EdenDTC – 10 years of research

What was EdenDTC?

The River Eden Demonstration Test Catchment (EdenDTC) was a Defra-funded research project. The aim of the project was to assess if it is possible to cost-effectively mitigate diffuse pollution from agriculture whilst maintaining agricultural productivity. EdenDTC was part of a wider research platform including similar projects in the Hampshire Avon and the River Wensum.

Where were we working?

The project worked in three focus catchments within the River Eden catchment, selected to represent a range of land uses, physical characteristics and weather. The focus areas were the Thackthwaite, Newby and Pow catchments. Each catchment has an area of approximately 10 km².

What did we do?

We monitored the stream water quality and biology and examined how the catchment responds to storm events. This work included measuring many properties of the water including the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and the total amount of water leaving the catchment. We worked closely with farmers in the catchment to test a range of mitigation measures in real catchment situations.

Who were we?

The Eden DTC team was led by Lancaster University and the consortium included Durham and Newcastle Universities, the Eden Rivers Trust, CEH Lancaster and Newton Rigg College. The full team is listed here.

Can I get the datasets?

The datasets from this project are available to all via the Agricultural and Environmental Data Archive (AEDA).

How do I get in touch?

You can contact us using this web form.