River Ehen facts for kids
The River Ehen is a beautiful river located in Cumbria, England. It starts its journey from the western end of Ennerdale Water. This lake itself gets its water from the River Liza.
As the River Ehen flows west, it passes through a village called Ennerdale Bridge. Here, another small stream, Croasdale Beck, joins it. The Ehen then continues past towns like Cleator Moor and Cleator. In Cleator, it meets the River Keekle. The river then heads south through Egremont. Finally, it flows alongside the Irish Sea and joins it near Sellafield. At this same spot, the River Calder also meets the sea.
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Amazing Wildlife
The River Ehen is a very special place for wildlife. It is home to the largest group of freshwater pearl mussels in all of England. These unique mussels are important for the river's health.
Atlantic Salmon
The river is also a vital breeding ground for Atlantic salmon. These amazing fish swim all the way from the ocean back to the river to lay their eggs. Protecting the salmon helps the mussels too!
Protecting the River
Because the River Ehen is so important for its wildlife, it has special protections.
Special Area of Conservation
In 2005, the River Ehen was named a Special Area of Conservation. This means it's a very important natural area that needs to be protected. The part of the coast where the river flows into the sea also became a protected area in 2013. This is called the Cumbria Coast Marine Conservation Zone.
Pearls in Peril Project
The River Ehen is the only river in England to be part of a project called "Pearls in Peril." This project gets money from the European Union to help save the freshwater pearl mussel. The project works at 21 different places across the UK. Freshwater pearl mussels need fish like salmon and trout to complete part of their life cycle. This is why protecting the salmon in the Ehen is so important for the mussels!
Water for People
For many years, water from Ennerdale Water was used for drinking water in West Cumbria. However, there are now plans to get drinking water from a different lake called Thirlmere. This change is happening because the Environment Agency wants to make sure there is enough water in Ennerdale for the environment and its wildlife. By 2025, the company that supplies water, United Utilities, will stop taking water from Ennerdale.
