The winter 2025 newletter for the Upper Lea catchment can be viewed here

Information on the Old River Lea barbel introduction can  be read here.

Please note: If you catch a juvenile barbel, or any barbel with a blue dye mark, please take a picture of the belly and send to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Public consultation for the River Basin Management Plan is underway.  To take part in the process follow this link

This is the first step in the process of reviewing and updating the river management plans, last updated in 2022.  A summary of the consultation responses will be published on the EA website within 12 weeks of the consultation closing. Read more ...

A review of the  River Lea Catchment Partnership has been conducted to ensure that it is running effectively and efficiently. The summary of the review can be read here.

The Summer 2024 Water Quality Update for Lea and tributaries can be viewed here

The Thames Water Environmental Newsletter for Summer 2024 can be read here

Several catchment partnership meetings have been held during Spring 2024. The minutes and presentations are available for viewing. Read more ...

The Spring 2024 Water Quality Update for the River Lea and tributaries can be read here

The River Lea Catchment Conference was held on Wednesday20th March 2024. It gave an opportunity for anyone interested in the chalk rivers of Hertfordshire and Middlesex to find out about some of the initiatives over the last two years to improve freshwater habitats locally and regionally. Read more ...

The Winter 2023/4 Water Quality Update for the River Lea and tributaries can be read here

There is a River Lea Catchment Partnership Meeting on Wednesday 20^th March 2024, 6.00pm – 9.30pm at Welwyn Civic Centre.

For further details see Lea Conference Invite & Agenda

A lecture on the reintroduction of Eurasian Beavers to Britain and their role creating diverse wetlands while helping to reduce flooding will take place on Wednesday 28 February at 8pm in Welwyn Civic Centre.

 For details click here

Around the country 48 local nature recovery strategies (LNRS) are currently being prepared by the local authorities alongside other partners and stakeholders.  To find out more click here

There is a vacancy for a Chalk Rivers and Farm Advisory Officer, which has been externally funded by the Environment Agency for a 3 year fixed term period.  Details of the job and how to apply are here

The Autumn 2023 Water Quality Update for the River Lea and tributaries can be read here

The Winter 2023 newsletter can be read here

Catchment Sensitive Farming will be holding an event for farmers in the Upper Lee and Stort / Lower Lee and Lakes catchments on Friday 12 January 2024. Read more ...

The INNS Out scheme which covers Affinity Water’s supply Area is now open for applications. Information can be obtained here.

 Anglian Water will be opening their INNS Grant Scheme for applications at the beginning of November. Their scheme is hosted on the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation website, where all details of the scheme and application forms will be located.

 Applications will be considered for funding of INNS control activities in 2024.

There is a Herts & Middlesex water vole and invasive non-native species conference on 2nd November 2023.  Click on this link to register

For the water quality update for the Lea catchment summer 2023 see here

The annual Riverfly meeting of the Herts & Chilterns Riverfly hub was held on Sun10th September at the Boxmoor Trust. This event was attended by about 38 Riverfly monitors from the hub. 

PDFs of the talks can be viewed here - PDF1 and PDF2

Thames Water have announced that a new ‘report a problem online’ tool has gone live on their website.  To access click here. Read more ...

To view the newsletter click here

Upcoming webinar to discuss the revised draft plan  - 10.30am to 12 noon on Wednesday, 20 September. Read more ...

To view click here

To view the newsletter click here

The Upper Lea Catchment Partnership gathered on 29 Nov 2022 to recap on progress made over the year towards improving the state of the river and its valley. Read more ...

A round of catchment partnership meetings were held in March 2021, minutes now available to view. Read more ...

Watch the world's first live investigative documentary attempting to find out who is polluting our rivers and why nobody is stopping them. Read more ...

Storm overflow disharge into rivers occurs when sewage treatment works experience maximum capacity volumes, often following heavy rain events. The Event Duration Monitoring dataset for 2020 has now been published here. This relates to the performance of storm overflows, provided by Water and Sewerage Companies for the 2020 regulatory annual return. Read more ...

Join the Ver Valley Society for World Rivers Day on Sunday 22nd September in Verulamium Park, and join the protest against the disappearance of Hertfordshrie's Chalk Rivers! Read more ...

Vote for River Lea Catchment projects, nominated for funding in the Affinity Water community grants programme. Read more ...

The Government has launched a new grant scheme to help deliver improvements to the water environment over the next 3 years. Read more ...

We are delighted to report that the project to reduce the erosion of the southern river bank in The Meads at Wheathampstead has been completed. Read more ...

A Wheathampstead volunteer has been awarded the title 'River Champion' by The River Restoration Centre for his work on the River Lea. Read more ...

A group of local volunteers have worked hard to improve the habitat of the River Lea over the last year. Read more ...

The Wheathampstead Open Space Volunteers have been making significant progress in delivering the restoration plan for the River Lea as it flows through East Lane Carpark in Wheathampstead. Read more ...

Tesco's Bags of Help grant programme, administered by Groundwork, is open for applications from the 18th April. Read more ...

Pollution entering the River Lea in Wheathampstead first reported in January continues to enter the river. Read more ...

On Good Friday, Riverfly monitors for the Upper Lea David and Charlotte had their best sample yet. Read more ...

Eleven representatives from the partners working across the Lea Catchment recently attended training to edit the catchment website. Read more ...

Are you involved in an innovative and exciting environmental project in Hertfordshire? The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) Hertfordshire branch, is inviting nominations for the annual Rural Living Awards. Read more ...

Ever fancied finding out how much water you use in the shower? This is your chance. Read more ...

Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust hosted a successful riverfly conference with the Herts and Chilterns Riverfly Hub. Read more ...

On 19th November 2015, WWF-UK, The Angling Trust and Fish Legal scored a huge victory in protecting our rivers. Read more ...

New rules have been introduced to simplify the way septic tanks and small sewage treatment plants are regulated in England, protecting the environment and improving water quality. Read more ...

A new project, to install an eel pass, has been added to the catchment plan for the Upper Lea. Read more ...