| The threats to the River Kennet are discussed in detail under the Abstraction, Pollution and Climate Change topics. In addition, the following table presents an overview. Pressures and potential impacts on chalk rivers. | Pressure | Specific aspects | Potential impacts | | Abstraction | Drinking water supply, industry, fish and watercress farms, irrigation | Low flows, reduced dilution of pollutants, sedimentation, excess algal growth, loss of current-loving species, entrapment of wild fish | | Effluent discharge | Sewage, industrial effluent, fish and watercress farms, endocrine disrupters, increased temperature | Organic, nutrient and toxic pollution; loss of species, excess algal growth, reduced population size | | Agriculture | Livestock: bank damage, polluted runoff (organic matter, nutrients, sediment)
Arable: drainage, polluted runoff (nutrients, herbicides, endocrine disrupters, sediment)
| Damage to aquatic and wetland habitats and sensitive species, reduced water quality, accelerated runoff and reduced groundwater recharge | | Flood defence, land drainage, inappropriate water level control | Channel and bank engineering, weed cutting, dredging, hatch operation | Damage to aquatic and riparian species and habitats | | Development | Urban development: contruction, polluted runoff (e.g. oils, sediment, heavy metals) | Habitat loss, poor water quality, higher water demand, obstructions to fish passage | | Fisheries management | Weed cutting, riparian management
Fish stocking and removal
| Habitat loss, reduced flow velocity and gravel scour
Fish community change, risk of spreading fish and other diseases | | Recreation | Walking, canoeing, boating | Disturbance | | Non-native and invasive species | Escape and spread of farmed fish, crayfish, mink and non-native plants (e.g. Himalayan balsam); localised overgrazing of water crowfoot by mute swans and cattle | Loss of native species and habitats | Table reproduced with permission from "The State of England's Chalk Rivers", a report by the UK Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group for Chalk Rivers, published by English Nature and The Environment Agency. | 
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