River Coln

Last updated

River Coln
River Coln.jpg
River Coln south of Coln St Aldwyns, Gloucestershire
Location
Country England
Counties Gloucestershire
Towns Fairford
Physical characteristics
Source 
  location Brockhampton, Gloucestershire
  coordinates 51°54′36″N1°57′04″W / 51.910°N 1.951°W / 51.910; -1.951
Mouth River Thames
  location
Lechlade, Gloucestershire
  coordinates
51°41′17″N1°42′18″W / 51.688°N 1.705°W / 51.688; -1.705 Coordinates: 51°41′17″N1°42′18″W / 51.688°N 1.705°W / 51.688; -1.705
Discharge 
  location Fairford
  average2.06 m3/s (73 cu ft/s)
  minimum0.51 m3/s (18 cu ft/s) 31 October 1990
  maximum6.2 m3/s (220 cu ft/s) 21 February 1995
Discharge 
  location Bibury
  average1.33 m3/s (47 cu ft/s)
Discharge 
  location Fossebridge
  average0.47 m3/s (17 cu ft/s)
The River Coln between Bibury and Coln St Aldwyn. River Coln Bibury.jpg
The River Coln between Bibury and Coln St Aldwyn.

The River Coln is a river in Gloucestershire, England. It rises to the north of Brockhampton, a village to the east of Cheltenham, and flows in a south/south-easterly direction through the Cotswold Hills via Andoversford, Withington, Fossebridge, Bibury, Coln St Aldwyns, Quenington and Fairford. It joins the River Thames to the south-west of Lechlade, near to the confluence with the Thames and Severn Canal. [1]

Contents

Midway between Withington and Fossbridge the river passes Chedworth Roman Villa.

Extensive gravel pits between Fairford and Lechlade, now redundant, have been flooded to form the eastern component of the Cotswold Water Park. They are fed and drained by the Coln. [2]

The river is host to many species of freshwater fish including brown trout and grayling. [1]

Water quality

The Environment Agency measures the water quality of the river systems in England. Each is given an overall ecological status, which may be one of five levels: high, good, moderate, poor and bad. There are several components that are used to determine this, including biological status, which looks at the quantity and varieties of invertebrates, angiosperms and fish. Chemical status, which compares the concentrations of various chemicals against known safe concentrations, is rated good or fail. [3]

Water quality of the River Coln in 2019:

SectionEcological
Status
Chemical
Status
Overall
Status
LengthCatchmentChannel
Coln (Source to Coln Rogers) [4] Moderate Fail Moderate 27.138 km (16.863 mi)89.882 km2 (34.704 sq mi)
Coln (from Coln Rogers) and Thames (Coln to Leach) [5] Poor Fail Poor 28.025 km (17.414 mi)52.25 km2 (20.17 sq mi)

See also

Related Research Articles

River Kennet tributary of the River Thames in Southern England

The Kennet is a tributary of the River Thames in Southern England. Most of the river is straddled by the North Wessex Downs AONB. The lower reaches have been made navigable as the Kennet Navigation, which – together with the Avon Navigation, the Kennet and Avon Canal and the Thames – links the cities of Bristol and London.

River Leam River in Northamptonshire and Warwickshire, England

The River Leam, anciently Leame, etc, is a river in England which rises at Hellidon Hill in Northamptonshire then flows through Warwickshire, including the town of Leamington Spa, named after it. It then flows into the River Avon near Warwick, and thence into the River Severn. The name is first recorded in 956 as Limenan, and derives from British Lemanā, meaning "elm-tree river".

River Churn River in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, England

The River Churn is a tributary of the River Thames in central England. It rises at Seven Springs in Gloucestershire and flows south for approximately 37.3 km (23.2 mi) to meet the Thames at Cricklade in Wiltshire. Its length from its source to the confluence with the Thames is greater than that of the Thames from Thames Head, though the Churn is regarded as a tributary rather than the main river.

River Meon River in Hampshire, England

The River Meon is a chalk stream in Hampshire in the south of England. It rises at East Meon then flows 34 km (21 mi) in a generally southerly direction to empty into the Solent at Hill Head near Stubbington. Above Wickham, the river runs through the South Downs National Park.

Beaulieu River River in Hampshire, England

The Beaulieu River, formerly known as the River Exe, is a small river draining much of the central New Forest in Hampshire, southern England. The river has many small upper branches and its farthest source is 8 miles (13 km) from its 4 miles (6 km)-long tidal estuary. Unusually, the river, including its bed, is owned by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu.

Lymington River River in Hampshire, England

The Lymington River drains part of the New Forest in Hampshire in southern England. Numerous headwaters to the west of Lyndhurst give rise to the river, including Highland Water, Bratley Water and Fletchers Water. From Brockenhurst the river runs southwards to the Solent at Lymington.

River Leach

The River Leach is a river tributary to the River Thames, in England which runs mostly in Gloucestershire. It is approximately 18 miles (29 km) long, springing from the limestone uplands of the Cotswolds. In parts of its course it becomes a seasonal bourn, only running above ground when there is sufficient rainfall. Despite its small size it gives its name to two towns and a pair of villages.

River Wylye River in Wiltshire, England

The River Wylye is a chalk stream in the south of England, with clear water flowing over gravel. It is popular with anglers for fly fishing. A half-mile stretch of the river and three lakes in Warminster are a local nature reserve.

River Blackwater (River Test) River in Hampshire and Wiltshire, England

This River Blackwater drains small parts of the English counties of Hampshire and Wiltshire. It is a tributary of the River Test.

River Anton River in Hampshire, England

The River Anton is a chalk stream in Hampshire in south east England. It rises in Andover and flows southwards for approximately 8 miles (13 km) to meet the River Test near Chilbolton. The principal tributary of the Anton, the Pillhill Brook, joins the river at Upper Clatford.

The River Nadder is a tributary of the River Avon, flowing in south Wiltshire, England.

River Asker River in Dorset, England

The River Asker is a small river in Dorset, England. It rises on the chalk slopes of Eggardon Hill, approximately five miles (8 km) east of Bridport. It flows west-northwest through the villages of Askerswell to which it gives its name, Uploders, where many cottages have gardens backing onto the river, and Loders. Here it heads west towards Bradpole, where it is joined by the small Mangerton Brook flowing in from the north. It then flows southwest into Bridport, passing underneath the A3066 and B3162 roads in the town. In this section there are weirs and fish ladders. South of the B3162, between Bridport and Bothenhampton, the river also forms the western boundary of the Askers Meadow Nature Reserve, which was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 2004. The river then flows under the B3157 road and joins the River Brit beside Palmers Brewery in the south of the town.

River Key River in Wiltshire, England

The River Key is a tributary of the River Thames in England which flows through Wiltshire.

The Rythe River in north Surrey, England

The Rythe is a river or stream in north Surrey, England which is generally open and which is a natural woodland feature for approximately half of its course before being variously culverted and a suburban garden feature, passing between Thames Ditton and Long Ditton, then discharging into the Thames. Its longest branch is the Arbrook which drains Arbrook Common, a woodland of the mainly wooded Esher Commons.

River Till, Wiltshire River in Wiltshire, England

The River Till rises near Tilshead on Salisbury Plain in the English county of Wiltshire. It flows for about 14 km south and south-east, through Orcheston, Maddington, Shrewton, Winterbourne Stoke, Berwick St James and Stapleford, to join the River Wylye.

Oakhanger Stream River in Hampshire, England

Oakhanger Stream is a tributary of the River Slea that lies in Hampshire, England.

River Slea, Hampshire River in Hampshire, England

The River Slea is a tributary of the south branch of the River Wey in Hampshire.

Corfe River River in Dorset, England

The Corfe River is one of the four main rivers flowing into Poole Harbour in the county of Dorset, England. It is just under 9 kilometres long.

Pillhill Brook River in Hampshire, England

Pilhill Brook is a 9.9-kilometre-long (6.2 mi) tributary of the River Anton in Hampshire, England. It is a chalk stream, known for its trout fishing.

River Sem River in Wiltshire, England

The River Sem is a natural waterway that flows through the ceremonial county of Wiltshire in England. It flows approximately 4+14 miles (7 km) from its source near East Knoyle to join the River Nadder near Wardour.

References

  1. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Environmental Change Network
  2. http://www.waterpark.org/ Cotswold Water Park
  3. "Glossary (see Biological quality element; Chemical status; and Ecological status)". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency. 17 February 2016.
  4. "Coln (Source to Coln Rogers)". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency.
  5. "Coln (from Coln Rogers) and Thames (Coln to Leach)". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency.
Next confluence upstream River Thames Next confluence downstream
River Ray (south)River Coln River Leach (north)