decision-making
• Action on over-abstraction
Bulbourne, Sheldon Way,
Berkhamsted
OVERVIEW
2012
2013
CHARTER FOR
CHALK STREAMS
IS LAUNCHED
FOLLOWING THE
SUMMIT
2014
2019
CHALK STREAMS IN
CRISIS IS PRODUCED
BY MARTIN SALTER
AND STUART
SINGLETON-WHITE
CABA CHALK STREAMS
RESTORATION
STRATEGY 2021
IS PUBLISHED
2020
2021
The last five years have seen
multiple calls for action,
perhaps reflecting the
increasing urgency of the
situation in light of the
climate change emergency.
Additionally, the COVID-19
lockdowns that occurred
in 2020 demonstrated
the benefits of nature for
mental health and wellbeing,
highlighting the importance
of protecting our natural
environment.
CHALK STREAMS
SUMMIT IS ORGANISED
BY ANGLING TRUST
AND THE SALMON AND
TROUT ASSOCIATION
THE STATE OF
ENGLAND’S CHALK
STREAMS IS
PUBLISHED BY WWF
CHALK STREAMS
FIRST IS PUBLISHED
THE CHANGING NATIONAL CONTEXT OVER 25 YEARS OF THE CCSP | 19
Chess at Pednormead
End, January 2019