Gail Davies-Walsh, Afonydd Cymru’s (Wales Rivers Trust) Chief Executive, met Julie James, Minister for Climate Change today to discuss the issues facing Welsh rivers and water quality.
Overall it seems to have been a positive meeting — more details on the Afonydd Cymru website.
An important point was made by Gail:
‘When considering the causes of ecological damage to rivers, CSOs are not the primary factor in most areas of Wales, despite their media spotlight. Pollution from agriculture is the greatest concern, a point made to the Minister at yesterday’s meeting. Algal blooms are affecting rivers across mid, south and west Wales, not just the Wye. In most cases the evidence so far points to agriculture being the primary source of the nutrients that fuel them.’