The aim of the Forum is to bring about a change in Loe Pool from an algae dominated state to a clear freshwater lake with healthy populations of plants and fish. This requires reducing the quantity of phosphorus entering the lake. Phosphorus is focused upon because it is a key WFD and SSSI target and…
The River Cober has flooded the town of Helston, Cornwall, for centuries having social, economic and ecological consequences. Ella Rosser’s Masters (Camborne School of Mines) dissertation explored the role of the upper catchment as a contribution to flooding in the lower catchment. Sub-basins in the watershed were mapped using LiDAR data to delineate drainage areas that…
Over the years Loe Pool Forum has build a productive relationship with Neill Wood (Programme Director for MSc Surveying and Land/Environmental Management) at Camborne School of Mines (CSM). In 2017 Andrew Benny, CSM Masters student, conducted a research project to test new methods for assessing soil conditions. This project focussed on agricultural land in the…
The River Cober provides drinking water to the Helston area. It has been recognised by the Environment Agency that the raw water quality in the Cober catchment is poor. This diffuse pollution is largely from an agricultural source and consists of sediment, phosphate and pesticides. This study identifies sites of high pollution risk and the…
Every few years Loe Pool Forum review the progress made towards targets, scrutinise the approach and develop a future management plan. The first Cober Catchment Management Plan was produced in 1998 (Wilson and Dinsdale), the second in 2002 (Dinsdale and Wilson) and the third in 2009 (Dinsdale). We have just finished reviewing LPF’s progress since…
Natural flood management is about slowing and storing floodwater. The aim is to reduce the downstream flood peak height. One way to slow the flow is to build ‘leaky damns’. These are woody debris which create pools and riffles. Along with flood risk benefits they are also great habitats for fish and aquatic insects. On…
Yesterday we spent the afternoon with Cornwall Wildlife Trust and some helpful pupil’s from St. Michael’s C of E Primary School painting the town yellow in the name of water quality. This was as part of the Environment Agency’s Yellow Fish Project. Armed with yellow spray-paint and fish-shaped stencils, Yellow Fish symbols were sprayed next to…
In December, Justin Whitehouse (National Trust) was interviewed by BBC Radio Cornwall about our recent efforts to restore natural flooding to the Willow Carr, woodland area, below Helston. The Willow Carr project will improve habitat for the benefit of local plant species and animals such as the otter. One element of the project involved laying…
On the 21st of April Helston Community College took off on a field trip to Loe Pool and RNAS Culdrose. This Year 9 trip was part of the PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) Healthy Living Project. The aim of the day was to encourage the 200 pupils to engage more often with their fantastic local…
The Loe Pool Forum identified a need to produce an up to date and high resolution bathymetric data of Loe Pool to assess the current condition of Loe Pool and to use a benchmark for future monitoring and investigations. Alongside the need for bathymetric data, an accurate image of the objects and features within the…
Loe Pool Forum 