Run off & Catchment

Link to website for Poole Catchment area : This shows the data but not sure why South Winterbourne is not shown west of Martinstown !

https://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB108044010060

"Run off" surface water from adjoining land and roads etc is a serious issue. The South Winterbourne stream drains a huge area and rainfall can take some time to find its way down to the stream. In normal conditions, the land is able to absorb this water but after prolonged periods of rain when the water table is elevated, water cannot soak into the ground and thus runs along the surface of fields and roads etc.

This surface water may also carry large volumes of soil from fields and this can be seen as total discolouration of the stream which takes a while to run clear again. Farmers ploughing incorrectly can cause a lot of run off and excess water.

The South Winterbourne is a relatively small watercourse which drains into the River Frome at West Stafford and then finally the Frome discharges via Wareham into Poole Harbour some 25 miles away from our villages.

In 2014 there was a study carried out - the "Poole Harbour Catchment Initiative" (PHCI) . This is a partnership project lead by the Environment Agency but involves many agencies and to an outsider is complex in its scope and progress so far.

PHCI Partners’ shared vision

Sustainable farming, development, water use and sewage treatment that supports healthy rivers and groundwater in the Poole Harbour catchment.

Recognition of the ecosystem services that the catchment can provide and adequate payment to those that manage the land to provide these services.

Improvements to biodiversity habitats both in the form of naturally functioning rivers, floodplains and wetlands and appropriately located woodland and low-input grassland.

• Achievement of national environmental standards for the benefit of wildlife and users of these waters and Poole Harbour.

At October 2020 - National Grid Pylon removal Project

This multi million project to remove some 8km of overhead power lines and install them all underground is not without its problems for the local community and especially the South Winterbourne stream. Massive temporary roads have been constructed with imported Portland stone.

At the Coombe Road site crossing two such roads drop down either side of Coombe Road. In August, a lot of chalk laden run off started to happen. This ran down Coombe Road and at times down the road east into Steepleton.

In late August, this occurred almost without warning. The Parish Council contacted the National Grid team immediately and urged it to take urgent action to prevent this happening again. Dorset Council & the EA were also involved.

Various measures have been put in place with ditches cleared and constant monitoring by the contractor Morgan Sindall.

In October, these precautions were stepped up and the letter below details these - it is hoped that these steps will be effective.

Below : Run off in stream in Steepleton (near church) from Coombe Road - it reached Martinstown !