A NEW scheme which will allow the Environment Agency (EA) to monitor the flow of the River Loddon more effectively has been launched.

Two new flow gauges have been installed along the River Loddon at Pyotts Bridge and near Lodge Farm, both in Old Basing, to allow the EA to transmit information on the amount of water in the river, and the rate at which it is flowing to the agency’s hydrometry team in Walling-ford, Oxfordshire.

The information will help present a more detailed picture on the existing health of the river.

The £50,000 project has been funded by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Mark Barnett, River Loddon catchment co-ordinator at the Environment Agency, said: “There’s a tremendous amount of work going on to restore and protect rivers. But as our population continues to increase, so does the size of the challenge.

“With good environmental data we can work in a far smarter and effective way than we can without it – using it to pinpoint issues and their solutions.”

He added: “With the introduction of these new gauges, we will have access to more detailed data on the Loddon than ever before.”

The borough council’s Cabinet member for community services and the environment, Councillor Hayley Eachus, said: “The borough council is pleased to be funding this important project which will improve water quality information in the River Loddon.”