The State of Our Rivers Report 2026 is a bumper resource from the experts at The Rivers Trust that invites everyone to learn more about and investigate the health of rivers across the UK and Ireland, with a foreword from Robert Macfarlane, author of Is A River Alive?.

Pulling together the latest datasets and featuring 10+ interactive maps, the report shines a spotlight on the multiple pressures our rivers currently face, explores how climate change is making these problems worse, and shares the solutions that are urgently needed.
A range of deep dives into specific topics is also included, taking in-depth looks at issues such as the decline of Atlantic salmon, tackling drought and flooding in the climate crisis, the sources of chemical and phosphate pollution, and how England’s outdated consented discharge permits allow our rivers to be polluted even by treated sewage.

We all rely on healthy rivers.

However, our rivers are not fit for the future - so neither are we:
 

• 0% of England’s almost 4,000 river stretches in England are in good or high overall health
• 22% of England's river stretches are in poor or bad overall health
• Just 15% of river stretches in England achieve good or high ecological status, meaning 85% fail to reach 'good' ecological health standards

Dive into the full report for more statistics, and discover the reasons for our rivers' failing health, then use our tool to contact your elected representative.