The Soar is under pressure. Under the Water Framework Directive, only 1 out of 51 rivers achieves Good Ecological Status. The reasons for not achieving ‘Good’ vary. Many rivers see poor phosphate conditions, a result of sewage and agricultural pollution.
Sewage
Overall, in 2021 the catchment saw a total of 5,854 sewage spills for a total duration of 37,343 h. In the urban centres, plastic pollution is also a big and visible pollution problem.
Physical modifications
Less obvious to the untrained eye, but with far-reaching impact on wildlife, are the physical modifications. Culverts, sluices and weirs form barriers to passage. As these barriers change the flow of the river oxygen levels decrease, while the water temperature increases. As fish species and some plant species depend on well-oxygenated waters, the slowed flow can prove detrimental.
Invasive non-native species
Other issues are introduced by INNS. As the Canal network links river systems, invasive species such as American Signal Crayfish, Himalayan Balsam and Floating Pennyworth threaten and/or suffocate the Soar and its downstream catchments.
Climate change
Looking to the future, climate predictions for the region suggest a higher risk for drought and flood by 2050. As water resources decrease urban areas including Leicester and Loughborough are expected to feel the effects, while the entire catchment
The Soar catchment is home to an array of wildlife including large populations of water birds, mammals and crayfish populations. Despite being in largely poor or moderate condition, the catchment has maintained valuable pockets for Native species.
Grey Heron
Grey herons are a common and unmistakable sight in the Soar. Standing on tall legs, they patiently hunt for their prey often consisting of small fish and occasionally containing a small duckling or water vole.
Egret
Egrets are part of the heron family. Their white plumage makes them easy to identify, though a little harder to spot than the more common Grey Heron.
Otters
Otters have been spotted in both rural and urban areas in the Soar catchment. These playful river-dwelling mammals benefit from the many coarse fish including pike and perch, as well as, its crayfish populations including a small populations of the increasingly rare white-clawed crayfish.
The Trent Rivers Trust hosts the Soar catchment partnership. The vision is for “a healthy and functioning catchment that has a sustainable and diverse water environment that benefits people, the natural environment and the economy of the area. A catchment in good ecological condition with improved resilience to climate change, flooding and pollution events which is connected by robust and healthy habitats”.
The Soar Catchment Partnership plan can be found here.
More information on the challenges, priorities and plans for the Soar Catchment is available on the ‘Humber River Basin Management Plan‘.
