Biologist says River Avon ‘in danger of ecological collapse’

Dr Cyril Bennett MBE is a resident of Amesbury and a specialist freshwater biologist.

He has conducted a study over 10 years, the results of which highlighted serious issues with the current state of the River Avon.

The River Avon is considered to be a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

He expressed concern that the Lord’s Walk – River Restoration Project, aimed at flood prevention, may unintentionally be damaging the river’s ecosystem.

Dr Bennett said due to the project’s changes, the main flow of the river has been redirected along a smaller northern branch, resulting in stagnation and a build-up of silt, duckweed, and algae in the main river section through Lord’s Walk.

The River Avon water flow (Image: Cyril Bennett)

These factors suggest a “significant reduction” in the location’s population of freshwater invertebrates, including fewer molluscs and the absence of once common Caddisflies and Mayflies.

These two species are both known to be sensitive to changes in water flow, according to Dr Bennett.

A favourite spot among local families for picnics and paddling, the area known as the ‘carrier’, is also reportedly suffering.

The biologist also explained that the river’s water quality was being severely impacted due to “a lack of regulation and robust routine monitoring”.

Dr Bennett said: “Due to its disconnection from the mainstream of the river, it has begun to stagnate.

“The monitoring of freshwater invertebrates is important for understanding the long-term health of rivers, but has been significantly reduced due to budget cuts at the Environment Agency (EA).

“Consequently, the rivers are in danger of ecological collapse.

The River Avon water flow (Image: Cyril Bennett)

“Fish populations are dwindling, with species like the ‘iconic’ chalk stream salmon disappearing from rivers.

“Moreover, pollution incidents and the decline in the ecological status of rivers will go unrecorded, and the accuracy of the ecological classification of our rivers will be compromised.

“There are those that have destroyed it, those that have let them do it and those that are hiding it.

“And we are doing nothing about it.”

Dr Cyril Bennett’s findings present a bleak outlook for the River Avon, he says.

In his view, the lack of monitoring, the restoration project, and overall inaction appear to be accelerating the ecological collapse of the river.