River lovers are being called to unite to save the waterways as Bristol Avon RiverBlitz returns. Concerned about the ecological condition of the water bodies, the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) has announced the return of its annual Bristol Avon RiverBlitz. The event, which will take place from July 7 to 14, aims to enlist the help of enthusiastic citizen scientists to gather crucial data on the health of rivers and streams across the Avon catchment.
With seven successful years under its belt, BART hopes to see a record number of participants signing up this year. The collected data on water quality during the RiverBlitz will enable BART to better understand the factors affecting river health and identify priority sites requiring further investigation.
Volunteers will be tasked with collecting water samples from their local rivers and using user-friendly testing kits to measure nitrate and phosphate levels. This will provide a snapshot of the water quality at specific locations and times.
Once the samples are collected, the data will be uploaded to BART's online platform. This information will be compiled with data from across the catchment and made accessible through the "Bristol Avon RiverBlitz Explorer" platform. Interested individuals can explore the platform to view data from the past seven years.
While nitrate and phosphate are essential nutrients for rivers, excessive quantities pose a threat to wildlife. When these nutrients reach excessive levels, they cause the proliferation of algae, which can block sunlight from reaching the riverbed. As the algae decompose, oxygen levels in the water are depleted, making it difficult for some plant and animal species to survive while allowing less desirable species to dominate. Monitoring the phosphate and nitrate levels in rivers is, therefore, crucial for the effective management and conservation of waterways.
Rozy Gray, Bristol Avon RiverBlitz Project Manager at BART, said: “Our annual Bristol Avon RiverBlitz project is a fantastic way for people to get out and spend time by their local river, getting to better understand the ecosystem while also taking an active role to contribute to the ongoing conservation of these spaces.
“Our rivers are facing enormous challenges of which excessive nutrient inputs are a major aspect, negatively impacting the diversity of species inhabiting our river environments. Monitoring nutrient levels, whilst simultaneously raising awareness of their impact, is what RiverBlitz is all about and we hope that people are both interested and excited to get involved to do their bit to support BART’s work in protecting them into the future.”
If you are interested in becoming a RiverBlitz citizen scientist, you can sign up for free by visiting the following link: https://bristolavonriverstrust.org/riverblitz/register. To receive a free and comprehensive monitoring kit by mail, be sure to sign up before July 1. Alternatively, you can attend one of BART's in-person RiverBlitz events, where you can interact with the friendly team and collect a water test kit.
Planned events are taking place in:
· River Chew: Keynsham Memorial Park, Saturday 8th July 10am-2pm
· Land Yeo: Watercress farm, Wraxall, Saturday 8th July 10am – 2pm
· Wellow Brook: Midsomer Norton Town Park, Sunday 9th July 10am – 2pm
· River Biss: Trowbridge Park Pond, Trowbridge, Sunday 9th July 10am – 2pm
For more information about the Bristol Avon RiverBlitz events, please visit https://bristolavonriverstrust.org/events/.
