Cass Edwards
Active Member
Thank you BFW team for allowing me to post this message.
As some may know a new group called the Thames Anglers Conservancy has recently been launched.
We are a group composed primarily of anglers who want to help conserve the River Thames habitat for the enjoyment of everyone. In order to do so, we plan to encompass and work with as many people as possible who have an interest in conserving the fauna and flora which inhabit the River Thames and its riparian habitat. Our aim is to strive for a clean and healthy river environment containing a multitude of habitats which are able to support and sustain a rich and biodiverse ecosystem.
One of the main reasons for the formation of the T.A.C. was to campaign against pollution - in its many forms - from entering the Thames. In the last decade there have been several large scale fish kills due to partially treated sewage being discharged into the river from sewage treatment works. Furthermore, endocrine disrupting chemicals which enter the river via sewage outfalls are known to cause widespread damage to the development and reproduction of fish and aquatic invertebrates. These forms of pollution cause serious ecological problems and are a health hazard to river users. Although we appreciate that Thames Water are about to start work to increase the capacity of the Mogden Sewage Treatment Works by 50%, sewage is regularly discharged into the river on average once a week. This is readily acknowledged by Thames Water, who state:
“Annually 32 million cubic metres of diluted sewage is discharged into the River Thames,
enough to fill the O2 (Millennium Dome) almost 15 times”.
This is a phenomenal amount of sewage. While the proposed developments will help to limit pollution events, the new works cannot be built and rendered operational quickly enough to prevent continued environmental damage to the River Thames ecosystem, either today, tomorrow, next week or next year. Consequently we will be monitoring the progress of the enhancements at Mogden and lobbying to make sure they are completed within the planned time frame.
As a newly formed club our development is on-going and our website evolving. In time we hope the T.A.C. will become a major focal point for anyone interested in the aquatic environment of the River Thames. We hope to appeal not only to anglers who fish the river but also to anyone interested in its ecology. The T.A.C. plans to become an educational resource detailing the many plants and animals and other organisms found in and around the river. We also want to highlight the problems caused by non-native invasive species and provide advice about what can be done to prevent and limit their occurrence and spread. As a new organisation we really need as much support as possible, and we ask you to join us in trying to create a better River Thames environment for everyone to enjoy for many years to come.
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Our web site still needs work to it, it can be accessed here:
http://www.t-a-c.webege.com/
Our forum is, however, up and running here:
http://t-a-c.actionboard.net
To become a member of the Conservancy costs nothing. All you need to do is register using your real name.
To join the forum you need to be a member of the Conservancy and then register again on the forum page.
We need as much support as possible.
Thank you, Cass (waterwhirl)
As some may know a new group called the Thames Anglers Conservancy has recently been launched.
We are a group composed primarily of anglers who want to help conserve the River Thames habitat for the enjoyment of everyone. In order to do so, we plan to encompass and work with as many people as possible who have an interest in conserving the fauna and flora which inhabit the River Thames and its riparian habitat. Our aim is to strive for a clean and healthy river environment containing a multitude of habitats which are able to support and sustain a rich and biodiverse ecosystem.
One of the main reasons for the formation of the T.A.C. was to campaign against pollution - in its many forms - from entering the Thames. In the last decade there have been several large scale fish kills due to partially treated sewage being discharged into the river from sewage treatment works. Furthermore, endocrine disrupting chemicals which enter the river via sewage outfalls are known to cause widespread damage to the development and reproduction of fish and aquatic invertebrates. These forms of pollution cause serious ecological problems and are a health hazard to river users. Although we appreciate that Thames Water are about to start work to increase the capacity of the Mogden Sewage Treatment Works by 50%, sewage is regularly discharged into the river on average once a week. This is readily acknowledged by Thames Water, who state:
“Annually 32 million cubic metres of diluted sewage is discharged into the River Thames,
enough to fill the O2 (Millennium Dome) almost 15 times”.
This is a phenomenal amount of sewage. While the proposed developments will help to limit pollution events, the new works cannot be built and rendered operational quickly enough to prevent continued environmental damage to the River Thames ecosystem, either today, tomorrow, next week or next year. Consequently we will be monitoring the progress of the enhancements at Mogden and lobbying to make sure they are completed within the planned time frame.
As a newly formed club our development is on-going and our website evolving. In time we hope the T.A.C. will become a major focal point for anyone interested in the aquatic environment of the River Thames. We hope to appeal not only to anglers who fish the river but also to anyone interested in its ecology. The T.A.C. plans to become an educational resource detailing the many plants and animals and other organisms found in and around the river. We also want to highlight the problems caused by non-native invasive species and provide advice about what can be done to prevent and limit their occurrence and spread. As a new organisation we really need as much support as possible, and we ask you to join us in trying to create a better River Thames environment for everyone to enjoy for many years to come.
-
Our web site still needs work to it, it can be accessed here:
http://www.t-a-c.webege.com/
Our forum is, however, up and running here:
http://t-a-c.actionboard.net
To become a member of the Conservancy costs nothing. All you need to do is register using your real name.
To join the forum you need to be a member of the Conservancy and then register again on the forum page.
We need as much support as possible.
Thank you, Cass (waterwhirl)
