River Great Stour

Infobox River
river_name = River Great Stour

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image_size =
caption = River Stour and Tributaries
origin = Ashford TR 01539 42793 Coord|51.14890|0.88020|display=inline|format=dms
mouth = River Stour TR 26943 63444 Coord|51.32480|1.25590|display=inline|format=dms
basin_countries =
length = 50 miles (80.1km)
elevation =
mouth_elevation =
discharge =
watershed =

The River Great Stour (50 miles (80.1km) in length, including the Upper Great Stour [ [http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/1_1466341.pdf Stour CFMP report] ] is the name by which the upper stretches of the River Stour in Kent, England, is known. The section from its source at Lenham is also known as the River Upper Great Stour, and is above the confluence, of the Upper and East Stours which occurs either side of Pledge’s Mill at the bottom of "East Hill" in Ashford, helping to form part of the Ashford Green Corridor.

The route

The river flows from Ashford, through Wye, Chilham and Canterbury to Plucks Gutter, where it is joined by the River Little Stour and the River Wantsum to form the River Stour.The route of the Stour Valley Walk follows the river. [ [http://www.thanington-hotel.co.uk/ (Picture courtesy of) Thannington Hotel, Canterbury] ]

Fishing

The Great Stour estuary at Plucks Gutter and Grove Ferry is renowned for its coarse fishing, particularly bream stocks. [ [http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/fishing_kent.pdfsm Environment Agency] ]

Flooding

The lower-lying parts of Canterbury have in the past been particularly prone to flooding [ [http://www.naturegrid.org.uk/rivers/gt%20stour%20case%20study-pages/fld-rvr.html Nature Grid] ] . The "River Stour (Kent) Internal Drainage Board" has the responsibility of reducing that risk in the river catchment area [ [http://www.riverstouridb.org.uk/ River Stour (Kent) Internal Drainage Board] ]

Environment

In May 2006 male fish were found with signs of "feminisation" after having been exposed to treated sewage effluent in the river near Ashford. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4989066.stm BBC news 17 May 2006] ]

References