Middle Dee Catchment Action Plan March 2015

Transcription

1 March 2015 Version 1 River Dee Shocklach Duncan Revell

2 The Middle Dee Our vision is that the Middle Dee catchment is clean, healthy, full of wildlife, enjoyed by people and enables sustainable economic growth. This plan is about managing the catchment of the Middle Dee, the heart of the river Dee basin, which flows from the Welsh hills to the coast and its wonderful estuary. Contents Page Middle Dee Catchment Area 3 Introduction 4 Catchment Partnership 8 Activity Plan 10 Appendix 1: RNAG for Middle Dee River Waterbodies 15 Appendix 2: RNAG for Middle Dee Lake Waterbodies 18 Appendix 3: Wetland designated sites in the Middle Dee 19 Appendix 4: Background to the Catchment Based Approach 20 Appendix 5: Further Information 22 2

3 Middle Dee Catchment Area 3

4 No. River Waterbodies Introduction Background on the catchment The River Dee Basin District covers an area of 2,251 square kilometres, mainly in Wales but also includes a small area in England. Its source is in the mountains and lakes of the Snowdonia National Park and it runs to the internationally significant intertidal and wading bird habitat of the Dee Estuary. Reservoirs in the Upper Dee catchment store water and regulate flow in the Dee. They sustain abstractions for public and industrial water supply and modify flood response in the river, reducing the frequency of flooding in the Middle Dee between Bala and Chester. Parts of the Middle Dee management catchment are underlain by the Dee Permo-Triassic Sandstone aquifer. The aquifer is used to supply drinking water and provides significant baseflow to the River Dee. The River Dee is an important source of drinking water for nearly three million people, in Wales and North West England. Habitats and species that occur along the River Dee and its main tributaries are recognised as being of European and national importance leading to its designations as Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). However, in 1999, the lower part of the Dee was designated as the UK s first, and to date only, Water Protection Zone (WPZ). A WPZ is an area which contains water bodies that are polluted by human activities. The designated area has regulations put in place to protect water quality from diffuse pollution, certain activities (e.g. storing or using controlled substances) are banned or restricted to reduce the risk of polluting drinking water. Within each WPZ all polluting activities are addressed, not just ones focussing on agriculture. Further information on the River Dee Catchment can be found in the Dee Catchment Summary and the River Dee Basin Management Plan (see Appendix 5: Further Information). Challenges/significant water management issues The Middle Dee is one of three management catchments in the River Dee Catchment and includes (based on Cycle II boundaries) 20 river waterbodies, 8 groundwater bodies, 9 lakes and 2 canals. Two of the ground waterbodies are classified as poor due to pollution from mines and agriculture. The majority of the river waterbodies are classified as moderate under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) (Fig 1). Good Moderate Poor Bad Figure WFD River Waterbody status in the Middle Dee Catchment Figure 2. Pressures in the Middle Dee Catchment 4

5 The main pressures for the river waterbodies are point source pollution (sewage discharge in particular), diffuse source pollution (in particular from agriculture) and physical modifications including problems related to abstraction and artificial flow regulation (Fig 2). There are usually multiple reasons for failure for the river waterbodies, further information can be found in Appendix 1. Within the Middle Dee Catchment there are also 9 lake waterbodies (Appendix 2). Wetland designated sites are also an important consideration within the catchment action plan, often activity can benefit both the conservation value of nationally and internationally important sites as well as contribute towards Water Framework Directive targets. Within the Middle Dee catchment there are 3 Ramsar sites, 8 Special Areas of Conservation, 3 Special Protection Areas and twenty-one Sites of Special Scientific Interest with features clearly referable to wetland conditions. Further information can be found in Appendix 3. A variety of invasive non-native species are present throughout the Dee catchment, these include aquatic, terrestrial and marine species. Within the Middle Dee the following species are present: Himalayan balsam Giant hogweed Japanese knotweed Orange balsam New Zealand pygmy weed Parrots feather Water fern American skunk cabbage Chinese mitten crab Signal crayfish American mink The main issues surrounding these species within the catchment are habitat loss, biodiversity loss, erosion, impact on recreation, water quality and impact on the local economy. Giant hogweed, for example, poses a serious risk to human health due to the ability of the plant sap to cause recurring and painful skin blistering after contact and exposure to the sunlight. It can often be found growing along riverbanks and paths in amenity areas, where people can accidentally or intentionally come in contact with it without knowing the dangers. 5

6 Key: Good Moderate Poor Bad Status of river waterbodies across the Middle Dee (2013) 6

7 Key: Poor Good Status of ground waterbodies across the Middle Dee (2013) 7

8 Catchment Partnership Introduction The Middle Dee Catchment Partnership was formed in response to Defra s 2013 call for hosts to facilitate local collaboration between stakeholders, and to identify priority actions for the water environment, in line with the Catchment Based Approach (Appendix 4) of: Delivering positive and sustained outcomes for the water environment by promoting a better understanding of the environment at a local level; and Encouraging local collaboration and more transparent decision-making when both planning and delivering activities to improve the water environment which also deliver multiple benefits to the environment and society including Biodiversity 2020 and flood risk management objectives. In October 2013 funding was awarded to the Welsh Dee Trust and Cheshire Wildlife Trust to jointly host the Middle Dee catchment and act as a catalyst for delivering improvements. Achievements since October 2013: Establishing and creating a partnership network Stakeholder mapping Facilitating communication between partners (including across the Local Authorities and the England/Wales border) Engaging across sectors including partner organisations, local community groups and landowners/managers. Identifying key pressures in the catchment Terms of Reference and Partnership Overview Steering group established Stakeholder workshops / events Successful funding applications with further bids in the pipeline Worthenbury and Wych rural diffuse pollution project (with Task & Finish Group) initiated In recent consultations the River Dee Flood Risk Management Plan mentions the need to improve arable farming practices to increase infiltration and water retention and hence reduce run off. The Middle Dee Catchment Partnership would like to see a measure to set up and support diffuse agricultural pollution and natural flood risk management projects throughout the Dee catchment and involved at an early stage so opportunities to develop these projects are not missed. The Catchment Partnership plans to work closely with NRW and EA regarding this. 8

9 Middle Dee Catchment Partnership Overview Role: A partnership to encourage local collaboration and to plan and deliver activities that improve and promote better understanding of the water environment. Aim: To maintain, enhance and protect the Middle Dee catchment by integrating the catchment based approach to promote its sustainable use, enhance its wildlife and water quality value and provide recreation and access to nature. Objectives: Deliver actions that: 1. Ensure the water environment supports increased biodiversity and its resources are managed sustainably 2. Maintain and enhance the condition of the designated sites and their features 3. Encourage sustainable agriculture to improve the water environment and associated habitat in the catchment area 4. Ensure the riverine environment supports and is seen as a driver of sustainable economic growth 5. Increase community engagement with the water environment 6. Contribute towards delivering EU Directive measures Priorities: Identify opportunities to: Undertake priority wetland habitat enhancement Protect and enhance the water environment (including groundwater) Encourage and support sustainable agriculture For the river environment to support economic growth Increase education, public access and engagement with the aquatic environment Contribute to EU Directives Develop a strong supporting environmental evidence base Develop a funding strategy to deliver the catchment priorities 9

10 Activity Plan There are a number of initiatives within the Middle Dee catchment that are delivering actions that through collaborative working maintain, enhance and protect the water environment and support the Catchment Partnership Objectives. Below are some examples. Big Dee Day A catchment wide initiative which not only tackles the issue of litter but is also a conduit for positive environmental action. This is an exemplar collaborative project with over 60 organisations taking part, including local authorities (Flintshire, Denbighshire and Cheshire West and Chester), EA & Natural Resources Wales. The length of the river is targeted by hordes of volunteers who put on their wellingtons to clear the rubbish that blights the banks of the River Dee. As well as picking up litter, some cutting back and clearance work also takes place. Following on from this initiative: Big Dee Day The Invasion has spun off which aims to tackle the issue of invasive non-native riparian plant species through mass volunteer action. River Dee Restoration Plan In 2012 the Environment Agency, with support from Natural England and Countryside Council for Wales, commissioned a project to look at the physical changes that have taken place to the River Dee, and the effect of these changes on the important wildlife that depend on the river. It was found that the major physical issues for the River Dee are: Absence of tree cover and grass lined bank tops Poaching from livestock Bank protection Embankments Channel realignment Major and minor weirs These changes reduce the ability of the river to behave naturally, and have contributed to sediment problems, reduced habitat suitability for animals such as otters, and caused problems for migrating fish. The restoration plan suggests some ways in which these problems can be alleviated, though any future management decisions will take into account other factors. In 2014 Natural England entered into a partnership agreement with the Welsh Dee Trust to draw up a detailed habitat restoration project design for a stretch of the River Ceiriog, and create a more detailed map of where opportunities might lie. The Environment Agency and Natural England are currently considering opportunities to improve the habitat of the River Dee in Cheshire. 10

11 A number of new initiatives (below) are in the development phase, or have begun, through collaboration between organisations in the catchment partnership. These new projects work towards the aims and objectives of the Catchment Partnership and it is hoped that funding will be secured to take them forward. Projects Catchment objective Title Objectives Timescale Lead partner(s) Dee Restoration Project Protect and enhance the water environment (including groundwater). Contribute to EU Directives and undertake priority wetland habitat enhancement. Create and enhance habitats along the River Dee, and address physical modifications to improve the ecological condition of the SSSI/SAC. xxx Environment Agency, Natural England, Enviornment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales, Welsh Dee Trust x x x x Worthenbury and Wych Rural Diffuse Pollution Project Connecting with Caldy Valley Water quality project - Farm visits in the. Worthenbury and Wych Brook catchments, which are WFD priority areas. Water Management Plans, with priority actions, will be produced for farmers and access to small grants to help kickstart interventions. The project will look for multiple benefits, such as areas that are suitable for habitat creation as well as providing water quality improvements. A project to educate people about misconnections in the Caldy Valley and Huntingdon area. The intention is to develop a format that can be rolled out in residential areas using Caldy Valley Environmental Group and 2 years Welsh Dee Trust, Reaseheath College, Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales. 12 months Environment Agency, Welsh Water and Cheshire Wildlife Trust x x x x x x x 11

12 Threapwood sewage treatment works project Alyn catchment project River Dee Chester landscape management plan Restoration of Mill Brook, Tattenhall Huntingdon Community Group as a trial. The project will produce a Caldy Brook advice to homeowners pack. An engagement programme that educates the local community about the importance of fully functioning septic tanks in rural areas and the impact on local river water quality. The initial intention is to discuss septic tank maintenance and the opportunity to apply for First TIme Sewerage with the local community. Learnings from this project can be used to roll out similar programmes across other rural Dee areas. The project will: remove barriers to migratory fish; reduce sediment by stabilising river banks; create in stream habitat, and; improve the riparian zone allowing for greater site connectivity. Riparian habitat project creating and restoring habitats and addressing physical modifications. Working with Tattenhall Wildlife Group (TWiG) to restore 240 metres of Mill Brook (main river) upstream of Tattenhall, near Chester. Floodplain grazing marsh, ponds and reedbed priority habitats will also be created 12 months Environment Agency x x x x 2-5 years Welsh Dee Trust Volunteers, Angling Clubs, Natural Resources Wales, Environment Agency, Flintshire County Council years 12 months Natural Resources Wales, Environment Agency, Wildlife Trusts, CWaC. Environment Agency, Tattenhall Wildlife Group, Bolesworth Estate x x x x x x x x x x 12

13 Dee Misconnections Pack Cross border Landscape Partnership Scheme Dee Invasive Non-native Species Project within the floodplain. This is likely to reduce flood risk through an increase in flood water storage upstream of the village, where properties flooded in Nov Development of an interchangeable resource pack that can be used when engaging with a range of stakeholders, such as homeowners, builders, property developers and housing associations, on the dangers of misconnecting to surface water, which affects the water quality of local watercourses. It will be possible to tailor a pack to the local audience using local maps, information, checklists, etc. Integrated project meeting the needs of the historic and natural heritage, management practices and cultural heritage of the area. Potential to collate elements of other identified action plan projects over the longer term. Catchment-wide partnership initiative which aims to coordinate the control and monitoring of INNS within the Dee catchment to ensure a joined up approach. Funding from Welsh Government, Natural England and the Environment Agency has enabled the development of a Strategic Action Plan and Biosecurity Action Plan which 6 months Environment Agency, United Utilities (tbc), Welsh Water (tbc), Natural Resources Wales (tbc) 2-5 years Statutory and non statutory organisations, land owners, farmers, riparian users, community groups 3 years Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Dee Trust, Environment Agency, Wildlife Trusts, Natural England, Keep Wales Tidy, Local Authorities. x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 13

14 have allowed the initiation of a strategic INNS control and monitoring project throughout the Dee catchment. Alun and Chwiler living landscape project Landscape scale project focussed on the Alun and Chwiler river corridors which aims to deliver habitat improvement works on private and public access land throughout the two river valleys to connect pockets of good habitat and create areas of protection and promote good management with landowners. Also to involve local communities with their natural environment and create a connection with nature to ensure the positive work of the project continues into the future. 3 years NWWT, Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB, Local Authorities, BASC, NRW x x x x x 14

15 Appendix 1: Reason for Not Achieving Good Status in Middle Dee River Waterbodies (2013) Water body ID Waterbody Type 2013 Overall Status Reason for not achieving good status GB Aldford Brook River Moderate Sewage discharge, unsewered domestic sewage, agriculture and rural land management GB Henlake Brook River Moderate Sewage discharge, agriculture and rural land management GB Wych Brook River Moderate Sewage discharge, agriculture and rural land management Pressure Phosphate Ammonia, phosphate, Phosphate GB Alyn - Hope to confluence River Moderate Sewage discharge, agriculture and Phosphate with Dee rural land management GB Alyn - Leadmill to Hope, US STW River Moderate Physical modification and point source and diffuse source pollution Phosphate and physical modification GB Alyn - Rhydymwyn to River Moderate Barriers to fish migration Physical modification Leadmill GB Alyn - upper river above River Moderate Barriers to fish migration, flood Physical modification Rhydymwyn protection GB Dee - Chester Weir to River Moderate Barriers to fish migration Physical modification Ceiriog GB Dolfechlas Brook River Moderate Sewage discharge, agriculture and Phosphate rural land management GB Emral Brook River Moderate Agriculture and rural land management, unsewered domestic sewage, sewage discharge Phosphate 15

16 GB Pulford Brook River Moderate Sewage discharge, agriculture and rural land management, land drainage, flood protection Ammonia Dissolved oxygen (DO) Fine sediment Physical modification Phosphate GB Terrig River Good Under investigation Physical modification GB Worthenbury Brook - lower GB Worthenbury Brook - middle River Moderate Sewage discharge, agriculture and rural land management, flood protection, housing drainage River Moderate Sewage discharge, agriculture and rural land management, flood protection, unsewered domestic sewage River Moderate Sewage discharge, agriculture and rural land management, Phosphate Fine sediment, Phosphate Fine sediment, GB Worthenbury Brook - Phosphate upper Fine sediment GB Cegidog River Moderate Barriers to fish migration Physical modification GB Ceiriog confluence Dee to Teirw River Good N/A N/A GB Morlas Brook River Moderate Barriers to fish migration Fish GB Shell Brook River Poor Barriers to fish migration, agriculture and land management Physical modification Fine sediment Phosphate Dissolved oxygen (DO) Phosphate GB Dungrey Brook River Bad Agriculture and rural land management GB41002G Clwyd Silurian Groundwater Good N/A N/A GB41102G Dee carboniferous coal Groundwater Poor Pollution from mines Chemicals measures GB41101G Dee carboniferous Groundwater Good N/A N/A limestone 16

17 GB41101G Dee permo-triassic Groundwater Good N/A N/A sandstone GB40902G Dee triassic mercia Groundwater Good N/A N/A mudstone GB41202G Weaver and Dane Groundwater Poor Agriculture and rural land Phosphate quaternary sand and gravel aquifers management GB41102G Dee Silurian/Ordovician Groundwater Good N/A N/A 17

18 Appendix 2: Reason for Not Achieving Good Status in Middle Dee Lake Waterbodies (2013) Waterbody ID Waterbody Name Current 2013 status Significant Water Management Issues GB Mill Pond moderate abstraction and flow GB Reservoir No. 2 moderate abstraction and flow GB Moel Dywyll moderate abstraction and flow GB Cilcain Reservoir 3 moderate abstraction and flow GB Llyn Cyfynwy high phosphate GB Nant-y-Ffrith Reservoir moderate abstraction and flow GB Pendinas Reservoir moderate abstraction and flow GB Hanmer Mere poor phosphate GB Llyn Bedydd moderate unknown 18

19 Appendix 3: Wetland Designated Sites in the Middle Dee Name SPA SAC RAMSAR SSSI Dee Estuary Berwyn a Mynyddoedd De Clwyd / Berwyn and South Clwyd Mountains, Berwyn, Llantysilio Mountains and Ruabon/Llantysilio Mountains and Minera, Minera / Ruabon, Llandegla Moor Migneint-Arenig-Dduallt Fenn s, Whixall, Bettisfield, Wem and Cadney Mosses River Dee and Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid Ramsar), River Dee and Llyn Tegid Alyn Valley Woodlands and Alyn Valley Woods and Alyn Gorge Caves Deeside and Buckley Newt Sites and Buckley Claypits and Commons, Maes y Grug and Connah's Quay Ponds and Woodlands Johnstown Newt Sites and Stryt Las a'r Hafod Coed Talon Marsh Cors y Sarnau Corsydd Nug a Merddwr Gatewen Marsh Llay bog Mynydd Hiraethog Old Pulford Brook Meadows Sontley Marsh Llyn Bedydd Hanmer Mere Vicarage Moss 19

20 Appendix 4: Background to the Catchment Based Approach The Water Framework Directive is a European Union directive which commits European Union member states to achieve good qualitative and quantitative status of all water bodies (including marine waters up to one nautical mile from shore) by The Directive aims for 'good status' for all ground and surface waters (rivers, lakes, transitional waters, and coastal waters) in the EU. The ecological and chemical status of surface waters are assessed according to the following criteria: Biological quality (fish, benthic invertebrates, aquatic flora) Hydromorphological quality such as river bank structure, river continuity or substrate of the river bed Physical-chemical quality such as temperature, oxygenation and nutrient conditions Chemical quality that refers to environmental quality standards for river basin specific pollutants. These standards specify maximum concentrations for specific water pollutants. If even one such concentration is exceeded, the water body will not be classed as having a good ecological status. One important aspect of the Water Framework Directive is the introduction of River Basin Districts. These areas have been designated according to the river basin (the spatial catchment area of the river) as a natural geographical and hydrological unit. As rivers often cross national borders, representatives from across the borders have to cooperate and work together for the management of the basin. They are managed according to River Basin Management Plans, which should provide a clear indication of the way the objectives set for the river basin are to be reached within the required timescale. In February 2011, the Government signalled its belief that more locally focussed decision making and action should sit at the heart of the debate about the future direction of improvements to the water environment and support river basin management planning as part of Water Framework Directive activities. A policy framework was developed to encourage the wider adoption of an integrated Catchment Based Approach to improving the quality of our water environment. The water environment is affected by every activity that takes place on land as well as through our actions in abstracting, using and returning water to rivers, the sea and the ground. Catchments are the natural scale to consider this aspect of the environment. Defra firmly believe that better coordinated action is desirable at the catchment level by all those who use water or influence land management and that this requires greater engagement and delivery by stakeholders at the catchment as well as local level, supported by the Environment Agency and other organisations. This is particularly important when trying to address the significant pressures placed on the water environment by diffuse pollution from both agricultural and urban sources, and widespread, historical alterations to the natural form of channels. 20

21 Defra hope the catchment based approach will help develop a clear understanding of the issues in the catchment, involvement of local communities in decision-making by sharing evidence and to work out priorities for action. In addition, the catchment based approach identifies opportunities to better co-ordinate and integrate projects to address local issues in a more cost effective way. The framework is designed to support local action and much of what is described sets out the bridge between local actions and the much larger scale actions described in River Basin Management Plans. This would be through the establishment of Catchment Partnerships. Catchment: A geographic area defined naturally by surface water hydrology. Catchments can exist at many scales but within this framework, we have adopted the definition of Management Catchments that the Environment Agency uses for managing availability of water for abstraction as our starting point. Catchment Partnership: Working at the catchment level, the partnership is a group that works with key stakeholders to agree and deliver the strategic priorities for the catchment and to support the Environment Agency in developing an appropriate River Basin Management Plan, required under the Water Framework Directive. The objectives for the Catchment Based Approach are: To deliver positive and sustained outcomes for the water environment by promoting a better understanding of the environment at a local level; and To encourage local collaboration and more transparent decision-making when both planning and delivering activities to improve the water environment. 21

22 Appendix 5: Further Information Water Watch Wales: Environment Agency: Dee Invasive Species Project: Catchment Sensitive Farming: Managing flooding in the river Dee basin district: _Dee_FRMP_Scoping_Report.pdf Geographic information about the natural environment Natural Resources Wales designated sites maps Details on Welsh SSSI s Details on English SSSI s River Dee Basin Management Plan Dee Management Catchment Summary Dee Catchment Flood Management Plan 9_River_Dee_CFMP_gewa0110brko-e-e.pdf Green Infrastructure 22

23 Woodland for Water Opportunity Mapping for improvement in water quality and reducing flood risk in England and Wales produced by Forest Research: Woodland Trust publications relating to the role of trees for water management, urban and rural: &page=2 23