River Coln

For several similarly named rivers, see River Colne (disambiguation).

River Coln
River Coln south of Coln St Aldwyns, Gloucestershire
Map
Location
CountryEngland
CountiesGloucestershire
TownsFairford
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationBrockhampton, Gloucestershire
 • coordinates51°54′36″N 1°57′04″W / 51.910°N 1.951°W / 51.910; -1.951
MouthRiver Thames
 • location
Lechlade, Gloucestershire
 • coordinates
51°41′17″N 1°42′18″W / 51.688°N 1.705°W / 51.688; -1.705
Discharge 
 • locationFairford
 • average2.06 m3/s (73 cu ft/s)
 • minimum0.51 m3/s (18 cu ft/s) 31 October 1990
 • maximum6.2 m3/s (220 cu ft/s) 21 February 1995
Discharge 
 • locationBibury
 • average1.33 m3/s (47 cu ft/s)
Discharge 
 • locationFossebridge
 • average0.47 m3/s (17 cu ft/s)
Map
The River Coln between Bibury and Coln St Aldwyn.

The River Coln is a river in Gloucestershire, England. It rises to the north of Brockhampton, a village to the east of Cheltenham, and flows in a south/south-easterly direction through the Cotswold Hills via Andoversford, Withington, Fossebridge, Bibury, Coln St Aldwyns, Quenington and Fairford. It joins the River Thames to the south-west of Lechlade, near to the confluence with the Thames and Severn Canal.[1]

Midway between Withington and Fossbridge the river passes Chedworth Roman Villa.

Extensive gravel pits between Fairford and Lechlade, now redundant, have been flooded to form the eastern component of the Cotswold Water Park. They are fed and drained by the Coln.[2]

The river is host to many species of freshwater fish including brown trout and grayling.[1]

Water quality

The Environment Agency measures the water quality of the river systems in England. Each is given an overall ecological status, which may be one of five levels: high, good, moderate, poor and bad. There are several components that are used to determine this, including biological status, which looks at the quantity and varieties of invertebrates, angiosperms and fish. Chemical status, which compares the concentrations of various chemicals against known safe concentrations, is rated good or fail.[3]

Water quality of the River Coln in 2019:

Section Ecological
Status		 Chemical
Status		 Overall
Status		 Length Catchment Channel
Coln (Source to Coln Rogers)[4] Moderate Fail Moderate 27.138 km (16.863 mi) 89.882 km2 (34.704 sq mi)
Coln (from Coln Rogers) and Thames (Coln to Leach)[5] Poor Fail Poor 28.025 km (17.414 mi) 52.25 km2 (20.17 sq mi)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "ECN Freshwater Site - River Coln". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2008. Environmental Change Network
  2. ^ http://www.waterpark.org/ Cotswold Water Park
  3. ^ "Glossary (see Biological quality element; Chemical status; and Ecological status)". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency. 17 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Coln (Source to Coln Rogers)". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency.
  5. ^ "Coln (from Coln Rogers) and Thames (Coln to Leach)". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency.
Next confluence upstream River Thames Next confluence downstream
River Ray (south) River Coln River Leach (north)
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