Report Headlines
- None of England’s 4,000 river stretches are in good overall health, with only 15% achieving good or higher ecological health – the same as in the last report in 2024
- This means the 2027 Water Framework Directive health targets are likely to be missed
- Chemicals, phosphates, and even treated sewage discharges are serious threats
- Climate change is a key driver of deterioration in our rivers; acting as a threat multiplier, making the impacts of all the other pressures rivers face worse
- There is hope – action does have positive impacts. And although the overall picture shows no significant improvement, there are successes and improvements when we explore deeper
- Clear calls to action are provided for governments, businesses, landowners, media, and the wider public including better governance and regulation, fairer funding for farmers, addressing pollution at source, and investing more in Nature-based Solutions
Following the previous State of Our Rivers Report published in 2024, this third edition sets out what has and hasn’t changed and explores the themes of water quality and quantity, wildlife, and communities in depth. It sheds light on the threats rivers face – all of which are exacerbated by climate change – but also shares the solutions and success stories making rivers fit for the future.
Our rivers are still in crisis, and climate change is making things worse. We all rely on healthy rivers and if they aren’t fit for the future, neither are we. The Report finds that rivers are impacted by chemical, agricultural, industrial, nutrient, urban and sewage pollution, as well as by wet winters and hot, dry summers that lead to flooding and drought. Many are blocked by barriers, choked by invasive species, artificially modified, and over-abstracted as demand for water rises.
At the South East Rivers Trust, we’re working hard to restore and protect rivers across the South East, creating healthier waterways for people and wildlife. We’re achieving this through sustainable land management, Nature-based Solutions, and by working in partnership with communities, businesses and landowners.
Dr Bella Davies, Chief Executive of the South East Rivers Trust, says:
“The State of Our Rivers Report is a stark reminder of the scale and urgency of the challenges facing our rivers. While local restoration efforts demonstrate what is possible, reversing the decline of our rivers demands coordinated action, sustained investment and change at a much greater scale. By building on established Catchment Partnerships and connecting regional planning with action on the ground, we can deliver the joined-up, landscape-scale recovery our rivers urgently need. We’re proud to be part of The Rivers Trust movement, working together to make that happen.”
Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of The Rivers Trust, said:
“The State of Our Rivers Report has fast become a vital tool for governments, the media, businesses, conservation organisations, and all river users to fully understand how healthy – or unhealthy – our rivers are. And, crucially, it sets out what action is needed to revitalise rivers for wildlife and communities. We hope it will inform and empower people – from Prime Ministers to households – across the UK and Ireland to take whatever action they can to make rivers more resilient for future generations.”
Read the State of Our Rivers Report 2026
Get to know what’s truly going on beneath the surface of our rivers – both the bad and the good – and use this report to help drive the movement fighting for wild, healthy, natural rivers.
