Last week we launched our citizen science testing (CST) with 10 angling clubs throughout North Wales. This is in partnership with the Angling Trust’s ‘Anglers Against Pollution’. As part of our wider Community Partnerships forum thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community grant. This is part of the water quality monitoring network that aims to engage angling clubs to better understand our waterways and the effects of pollution.

We launched the project with a meeting to discuss testing sites on different catchments throughout North Wales. This gave angling clubs the opportunity to share their knowledge of waterways and sites that need further investigation.

This project aims to improve our understanding of the condition of the waterways throughout North Wales by highlighting both areas of high quality water and low quality. This will also give us the opportunity to target areas in need of restoration in our future projects.

The kit that the angling clubs will be using is capable of testing phosphate, nitrate, electrical conductivity and temperature. These tests will help highlight numerous issues that face rivers such as CSO release or increased sediment runoff.

Community engagement officer Oisin said ‘‘This is the first step in raising awareness of the current state of our waterways and holding accountability. It will also help us to target funding for key rivers in need of urgent protection’’.

Over the next few weeks we will be attending AGM meetings throughout North Wales to discuss the testing, upcoming projects and the issues facing each angling club.

For more information on how to get involved email: oisin@northwalesriverstrust.org