Best year yet for water plants in the Broads

This has been revealed by the 26th Broads Authority water plants survey –the most comprehensive set of data on aquatic plants in the country for an area of lakes.

Clear water has returned to Cromes Broad at How Hill and Hassingham Broad on the River Yare which are chock full of rare stoneworts for the first time in decades.

Cockshoot Broad on the River Bure, which was the first broad to be restored in 1982, is crystal clear and full of holly-leaved naiad, a very rare plant which is only found in The Broads.

Dan Hoare, waterways conservation manager, put the recovery down to the Broads Authority's restoration work, reduction in nutrients entering the water, and the spring weather conditions.

"To see holly-leaved naiad in such profusion on Cockshoot Broad is quite amazing," he said.

The Trinity Broads are also faring well. The bottom can be seen through clear water in parts of Ormesby, Ormesby Little and Rollesby Broads which are also packed full of water plants.

Ormesby Broad had a head start after being biomanipulated, through fish removal work in 1996, to enable water fleas to thrive and eat the algae, and now the other Trinity Broads are starting to catch up.

"The water quality has improved across most of the Trinity Broads system which is super news," said Dan. "You need good water quality to start the plants growing and then they keep the water clear by absorbing the nutrients that would otherwise be taken by algae which turns the water green."

The water quality on Barton Broad, the Broads Authority’s biggest restoration project for the millennium, is improving year on year.

"Barton is showing an improved growth of water plants and encouraging signs of restoration and diversity of invertebrates and aquatic life, highlighted by the fact that otters are often seen here," said Dan.

A small stonewort has been found in Wroxham Broad, showing very early signs of improving water quality, and the River Bure at Coltishall has crystal clear water.

"Plant information is the best indicator of water condition," explained Dan. "We are delighted with the results of this year's survey and it shows that the Broads Authority’s work, in conjunction with our partner organisations, is paying off. But there is still a long way to go. We are investing additional grant funding from Defra to continue improving the Broads and deliver more of these benefits."