The Environment Agency (EA) has released a list of the ten most improved rivers in the UK, highlighting the impressive work done through habitat improvement projects, pushing for tighter pollution regulations and working with farmers. image expired

The Agency said Britain’s major rivers are at their healthiest for over 20 years. It said, “A river that once ran black with coal is now an international match fishing destination, another so polluted that it was described as ‘an affront to a civilised society’ is now a home for salmon, otters and water voles, and a London river that was officially declared a sewer in the 1960s has become one of the best urban fisheries in the country.”

The list, released today, shows several waterways have shrugged off their industrial past to become havens for wildlife, walkers and anglers once more.

The EA’s head of land and water, Ian Barker, told the BBC that work within agriculture to improve water quality and habitat and maintain flow levels was part of the reason for the success. He said, “Britain's rivers are the healthiest for over 20 years, and otters, salmon and other wildlife are returning for the first time since the industrial revolution. But there is still more to be done and we have plans to transform a further 9,500 miles of rivers in England and Wales by 2015."

Colleague Geoff Bateman said rivers had benefited from a better understanding of how to balance the needs of people with the environment. By 2015 the UK must meet tough new EU targets on the water quality and ecology of its rivers and lakes. This year the Environment Agency, with help from partners such as Natural England, is allotting £18m of Defra funding to help more rivers meet the new EU targets.

The ten rivers are:

• River Wandle, London
• River Thames
• River Wear in County Durham
• River Stour in Worcestershire
• River Darent, Kent
• River Dee in the North West, England and Wales
• River Nar in Norfolk
• River Taff in South Wales
• River Stour, Dorset
• The Mersey Basin