Hundreds of fish were found dead or gasping on the River Wensum in Norwich after a period of high temperatures was followed by heavy rain that likely flushed contaminants into the river. The Environment Agency says low flows and high temperatures reduced dissolved oxygen, and heavy runoff likely introduced additional pollution. Local campaigners, wild swimmers and council leaders described the scene as devastating. The agency will continue monitoring and working with partners.
Heatwave and Drainage Runoff Blamed for Hundreds of Fish Found Dead on River Wensum
Lucy Galvin, the city council leader, said she and other residents had noticed dead pike, carp, roach, eel, rudd and dace. [Owen Sennitt/BBC]
Hundreds of fish were found dead or struggling along the River Wensum in central Norwich on Saturday, with local residents and wild swimmers blaming a recent heatwave compounded by contaminants washed in from surface drains.
Sarah Eglington said the river felt unrecognisable, compared with Wednesday [Owen Sennitt/BBC]
Wild swimmers and campaigners discovered the fish washed up and gasping for air. Sarah Eglington of the Wensum Riverkin group described the scenes as "absolutely heartbreaking," saying the river looked "unrecognisable" compared with when she swam there just days earlier.
Green Party city council leader Lucy Galvin pointed out that climate change was causing a catastrophic effect [Owen Sennitt/BBC]
The Environment Agency said its preliminary assessment points to a combination of factors: high temperatures that reduced dissolved oxygen levels in the water, and heavy rainfall on Thursday evening that likely flushed pollutants from surface water drainage systems into the river.
Rose, 24, says she has been coming to the river for the past year and has never seen anything like this before [Owen Sennitt/BBC]
"High temperatures created the conditions that significantly reduced dissolved oxygen levels in the water," a spokesperson said, adding that the heavy rain probably introduced additional pollution from surface water systems.
Local councillor Lucy Galvin, leader of Norwich City Council's Green Party group, visited the stretch near Cow Tower and said she was "absolutely devastated." Residents reported finding a range of species among the casualties, including pike, carp, roach, eel, rudd and dace.
One member of the Cow Tower Dippers swimming group, 24-year-old Rose, said she had frequented the river for a year and had never seen anything like this. Others described the scene as both upsetting and alarming for the health of the river ecosystem.
The River Wensum runs about 44 miles (71 km) through Norfolk and is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). It supports more than 100 plant species and a rich invertebrate fauna, and is recognised as one of England's most important chalk river habitats.
The Environment Agency said an officer "promptly attended the scene" and that it will continue to monitor the river and work with partner organisations while investigations and any remedial work proceed. Residents with information or photos were invited to contact local news outlets to help with the investigation.
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