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With the help of land owner / manager members of the Wensum Alliance, a number of high-spec monitoring installations were put in place to collect data. In 2013, the research began with experiments across nine fields, to test measures that aimed to reduce diffuse pollution. Further down this page you can take a look at the baseline data that has been collected.
State-of-the-art monitoring equipment was used for long-term measurements to both identify and record pollutants and to evaluate the effectiveness of measures to reduce it. The study considered the impacts and effects on ecosystems and sustainable production and aimed to improve understanding of how to predict and control diffuse pollution from agriculture.
Monitoring in the Blackwater Study Area:
The map below shows the Blackwater area of the Wensum catchment and the approximate locations of the monitoring sites. The area has been divided into a number of zones. Two of these (C & D) act as 'controls' where no intervention took place. Two other areas (A & B) are where our farmer/landowner colleagues participated in experimental changes in crop management with the aim of improving water quality.
Data collected for each monitoring point includes rainfall, flow rates, nitrate and phosphate concentrations etc. If you click on the links below you will be able to see monthly graphs of some of the data from each point.
Mini-monitoring sites
Mini-monitoring stations are recorded water quality from smaller land areas that in combination with experimental changes in land management helped to identify which factors or combinations of factors lead to improvements in water quality. The kiosks contained an automatic water sampler and multi-parameter sonde, and in-stream turbidity meter, flow meter and water level pressure transducer.
Main Monitoring sites
The two larger monitoring sites collected a wider range of data. Site E reflects the overall effects of the experimental measures implemented in zones A and B, and site F reflects data from the whole sub-catchment. The Kiosks at E and F contain the same equipment as the Mini-kiosks and additionally include nutrient analysers (Total P, Dissolved reactive P and Nitrate).