River Asker

Last updated

Asker
Ford and footbridge at Upton Manor Farm - geograph.org.uk - 532490.jpg
A ford on the River Asker near Uploders
Dorset UK relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location within Dorset
Location
Country United Kingdom
County Dorset
Physical characteristics
Source 
  location Eggardon Hill, near Askerswell, Dorset
  coordinates 50°45′N2°39′W / 50.750°N 2.650°W / 50.750; -2.650
Mouth  
  location
Bridport, Dorset
  coordinates
50°43′N2°45′W / 50.717°N 2.750°W / 50.717; -2.750 Coordinates: 50°43′N2°45′W / 50.717°N 2.750°W / 50.717; -2.750
Length13.378 km (8.313 mi)
Basin size25.484 km2 (9.839 sq mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
  leftMangerton Brook

The River Asker is a small river in Dorset, England. It rises on the chalk slopes of Eggardon Hill, [1] 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 [1] 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. [2] 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. [3] The river then flows under the B3157 road and joins the River Brit beside Palmers Brewery [1] in the south of the town.

Water quality

The Environment Agency measure 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, and chemical status, which compares the concentrations of various chemicals against known safe concentrations. Chemical status is rated good or fail. [4]

Water quality of the River Asker in 2016:

SectionEcological
Status
Chemical
Status
Overall
Status
LengthCatchmentChannel
Asker [5] Poor Good Poor 11.796 km (7.330 mi)23.699 km2 (9.150 sq mi)
Mangerton Brook [6] Good Good Good 13.378 km (8.313 mi)25.484 km2 (9.839 sq mi)

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 "River Brit & River Asker". Frome, Piddle & West Dorset Fisheries Association. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  2. "Chance to learn about fish ladders on River Asker walk". Newsquest Media (Southern) Ltd (Dorset Echo). 9 October 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  3. "Askers Meadow". Natural England. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  4. "Glossary (see Biological quality element; Chemical status; and Ecological status)". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency. 17 February 2016. UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
  5. "Asker". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency.
  6. "Mangerton Brook". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency.


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