Record low levels for Shropshire brook
Recording began on Cound Brook in 1997 and in winter it would be typically more than five feet deep
A brook in Shropshire has reached its lowest level since records began in 1997, the Environment Agency has said.The recent heatwave has had an impact on all of the county's rivers, with the Severn currently being topped up from reservoirs and groundwater.Rob Davis said levels on Cound Brook are "very low", which was when the lowest level was recorded at Cound.
Rob Davis, a hydrometry and telemetry officer with the Environment Agency, said although the brook was one of its youngest gauging stations, levels are still "very low". After the floods at the start of the year the weather has been very dry and little rain is forecast for August.Currently water to top-up the Severn is coming from Welsh reservoirs, and 210,000,000 litres of groundwater from north Shropshire which is being pumped in each day.He said rising temperatures meant low levels were likely to be an ongoing problem.
"We will see a lot more frequent requirement for topping up flows on the Severn, possibly for longer periods with the hotter weather - so more frequent support," he said.Follow BBC West Midlands on