The DEF Water Group was invited to the recent meeting on 23 July 2008 in order to contribute towards the national objective of protecting and enhancing the chalk rivers throughout the country.

Under the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plan, the National Chalk Rivers Steering Group has a leading national role in ensuring the protection and enhancement of chalk rivers throughout England. Key to this is setting and overseeing national targets that cover the issues affecting chalk rivers: water abstraction, urban and infrastructure development, effluent discharges, agriculture, land drainage and flood defences. They also play a leading role in influencing national policies and setting the research agenda for chalk rivers.

It is hoped to shortly be able to provide a more detailed summary together with a link to the host website.