The Water Framework Directive in Estuarine and Coastal Waters. David Baxter Head of Catchment Management 5 th November 2013

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1 The Water Framework Directive in Estuarine and Coastal Waters David Baxter Head of Catchment Management 5 th November 2013

2 Introduction The Water Framework Directive Current Situation in Estuarine and Coastal Waters The Challenge River Basin Management Planning Cycle 2 Joint Working Opportunities UNCLASSIFIED 2

3 WFD Headline points WFD covers all transitional and coastal waters out to one nautical mile 2 High-level principles of the WFD: 1. No deterioration obligation ( not allowed to make the water environment worse ) New modifications have the potential to cause deterioration or prevent achievement of GES/GEP 2. Aim to achieve Good Ecological Status or Good Ecological Potential ( make every possible effort to try to make the water environment better ) Objectives are set in River Basin Management Plans these are statutory with a duty on all public authorities to have regard to them

4 River Basin Management Plans The RBMPs set out the plans for how we are going to achieve the objectives of the WFD. They set the baseline conditions and they set realistic and worthwhile long term objectives. Provides a strategic approach to planning across catchments (- better outcomes and benefits) Facilitates engagement across sectors in a River Basin District RBMPs split the water environment into a series of management units called water bodies Rivers Lakes Transitional (estuaries) Coastal (marine out to 1 nm) There are 10 River Basin Districts MSC Napoli beached at Lyme Bay, 2007

5 Estuarine and Coastal Water Bodies Estuarine and Coastal waters are big! Coastal Estuarine (Transitional) Average km 2 Average km 2 Max km 2 Max km 2 69 water bodies 107 water bodies Economically important Many Estuarine and Coastal water bodies are heavily modified (HMWBs) Significant human use that would be compromised by delivering normal WFD objectives. So the default objective is Good Ecological Potential (the best the water body can be without compromising human use) No deterioration principle and requirements to reach good in supporting chemical parameters still apply!

6 Estuarine and Coastal Water Bodies Headline statistics for 2013 % of water bodies Status of transitional and coastal water bodies in England EcoStatus Overall Status Biological status No Data % of TraC water bodies are at good ecological status/potential or better 61% of TraC water bodies are at good biological status/potential or better

7 Estuarine & Coastal Water Bodies: 2013 Headline stats Between 2009 & 2015, the first River Basin Management Plans predicted that the total number of water bodies at good status in England would increase from 26% to 30% Only 1 estuarine and coastal water body was predicted to improve in status However a further 8% of coastal & estuarine waters were predicted to improved in some manner by 2015 but this is masked by the 1 out all out rule. UNCLASSIFIED 7

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10 The Challenge Main pressures preventing good status in estuarine and coastal waters: Hydrology Nitrates (DIN) Physical modification - mitigation measures not in place Tributyl Tin compounds Other chemicals and metals (Mercury, TBT, U-PBTs, Zinc and Copper, Fluoranthene) Some Key Sectors Agriculture and rural land management Flood risk management Navigation Urban and transport Water industry UNCLASSIFIED 10

11 RIVER BASIN PLANNING - a framework for finding the balance 22 June 2013 Costs, benefits & realistic measures Challenges and Choices consultation Catchment by catchment summaries of what would be needed to get every water body to good Summer 2014 Priorities & affordability Draft River Basin Management Plans consultation All actions for water bodies where benefits exceed costs, draft objectives, impacts of affordability September nd River Basin Management Plans to Ministers All actions for water that are costbeneficial AND affordable, with objectives that follow UNCLASSIFIED 11

12 Programmes of Measures Some Examples WFD Measure Marine Planning & Licensing European Fisheries Fund Clearing the Waters Dredging and Disposal Guidance Expanding WFD Assessment Guidance in Estuarine and Coastal Waters Marine Strategy Framework Directive Environment Agency Permitting Marine Conservation Zones Shoreline Management Plans Dredging Strategies Lead Organisation Marine Management Organisation Marine Management Organisation Environment Agency Environment Agency Defra Environment Agency Defra Environment Agency Port/Harbour Authorities UNCLASSIFIED 12

13 Increasing the Profile of Estuaries and Coasts in River Basin Planning Development of an estuaries and coasts subgroup of the WFD National Liaison Panel River Basin District Liaison Panel Estuarine and Coastal Workshops (SW and SE/Thames) Representation at Catchment Based Approach Steering Group and local Catchment Partnerships Regional Marine Coordinators Regional River Basin Programme Coordinators WFD Estuarine and coastal Assessment Guidance development UNCLASSIFIED 13

14 WFD Estuarine and Coastal Guidance Clearing the Waters assesses WFD compliance of navigational dredging and disposal: What does it include? Separate screening stages for Maintenance dredging and disposal (part of the 2009 RBMP baseline) New projects Assessment: The scope of the assessment is determined at the screening stage Identification and evaluation of [mitigation] measures Implications for decision-making (exemptions, Article 4.7 etc.) UNCLASSIFIED 14

15 WFD Estuarine and Coastal Guidance Working with the MMO and NRW to expand our guidance to: Cover the range of development activities ID d by developers and regulators. Simplify the WFD assessment process - consistent, focused and easier to follow. Focus developers- eliminate unnecessary monitoring =>future 3 rd party data use by EA. Ensure all habitats important at a water body scale are considered (not just habitats actively monitored for classification). Streamline WFD requirements with other needs (e.g. Environmental Impact and Habitat Regulations Assessments) moving towards integrated evidence for all drivers. UNCLASSIFIED 15

16 Joint Working Opportunities Further engagement opportunities with existing coastal networks (CPN and CP s) Opportunity for CPN to participate in the WFD National Liaison Panel Estuaries and Coasts Subgroup Opportunity for individual partnerships to continue to support the work of River Basin District Liaison Panels (and E&C subgroups/workshops) and the CaBA Attendance of Defra family at National and Regional partnership events to improve integration of plans UNCLASSIFIED 16

17 Regional River Basin Programme Managers North West: Jim Ratcliffe Bill Darbyshire Regional Contacts Regional Marine Coordinators North East: Jeff Pacey Jill Lee Midlands: Christopher Tidridge Anglian: Dave Freeman Zoe Gutteridge South West: Jeremy Bailey Bruce Newport South East: DJ Gent Sean Ashworth Above addresses: UNCLASSIFIED 17

18 Any Questions? Potential Model Dom Hutchings Estuaries and Coasts Team Manager UNCLASSIFIED 18