Water Quality
Restoring clear water and aquatic life to the degraded waterways is one of our fundamental aims. Years of research and experimental management have revealed what the Broads waterways were like 100 or so years ago, with crystal clear water and plenty of water plants and birds. Since then increased numbers of human inhabitants, boats and intensive agriculture have resulted in high levels of nutrients and contaminants in the water. This has resulted in the eventual loss of the clear water conditions the Broads was once famous for.
Water quality changes in the Broads (pdf document) [94kb]
The diagram below shows the phases of decline in the Broads with increased nutrient concentrations. Most broads are in the lower phases (3a and 3b). However there is potential for recovery back to clear water conditions using restoration techniques like biomanipulation (the removal of small fish that eat water fleas).
Clear water now only occurs in about five of the 63 broads, so we are seeking practical ways of repairing years of ecological decline, in partnership with the Environment Agency, Natural England, and other scientists and wetland experts.
Our environmentally friendly boating page gives more details of how you can help reduce the ecological impact of your boating experience on the Broads, including advice on steps to reduce the impact of antifouling paint.
