Editing River Chess (section)

== Drought ==
[[File:River Chess at Waterside, Chesham - geograph.org.uk - 131737.jpg|thumb|River Chess, under drought conditions, at Waterside, Chesham]]
The river suffered from a severe lack of water for approximately two years between 2004 and 2006 and again in 2011 and 2012. Well below average rainfall over long periods was a contributory factor. Winter rainfall is particularly important for replenishing ground water. However, the exceptional rainfall in April and June 2012 allowed the ground water to slowly rise at a time of the year when ground water levels usually start to fall. Consequently, levels in the river Chess were showing signs of improvement by July 2012.

Local speculation during the river drought of 2005 was that over-extraction for bottling, by [[Nestlé]]'s Powwow Water was a significant contributing factor. Indeed after extraction had stopped, and the river recovered somewhat, the bed was now so overgrown it was a struggle for the river to fully recover until much of the growth was removed by volunteers in 2012. In 2005 Councillor Justine Fulford campaigned to prevent the extension of the licence on the grounds that it was damaging to the local environment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/653292.Dry_river_blamed_on_Nestl___plant_/|title=Dry river blamed on Nestlé plant|website=Bucks Free Press|language=en|access-date=2017-01-20}}</ref>
[[File:River Chess source Pednor Rd, Chesham.jpg|thumb|River Chess source Pednor Rd, Old Chesham, Feb 2021]]
[[File:River Chess flooding across Pednor Road by Chesham Tennis Club.jpg|thumb|River Chess flooding across Pednor Road by Chesham Tennis Club, Feb 2021]]
[[File:River Chess culvert in Townsend Rd, Chesham, Feb 2021.jpg|thumb|River Chess culvert in Townsend Rd, Chesham, Feb 2021]]