River Itchen

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

Country	England
Unitary Authority	Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Centroid^*	SU467174
Latitude	50.9539
Longitude	-1.3347
SAC EU Code	UK0012599
Status	Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha)	303.98
* This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC.

General site character

Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (40%)
Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (27%)
Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (19%)
Improved grassland (1%)
Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (10%)
Mixed woodland (2%)
Non-forest areas cultivated with woody plants (including Orchards, groves, Vineyards, Dehesas) (1%)

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Note When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

3260 Water courses of plain to montane levels with the Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion vegetation

The Itchen is a classic example of a sub-type 1 chalk river. The river is dominated throughout by aquatic Ranunculus spp. The headwaters contain pond water-crowfoot Ranunculus peltatus, while two Ranunculus species occur further downstream: stream water-crowfoot R. penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans, a species especially characteristic of calcium-rich rivers, and river water-crowfoot R. fluitans.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

Not Applicable

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

1044 Southern damselfly Coenagrion mercuriale

Strong populations of southern damselfly Coenagrion mercuriale occur here, estimated to be in the hundreds of individuals. The site in central southern England represents one of the major population centres in the UK. It also represents a population in a managed chalk-river flood plain, an unusual habitat for this species in the UK, rather than on heathland.
1163 Bullhead Cottus gobio

The Itchen is a classic chalk river that supports high densities of bullhead Cottus gobio throughout much of its length. The river provides good water quality, extensive beds of submerged plants that act as a refuge for the species, and coarse sediments that are vital for spawning and juvenile development.

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

1092 White-clawed (or Atlantic stream) crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes
1096 Brook lamprey Lampetra planeri
1106 Atlantic salmon Salmo salar
1355 Otter Lutra lutra

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