River Key

The River Key is a tributary of the River Thames in England which flows through Wiltshire.

River Key
Key at Purton Stoke
Location
CountryEngland
CountiesWiltshire
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationPurton, Braydon Forest
 • coordinates51°35′11″N 1°51′57″W
MouthRiver Thames
 • location
Cricklade
 • coordinates
51°38′22″N 1°51′27″W

Course

The river rises at Braydon Forest near Purton and runs north-east through Purton Stoke, joining the Thames on the southern bank near Cricklade,[1] just upstream of the A419 Road Bridge.

The river was crossed by the now-derelict North Wilts Canal a few hundred yards south of Cricklade. In December 2000, as part of regeneration of the canal, rescue work was started on the River Key Aqueduct.[2] The river was also crossed by a bridge of the Midland & South Western Junction Railway.

Water quality

The Environment Agency measures the water quality of the river systems in England. Each is given an overall ecological status, which may be one of five levels: high, good, moderate, poor and bad. There are several components that are used to determine this, including biological status, which looks at the quantity and varieties of invertebrates, angiosperms and fish. Chemical status, which compares the concentrations of various chemicals against known safe concentrations, is rated good or fail.[3]

Water quality of the River Key in 2019:

SectionEcological
Status		Chemical
Status		Overall
Status		LengthCatchmentChannel
Key (Source to Thames)[4] Moderate Fail Moderate 10.479 km (6.511 mi) 27.757 km2 (10.717 sq mi)

See also

References
  1. Fred. S Thacker The Thames Highway Vol II Locks and Weirs 1920
  2. North Wilts Canal Trust
  3. "Glossary (see Biological quality element; Chemical status; and Ecological status)". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency. 17 February 2016. Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
  4. "Key (Source to Thames)". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency.



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