Blanket weed makes a return to Loe Pool

Though thankfully not the toxic blue/green algae; the return of blanket weed in Loe Pool, following warmer than normal temperatures, has prompted concerns over the impacts of the weed on the local environment and ecosystems. More information in the link below:

• Blanket weed makes a return to Loe Pool

Guide to reporting water pollution incidents

See the following article for information about the many different water pollution incidents, and how to report them to the Environment Agency (including the relevant phone numbers).

• Guide to reporting water pollution incidents

Sediment and Organic Matter Transfer to the Watercourse

In 2017 a team of researchers from Exeter University, Cranfield University, and The James Hutton Institute studied the flow of sediment in Carminowe Creek; which feeds directly into the Loe on its eastern side.

• 2017 – Tracing of particulate organic C sources across the terrestrial-aquatic continuum, a case study at the catchment scale 

Flow Pathways, Soil Erosion Risk and Watercourse Pollution

This study identifies sites, in the Cober catchment, of high pollution risk and the modes of transport to the watercourse. This was achieved through fieldwork analysis across a number of landcover types, to identify the causes behind soil loss from farmland and how this reaches the watercourse.

• 2016 – Evaluating flow pathways in an agricultural setting in relation to the risk of soil erosion and watercourse pollution in the Cober Catchment, Helston, Cornwall.

Managing Land Use and Pollution Upstream

Megan Angus conducted her BSc Geography dissertation (University of Exeter, Penryn Campus) on ‘managing land use and pollution upstream, to improve water quality and minimise flood risk in the Cober catchment, Cornwall’.

• 2015 – Investigation into Managing Land Use and Pollution Upstream

MAGIC Map

The MAGIC website provides authoritative geographic information about the natural environment from across government. The information covers rural, urban, coastal and marine environments across Great Britain. It is presented in an interactive map which can be explored using various mapping tools that are included. Follow this link and zoom in on the Cober catchment;

• http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/magicmap.aspx 

Small Sewage Discharge Treatment Plants

Nutrient enrichment from diffuse sources is major reason for Loe Pool failing its SSSI and WFD targets. There is growing evidence that small sewage discharges (SSDs) may pose a significant environmental risk to freshwater habitats under certain circumstances.

• 2015 – Natural England Report on the effectiveness of different on-site wastewater treatment systems and their management to reduce phosphorus pollution