Darlow water quality – 24-Feb-2024

Despite being in flood, water tests are looking fairly typical for the time of year, although if the water continues to flood in we will start to see nitrates and phosphates rise higher and this could increase the chance of an algal bloom. Nitrate levels are 0.2 mg/L which is still more than 10x less than the levels recorded before the algal bloom in 2021 so not a cause for too much concern at the Read more…

Darlow water testing – 18-Jan-2024

After the flooding, Darlow has now frozen around much of the perimeter, but we’ve kept monitoring the water chemistry due to the chance of increase levels of ammonia, nitrates, nitrites and phosphates coming in in flood water. The good news is that these troublesome chemicals have remained low; ammonia is undetectable, but phosphate (0.1 mg/L), nitrite (0.025 mg/L) and nitrate (0.12 mg/L) have entered the lake in the flood water from the river via Brasenose Read more…

Darlow water quality – 01-Aug-2023

The water chemistry is continuing to look good at Darlow; all indicators of pollution are undetectable (ammonia, nitrite and phosphate). Temperature is still high, but much relatively low compared to the last few years (19.6 °C at 0930 on Tue 01-Aug-2023). Oxygenation (7.8 mg/L, 88 % sat.) and clarity is good. More details can be found here. Fish have been seen moving around the lake, especially near aerators, and some have been reported rising to Read more…

Darlow water quality – 27-Jun-2023

Latest water test results are showing that we still have good water chemistry, which gives our stock the best chance over the Summer months. Nitrate, nitrite and phosphate are all undetectable, and oxygenation is also good (105 % saturation, 9.2 mg/L). Water clarity is also good, although can become a little cloudy during warmer months. These low levels of nutrients will also help to reduce the chance of algal blooms. We did have a small, Read more…

Darlow water quality – 23-May-2023

Water temperatures are now starting to creep up (16.8 °C at 0900 on 23-May-2023), but the lake is looking fantastic with very clear water and some good new weed growth. Fish are showing all around the lake with some big tench and carp that can be seen in some swims. Also, more good news on the water chemistry, with all indicators of any pollution undetectable or very low. Oxygenation is also high (10.8 mg/L, 111 Read more…

Darlow water quality – 18-Apr-2023

The latest water quality tests are looking excellent. All indicators of serious pollution are undetectable (phosphate, nitrite and ammonia). A small amount of nitrate was detected which was likely to have come in from the flood water over the last few months – historically, Darlow typically has a very low level of nitrates because we have very little new water flowing in from other sources, so plants have a chance to use it. The clarity Read more…