'GREEN STUFF' COLLECTING LITTER IN BRIGG

 

Weed/algae cover recently built up considerably on the Old River Ancholme near Brigg town centre. This 'green stuff' tends to trap litter, ranging from plastic cartons to 'fag' ends.

People commented about the surface growth and hoped for an improvement.
Brigg Blog went down last week to take a look and photograph the scene from the County Bridge, looking north (see image above).
An Environment Agency spokesperson told us on Friday: “Algal blooms and growths of other plants occur naturally during Spring and Summer in response to rising temperatures and longer days. They are more widespread this year due to recent hot weather.
“Prolonged dry weather leads to lower water levels and flows which mean weed masses remain static but these generally disappear by late Autumn.
“Responsibility for keeping clear waterways falls upon the riparian owner. The Environment Agency does carry out a summer programme of cutting in slow-flowing and engineered watercourses, including the River Ancholme, which improves flow.”

Brigg Blog went to take another look on Saturday (August 6) and found less growth present in the centre of the river near the County Bridge, but expanses of the green stuff near the banks on either side - some of which contained accumulated litter (see pictures below).