Brewery Pond fish deaths prompt Environment Agency probe
Barnet Council requests investigation into low water levels and dead carp found in High Barnet pond.
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At least a dozen large fish were discovered dead in Brewery Pond on Hadley Green, floating on the surface. The fish, believed to be carp, are thought to have died due to a lack of oxygen in the water. This condition is attributed to the ongoing summer drought and a prolonged period without significant rainfall, which has caused the pond's water level to fall to an unprecedented low.
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Barnet Council has formally requested that the Environment Agency, which oversees waterways and pollution, attend to the situation. The agency has been asked to remove the dead fish carcases and conduct an examination to determine the precise cause of their demise. David Chapman of the Hadley Residents Association stated that while a lack of oxygen is the most probable cause, the Residents Association wishes for the water to be tested for any underlying pollution or other contributing factors. The association is also considering installing a machine to aerate the water and improve its quality.
Brewery Pond, which is fed by a spring, has not completely dried out. This contrasts with other ponds on Hadley Green that rely on surface water. The water level in Brewery Pond did not fully recover last winter, and the recent drought has exacerbated the issue, leading to its current critically low state. Last May, a significant volume of water was drawn from Brewery Pond by the London Fire Brigade to combat a large fire at Hollybush House, a Georgian property facing the green.
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The summer drought has also affected Joslin's Pond, a duck pond on Hadley Green, which has dried out entirely. Ponds on Hadley Green and Hadley Common are also in urgent need of replenishment. In contrast, wildlife ponds at the Barnet Environment Centre in Byng Road are being maintained. Dick Elms, vice chair of the Friends of Barnet Environment Centre, explained that while their ponds are considerably lower than usual, they are being topped up using water collected from the centre's roof and stored in large tanks, a system he described as a valuable resource.
Questions this report answers
+How many fish were found dead in Brewery Pond?
At least a dozen large fish were found dead in Brewery Pond on Hadley Green. They are believed to be carp and are thought to have died from a lack of oxygen due to the summer drought and low rainfall.
+What is Barnet Council doing about the dead fish?
Barnet Council has asked the Environment Agency to remove the dead fish carcases from Brewery Pond and to examine the cause of death. The agency is responsible for waterways and pollution.
+Why is the water level in Brewery Pond so low?
The water level in Brewery Pond is at an unprecedented low due to the summer drought and months without significant rain. The pond's water level had not fully recovered from last winter, and a large amount was used by the fire brigade last May.
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