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Title: Bedford Ouse (lower reaches) LEAP : first annual review : May 2001
Author: Environment Agency Anglian Region
Document Type: Monograph
Abstract:
This is the first annual review of the Local Environmental Agency Plan (LEAP) for the Bedford Ouse (Lower Reaches) area. The Plan area was described in the Environment Overview (June 1999) and in the Bedford Ouse (Lower Reaches) LEAP (December 1999). The following is therefore a brief description only. Subsequent sections provide a review of local issues, particularly over the period since the LEAP was published. The Plan covers the catchment of the River Great Ouse between Kempston in Bedfordshire and Earith in Cambridgeshire, a stretch also known as the Bedford Ouse. This river flows generally north-east through the area, which also includes the catchments of the rivers Flit, Hiz, Ivel and Kym and their tributaries as well as the Alconbury and Ellington Brooks. 1,556 km2 of land is included, much of which lies within the counties of Bedfordshire (47%) and Cambridgeshire (40%). The remainder is in Hertfordshire (10%) and Northamptonshire (3%). The land is fairly low-lying, ranging from just above sea level at Earith to a high point of 183m at Telegraph Hill, south-west of Hitchin. The predominant land use is agriculture, and the high quality of the land is particularly suitable for arable crops. The largest industrial enterprise is the Stewartby brickworks in Bedfordshire, and a number of former brick pit voids have been utilised as landfill sites or left flooded for nature conservation interest.
Publisher: Environment Agency
Publication Date: 2001
Publication Place: Peterborough
Subject Keywords: Environmental managementCatchment managementLocal action plans (EA)RiversEnvironmental legislationWater qualityWaste treatmentBiodiversityFisheries
Geographic Keywords: Great OuseUpper and Bedford Ouse catchment
Extent: 37; + appendices
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:439
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