River Sherford

{{Short description|River in Dorset, England}} {{Use British English|date=February 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox river | name = River Sherford | image = File:Sherford River, Organford.jpg | image_size =  | image_caption = Organford Bridge on the Sherford | source1_location = Whitefield near Bere Regis | mouth_location = Lytchett Bay, Poole Harbour | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|50.7261|-2.0499|region:GB|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | length_km = 12.317 | length_ref = <ref name=EDG>[https://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB108044010100 ''Sherford River''] at environment.data.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 Nov 2016.</ref> | source1_elevation = | mouth_elevation = | discharge1_avg = | basin_size_km2 = 45.348 | basin_size_ref = <ref name=EDG/> }} The '''River Sherford''', also frequently called the '''Sherford River''', is one of the four main rivers flowing into Poole Harbour in the county of Dorset, England. It is about 12 kilometres long<ref>[http://www.beachquality.uk/poole-harbour-lake-beach/profile ''Poole Harbour Lake Beach''] at beachquality.uk. Retrieved 6 Nov 2016.</ref> and drains over the tertiary beds near the harbour.<ref name=WW>[https://www.wessexwater.co.uk/pooleharbourinformation/ ''Poole Harbour Catchment Information''] at www.wessexwater.co.uk. Retrieved 6 Nov 2016.</ref>

== Course == It rises at a spring in the hamlet of Whitefield, west of Lytchett Matravers, flows southwards into Morden Park lake and then eastwards, passing under the A351 before discharging into Lytchett Bay as the '''Rock Lea River''' on the northern side of Poole Harbour.<ref name=OS>OS topographic map, 1:25,000 series, No. OL15 Purbeck & South Dorset.</ref>

== Water quality == The Sherford's water body status in 2013 was graded "poor" by the Environment Agency.<ref>Wessex Water, ''Poole Harbour Catchment Initiative: Catchment Plan: Update - May 2014''. Appendix 2.</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

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