Humber Management Scheme. FAQs Water quality

Transcription

1 Humber Management Scheme FAQs Water quality

2 Key organisations and involvement in EMS management The Water Framework Directive (WFD) sets out how the water environment in England will be managed using a catchment-based approach rather than administrative or political boundaries. The purpose of the Directive is to establish a framework for the protection of inland surface waters (rivers and lakes), transitional waters (estuaries), coastal waters and groundwater. As the sole competent authority, the Environment Agency (EA) is responsible for implementing the WFD. This includes the development and publication of River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) which set out objectives for each water body and must be updated every 6 years. The Humber Nature Partnership is the host for the Humber Catchment Partnership. The WFD assess the quality of the water environment through consideration of individual water bodies. The requirement is for each water body to achieve Good Ecological Status (GES) or, in the case of heavily modified water bodies (WMWB) Good Ecological Potential (GEP). The designation of a heavily modified water body accepts that the biology of the water body has been impacted by its modification. GEP is the best ecology a HMWB can achieve without compromising the use for which it was designated. There are 3 transitional water bodies which cover the Humber Estuary, and 3 saline lagoons on the estuary s south bank. All 3 main water bodies are designated as heavily modified for flood protection, and the Lower Humber is also designated for Navigation. The target for all the Humber water bodies is to reach Good Ecological Potential by Any organisation or individual whose current or future work may impact on the water environment is required to ensure that their activities comply with the WFD. This includes ensuring no deterioration in the current status of water bodies, and the implementation of measures to improve the status of water bodies which are currently failing to meet good status. The WFD does give consideration to the socio-economic impact of implementing measures through cost benefit analysis. Overview of activity The Humber Estuary drains a fifth of England. Many activities which take place both around the estuary and further upstream in the catchment have an impact on the water environment. These include source and diffuse pollution, and changes to the morphology of a water body, such as weirs or realignment. Compliance with the WFD is delivered through the planning and consenting processes. Measures to improve the water environment, or prevent deterioration, are expected to be proportionate to the risk posed by an activity.

3 Threats, management and gaps in management There are considerable overlaps and synergies between Humber WFD and EMS threats and management, and the WFD actions which are in place be of significant benefit to the Humber Estuary EMS. High Level Threat Specific Threat Potential Source Climate Change Sea Level Rise Summer Temperature Increases Current Management Gaps In Management. Climate change vulnerability assessment see action 13 of the EMS action plan Development Increase in extreme rainfall magnitude/freq uency/ intensity Lower summer rainfall totals Diffuse Pollution run-off Agriculture, Transport infrastructure runoff, urban run-off, pesticide run-off Abstraction Agriculture Consenting Process Point Source Pollution WwTW, CSO's, Industry discharge, imported sedimentan engineering requirement for pipelines, contaminated sites, landfills, waste storage facilities. Consenting Process Habitat Loss New development on Estuary banks, reducing intertidal and marginal habitat Habitats Regulations Alignment between River Basin Plan and the Humber EMS plan Flood Defence Alignment between the Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy and the River Basin Management Plan (currently in progress). Port Development NA Consenting Process

4 Damage to migratory fish populations Construction of new development in estuary with percussive piling Consenting Process Commercial Fishery Damage to Fish Populations IFCA s are currently undertaking a review of commercial fishing activities within the Humber Estuary relating to the EMS designations. Dredging/Navi gation works Smothering of habitat by dredged material Dredging protocol in place. New capital dredging could have a negative impact. Compliance with Clearing the Waters guidance will help minimise negative impact Impacts on WQ Illegal dumping/disc harge Pollution Various Enforcement Invasive Species Japanese Knotweed, mitten crabs, Himalayan balsam, slipper limpet, giant hogweed Various Understand the impact of nonnative species on designated features. If appropriate, develop a biosecurity plan see action 12 of EMS action plan. Hydromorpho logical Changes Managed realignment, flood defence, dredging, Spurn point, erosion, port development. Various Consenting Process Monitoring WFD compliance monitoring is undertaken by the Environment Agency. Alongside this a wide range of monitoring is undertaken by many different organisations, including Natural England and Hull University. Whilst this information cannot be used as part of the water body classification it may be used as evidence to support WFD investigations and assessments. Work is

5 ongoing by the Environment Agency to develop a co-ordinated approach to monitoring between different organisations across the estuary. Map Contacts Humber Partnership and Strategic Overview Team: hstrategy@environment-agency.gov.uk Environment Agency WFD Team: wfdqueries@environment-agency.gov.uk

6 About the Humber Nature Partnership The Humber Nature Partnership aims to deliver the sustainable management of the Humber Estuary and its surroundings, providing an environment in which new and existing businesses can grow alongside the enhancement of the estuary s wildlife riches. Our work includes: Delivering the Humber Management Scheme Providing ecological services Supporting economic growth Engagement and communication Ensuring high quality evidence and data exists We have delivered projects with industry such as wetland habitat creation and woodland management work. We have also delivered range of research and data gathering projects such as ornithological surveys in the South Humber Gateway area to extensive work to understand the impact of recreation on Humber protected birds. We also deliver a range of education and awareness raising projects such as producing codes of conducts and signage. We aim to work in partnership on the delivery of projects and are always open to hearing new project ideas. We offer the following skills and expertise: Partnership working Expertise in ecology and planning On site wildlife management Managing contracts Awareness raising and engagement Event organising Negotiation and conflict resolution