Over the last few weeks there has been a thick layer of aquatic weed covering parts of the river Tillingham particularly between the Ferry Road bridge and Strand Quay sluice. This is because weed and algae grows rapidly in hot weather in slow moving or stagnant water especially when the sluice gates are closed.
The growth of algae, duckweed and other aquatic weeds can also be accelerated in many rivers when nutrients from agricultural run-off enter the water.
Although weeds supply food for ducks and shelter for aquatic invertebrates, extreme coverage can block sunlight and cause oxygen levels to fall, affecting fish and causing organic matter to decompose resulting in spikes in ammonia, toxic to aquatic life. The thick weed can make it difficult for ducks and waterbirds to move about to feed, and plastics and litter can get trapped on the surface.
River Tilllingham from the railway bridge to Strand Quay sluice covered in aquatic weed.
After the heavy rain of 8 September some of the weed had been dispersed although the area around the railway bridge and sluice gates remained thickly covered.
Image Credits: Juliet Duff .