CSI Case Studies: The River Lim Action Group WHO?
WHY?
The River Lim Action group was formed in 2022 to monitor the River Lim in Lyme Regis and improve water quality.
We got started because Dorset Council put up a sign saying the river was polluted and children shouldn’t paddle in it. We found that shocking - how could the water quality be that bad? We have unravelled a litany of problems affecting the water quality and have successfully stopped some of the illegal discharges. Identifying problems and working with South West Water, the Environment Agency, the Town Council and Dorset Council is what motivates us. It has resulted in much better data and improvements.
WHERE? The River Lim is accessible along most of its length with a very popular path running alongside it, this means it’s visible to thousands of residents and visitors. It’s only 5km long and quite shallow, frequented by dippers and with occasional kingfisher sightings. There is still a working water mill in the town which is a popular visitor attraction and historic buildings alongside it. .
HOW? We were helped by Westcountry CSI to set up our monitoring regime. We recruited monitors and used the information to engage them in practical action. This led to us being able to report pollution using information we’d gleaned, and get prompt action to address it. We started with the CSI method, then added E.Coli monitoring and have now completed our first season of Riverfly.