Standing Open Water

Standing open water may be classified according to nutrient status, and can be eutrophic (nutrient rich), mesotrophic (intermediate) or oligotrophic (nutrient poor). Current estimates suggest that around 80% of English standing open waters are eutrophic (UK BAP Eutrophic Standing Waters HAP).

The total area of standing inland water in Britain is estimated at 3344km2 (only 675km2 of this is in England) (UK BAP Eutrophic Standing Waters HAP), making up around 400,000 separate standing water bodies.

Pond Conservation estimates that around 95% of these bodies are ponds of less than 2ha, and many of these are badly affected by pollution. It is thought that over a million ponds were lost in the UK over the last century, although it has also been estimated that around 2000 ponds are excavated annually in the British lowlands alone (Williams et al, 2008).

Ponds are a new priority habitat under the UK BAP Priority Habitat and Species Review 2007, and a UKBAP Habitat Action Plan is currently being prepared by the UK Pond HAP joint lead partners: Pond Conservation and the Environment Agency. Standing Open Water in Wiltshire Open water is a scarce habitat in Wiltshire, and apart from in the Cotswold Water Park, its conservation importance has not been fully assessed.

The WSBRC records around 600ha of open water identified as SSSI or CWS in the county. However, this does not include the Wilts and Berks Canal, or the 97 CWS and 47 SSSIs that contain some open water element in them, or the vast number of farm, garden and village ponds that exist in Wiltshire. It is clear however, that in line with national trends, the number of ponds in the county has declined over the last century. For example, a survey of the Salisbury area in 1994 estimated that over the last 100 years, 43% of ponds had been lost.

If you have any questions about the Standing Open Water Project or would like any further information please email us via the box below.