Lound
Lound Catchment Project
The Lound Catchment Project is a partnership project to safeguard water quality and conserve biodiversity.
We are working in partnership with Essex & Suffolk Water (ESW) at the Lound catchment. Situated on the eastern border of Norfolk and Suffolk, the catchment consists of approximately 30 sq km of mainly arable land. The Lound reservoirs and Fritton Lake are nestled in the low-lying centre of the catchment and supply drinking water to Lowestoft.
The Lound Catchment Project is exploring ways to reduce diffuse water pollution entering the reservoirs. Diffuse water pollution is defined by Defra as Pollution arising from land-use activities (both urban and rural) that is dispersed across a catchment. This can include fertilisers, pesticides and silt.
As with many water-bodies, nutrient levels at Lound reservoirs have been on the increase over the past few decades as farming has intensified. The main source of these nutrients is agricultural fertiliser from the catchment. When nutrient levels in aquatic ecosystems increase (eutrophication), algal blooms can occur and reductions in biodiversity follow. Treating the water for public drinking supply also becomes more expensive.
The Lound Project Officer is engaging local farmers to raise awareness of diffuse pollution and its associated problems. Encouraging certain changes in farming practices can help to reduce pollution. Environmental Stewardship schemes are a key way for farmers to deliver sustainable change. In these schemes farmers agree to manage their land according to certain specifications, and as a result receive payments from Defra.
The Project Officer also coordinates management of 81 hectares of land surrounding the Lound reservoirs owned by ESW. This consists of woodland and unfertilised grassland, and therefore provides a useful buffer around the lakes from the wider intensively-farmed catchment.
Much of the ESW land is managed according to a Countryside Stewardship Scheme and a Woodland Grant Scheme, to conserve and increase biodiversity. A volunteer group meets monthly to carry out practical conservation tasks and conduct wildlife surveying. Recreation at Lound includes a fishing club for people with disabilities, and a network of footpaths.
Lound Project Officer: tel 01502 523840
