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River Frome Rehabilitation Project

The River Frome in Dorset supports diverse plant and wildlife species, and as such is designated as a nationally important Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The River Frome SSSI is currently in ‘Unfavourable Condition’.

This is due to a number of factors, including the impacts of historical river dredging, re-engineering and other maintenance practices over the last 30-40 years. The River Frome Rehabilitation Plan is looking at rehabilitating these sites back to favourable conditions for the benefit of wildlife and river users.

Why does the River Frome need rehabilitating?

The Frome is a complex catchment of main river, side channels, spring-fed channels, tilting weirs, and old water meadow structures. Historic river dredging has removed the original river gravels, leaving some reaches with little or no habitat for the river’s species such as trout, salmon and aquatic vegetation communities. Raised banks and some mill channels also provide very little habitat benefit.

Natural England’s latest condition assessment in 2003 showed that 16 of the 21 units of the River Frome SSSI remained in unfavourable condition. This means that the conditions within the river that support flora and fauna have been degraded.

We have agreed targets with the Government to bring 95 per cent of SSSIs into favourable condition by the end of 2010.

Consultation completes the Draft Plan

The consultation for the Draft River Frome Rehabilitation Plan is now complete. A summary of the key points raised can be found below. These have been considered for the final plan and where suitable have been incorporated.

Forward look

Following consultation of the draft, the final version of the River Frome Rehabilitation Plan is now complete.  This can be viewed at the Environment Agency office in Blandford or a copy can be emailed upon request (contact the Blandford office). This will form the basis of ongoing riverside discussions with landowners, tenants and fishing clubs with reach based newsletters (below) used to begin these discussions. A programme of works for the next few years will be agreed on before appraisal, design and construction commences on each reach. It is expected successful delivery will include developing new partnerships such as those that currently exist with the Dorset Wildlife Trust and the Frome, Piddle and West Dorset Fishery Association.

More information

Reach specific newsletters

Technical notes:

Newsletters: