This page is dedicated to information and opinion on Hydropower developments that are proposed on the river Thames.
Thames Anglers Conservancy statement:
The Thames Anglers Conservancy was founded on the premise of ‘Anglers dedicated to protecting and improving the river Thames’ and the message still holds true today, we support all green initiatives that improve the environment.
Our only requisite is that comprehensive scientific data is available to prove that there will be no adverse affects.
In 2008, the Environment Agency regional Director told the then Regional Fisheries Ecology and Recreation advisory committee that no further Thames Weirpools would be developed until the scheme at Romney had been fully assessed for environmental impact, in 2010 they broke that promise. The scheme at Romney is still not operational, this over 10 years on from conception and the earliest possible date now will be Spring 2013.
The Environment Agency are now helping developers on multiple Thames sites with little or no evidence as to the impact on the ecology of the weirpools.
As anglers we understand how important these unique habitats are as principal spawning sites for fish such as barbel, chub and dace. Diverting the majority of the water through turbines not only deprives the weir but also reduces/redirects the energy of the water. This will have a drastic impact on the weirpool fishery environmentally and effect many different species, including the abundance of invertebrates, which are the lifeblood of our rivers.
Consequently, despite our support for clean energy initiatives, we feel that until all the necessary scientific data is available, we will campaign against all Hydropower developments on the Thames.
SNIFFER report August 2011 – Impact of Run of the River Hydro Schemes upon fish population
'The basic design of run-of-river hydropower schemes and the key issues on fisheries were identified.
Large scale and run-of-river hydropower schemes were found to have impacts on fisheries related to impoundment structures impeding migration, altered flow regime in the depleted channel reach associated with diversion of water through the turbine, risks of fish entrainment through the turbines and associated mortality or damage as they pass through the turbines, loss of weir pool fish spawning and nursery habitat, plus potential cumulative effects of multiple schemes on the same river.
It should be noted that these findings and conclusions, drawn from the primary and grey literature, relate mostly to larger impoundment schemes but also small-scale schemes elsewhere in the world; nevertheless the potential impacts largely remain the same, irrespective of the scale of the scheme.'
'End of The River' A highly significant video released in November 2012
Energy produced by small hydropower installations is per definition "renewable" energy – but "green" or "clean" it is certainly not. This film is produced to inform about the small hydropowers devastating impact on our rivers and the life in them.
European Water Framework Directive
The WFD is the most substantial piece of EC water legislation to date and is designed to improve and integrate the way rivers, lakes and esturies are managed throughout Europe to safeguard the health of our water environment in the future.
Environmental objectives 'The aim is long-term sustainable water management based on a high level of protection of the aquatic environment'.
The EU Water Framework Directive – integrated river basin management for Europe
Water is for life: How the Water Framework Directive helps safeguard Europe’s resources
Hydropower Permitting Review by the Thames Anglers Conservancy - October 2010
Anglers dismay at more Thames Hydro projects – TAC
Current Thames Hydropower Proposals promoted by the Environment Agency
Romney Weir
Bell Weir
Sunbury Weir
Teddington Weir
Marlow Weir
Boulters Weir
Goring Weir
Environment Agency
Hydropower mission statement
Latest hydro site consultations
Report on the Hydropower Permitting Review consultation
Hydropower Good Practice Guidlines August 2009
21/01/2013 Consultation on river flow and water abstraction standards for hydropower
15/10/2012 Initial review of the Good Practice Guidlines
20/12/2011 Queens Green energy scheme near completion
05/10/2011 Romney Weir gets ready for Hydropower
23/09/2011 Submissions end for the Hydropower Hydropower Good Practice Guidelines Consultation
04/09/2011 The Environment Agency reveal the proposed Thames Hydropower Schemes
21/07/2011 End of the 'Expression of Interest' for proposed Thames schemes at Boulters, Marlow and Boveney weirs
01/07/2011 Consultation on the review of Hydropower Good Practice Guidelines begins.
28/04/2011 New proposals for more Thames Hydropower
22/03/2011 Hydropower – making it easier
16/02/2011 Environment Agency streamlines hydropower application process
17/02/2011 Hydropower on the Increase
23/06/2010 Hydropower and the Thames Region report
The Angling Trust and Hydropower
The Angling Trust is aware of the projected effects of climate change on our fisheries and supports the drive towards a lower carbon future. But this cannot be at the expense of the river environment and our fisheries. Run-of-river hydropower, where schemes have no stored water and only use the immediately available flow, is a low carbon source of energy and the Trust recognises its benefits, tiny though they are, but also the potential impacts. The Environment Agency is in a difficult position as it is directed by Government to promote sustainable development, including sources of renewable energy, as well as the duty to protect the environment and, for example, maintain, improve and develop all fisheries. The Trust feels it has got the current balance wrong with its approach towards hydropower, and has been campaigning for a review of the EA’s “Good Practice Guide” to hydropower developers.
The TAC is rightly concerned about the proliferation of schemes being promoted on Thames weirs. The EA owns the weir infrastructures and are actively seeking expression of interest from hydro developers. Thames anglers understand how important these unique weirpool habitats are not only as an angling resource but especially as principal spawning sites for such as barbel, chub and dace. Diverting the majority of the water through turbines not only deprives the weir but also reduces the energy of the water. This must have a drastic impact on the weirpool fishery and effect many species, yet the EA are promoting these schemes without a clue as to their impact.
Dr Alan Butterworth BSc PhD FIFM CEnv, Technical Director, 28/05/2011
25/02/2013 Please respond to the EA Hydropower Consultation
22/11/2012 Hydropower stopped by Anglers in landmark legal case
14/09/2012 Shadow Minister briefed on Hydropower
23/05/2012 EA sets up camp on fence between protecting river wildlife and hydropower
14/11/2011 Angling Trust attacks planned Hydropower schemes
02/11/2011 Environment Agency Complacent about Hydropower
25/08/2011 Don't miss your chance to take part in the Public Consultation on the Hydropower Good Practice Guide
03/05/2011 Environment Agency Breaks Promise About River Thames Weirs
07/03/2011 Anglers fume as regulator bow to Hydropower
21/02/2011 Anglers Fury at Hydro scheme
18/02/2011 Meetings with British waterways and the EA – Fight the Hydropower Threat
14/02/2011 Angling Summit Feb 2011
10/12/2011 Hydropower, enough is enough say Angling bodies
16/11/2010 Environment Agency Provides Consents to Massacre Eels on River Trent
11/10/2010 Environment Agency Breaks Promises on Hydropower
Fight the Hydropower - An Angling Trust Guide to Objecting
Press and the media
03/05/2013 Tell us where are the hydropower systems? - Buck Free Press
01/05/2013 Power to Kill river Fish – Hydroworld.com
29/04/2013 How are communities raising serious money for green energy projects? – Guardian.co.uk
10/09/2012 David Cameron, renewable energy and the death of British property rights
23/05/2012 £1 Thames Hydropower plan wins licence – Oxford Mail
02/02/2012 Moratorium on hydroelectric schemes demanded to protect salmon and trout – FishtoFork
20/12/2011 River Thames Hydropower could harm Ecology – BBC
03/11/2011 Angling Trust Hydro Concerns – Big Fish Column
04/09/2011 Hydropower at Boveney Stalls – Slough Express
21/05/2011 Anger at broken Promises – Oxford Mail
20/05/2011 Our river water levels are low enough – Angling Times
11/03/2011 Hydro power is all a con says Keith Arthur – Go fishing
03/05/2011 Anglers dismay at more Thames Hydro projects
19/11/2010 Hydro-power at sites like Gunthorpe Weir is lunacy – Angling Times
08/04/2010 Environment Agency maps hydropower hotspots – guardian.co.uk
15/04/2011 A new take on hydropower designConsultations
Thames Anglers Conservancy seeks to ensure that all content and information published at this web site is current and accurate. In addition, the Thames Anglers Conservancy cannot be held responsible for the content of any externally linked pages
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