Loe Pool Catchment Forum: Lake and Lower Cober group
Activity List 2015/16
In 1998, the Loe Pool Forum set itself 4 objectives which relate to water quality, water levels, nature conservation and community involvement. These
remain unchanged and as part of the Forum, the Lake and Lower Cober group continue to work towards the delivery of 3 of these 4 objectives, namely:
1. Water Quality: To bring about a change in Loe Pool from an algae-dominated turbid water state to a macrophyte-dominated clear water state,
characteristic of mesotrophy.
2. Water Levels: To restore hydrological function throughout the river catchment in order to bring sustainable flood management. To instate natural
seasonal fluctuations in lake water levels to create conditions for a more diverse shoreline and submerged flora.
3. Nature Conservation: To maximise the biodiversity value of Loe Pool and enhance the biodiversity value of its catchment
The Loe Forum’s objectives fit closely with statutory requirements for the Lake and its catchment through both the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) legislation.
Under the WFD, the Environment Agency currently class the Ecological Quality of the River Cober (both WFD waterbodies: Upper and Lower catchment) as
‘Moderate’ and the Quality of Loe Pool as ‘Poor’. The predominant failing elements across these 3 WFD waterbodies are related to high nutrient levels in the
water (phosphate and diatoms) and increased metals (copper and zinc). Improvement of all failing elements is required in order to reach ‘Good’ Ecological
Quality for both the River and the Lake; the current timescale for this is by 2027.
The Lake also fails to reach the targets required for the SSSI, with its condition being currently defined by Natural England as ‘unfavourable no change’. The
elements and reasons for its failure include the poor diversity and low abundance of aquatic plants, the inappropriate water levels and water pollution (from
both point and diffuse sources, including waste water treatment works and agriculture).
The Environment Agency, Natural England, the National Trust, Cornwall Council and local Colleges and Universities are working toward these common goals
in partnership as the Loe Pool Lake and Lower Cober Group.
In 2015-16 the work of the Lake and Lower Cober Group will focus on the items listed overleaf:
Janet Lister, Jan Dinsdale and Tim Walker; April 2015.
• Management of water levels in Loe Pool and the River Cober floodplain
Aim
• Work in collaboration with the EA's National Capital Programme Management Services (NCPMS) over the
Doing
implementation of their flood risk management plans for Helston.
• Continue to review the EA’s water level monitoring data on an annual basis.
• Practical works to implement recommendations from Penny Anderson Associates (2014) Loe Valley Carr Hydrological
Study (subject to funding availability).
Planning
• Consider all opportunities to deliver larger seasonal fluctuations in lake levels, in order to work towards SSSI, WFD and
the Forum’s own objectives for Loe Pool. For example, through the NCPMS proposals for alterations to the outlet
structure at Loe Bar.
• Feasibility study to inform implementation of findings from Penny Anderson Associates (2014) Loe Valley Carr
Hydrological Study in partnership with EA.
Thinking
Janet Lister, Jan Dinsdale and Tim Walker; April 2015.
• Promote
ecological, and broader limnological, research studies of Loe Pool
Aim
Doing
Planning
• Work with Community Group to increase engagement with local schools, universities and colleges.
• Input to the list of potential student research projects to be collated and distributed by the Community Group.
• Ongoing macrophyte monitoring surveys.
• Reindrouction of Strapwort to Loe Pool, to be planted in May 2015.
• Bathymetric survey of Loe, led by Neill Wood from Camborne School of Mines.
• Turbity analysis of Loe, led by Neill Wood from Camborne School of Mines.
• Electroresistivity survey on Loe Bar to analyse geological strata, led by Neill Wood from Camborne School of
Mines.
• Further research and development of fish management plan for Loe Pool.
Thinking
Janet Lister, Jan Dinsdale and Tim Walker; April 2015.