Moving from Evidence to Action Lake District National Park, UK

Transcription

1 Learning for Lakes; Krosnice, Poland 1-5 July 2013 Moving from Evidence to Action Lake District National Park, UK Andrew Herbert Lake District National Park Authority Steve Johnston Environment Agency

2 How we use scientific evidence Informing Partnership Strategy Andrew Practical case study -Steve

3 Partnership Strategy Who gathers the evidence? Government agencies Environment Agency Local Authorities Non Governmental Organisations Freshwater Biological Association, Rivers Trusts Universities Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster University Community groups Coniston and Crayke Partnership

4 Interpreting evidence and sharing Lake District Still Waters Partnership Government Agencies Non Governmental Organisations Universities Lake District Still Waters Partnership Evidence Group Lake District National Park Partnership Organisations Public, Visitors, others

5 Lake District Still Waters Established in 2001 Partnership Environment Agency, Natural England, Forestry Commission, Lake District National Park Authority, United Utilities, Freshwater Biological Association, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Bassenthwaite Lake Restoration Programme 2001 Windermere

6 Extract of Annual Status Report 2013 Status changes 2011 to 2012 Lakes within Bassenthwaite Lake Restoration Programme Bassenth waite Lake Derwent water Thirlmere NY NY NY Catchment WFD classiifcation 2012 [1] Designatio n Bassen Derwe thwaite Moderate nt Lake Reason Total Phosphoru s, Dissolved Oxygen, Macrophyt es Derwe Derwe ntwate Moderate Dissolved nt Oxygen r DerweThirlme Moderate nt re Worst Biolog PhysC ical hem status Eleme Mode rate Mitigation Measures Good Assessmen t nt Total_ P Mode rate, DO Mode rate Good DO Poor Ammo nia Good SSSI (S) plus N2K (N) N N SSSI/NK Status/Threats Conditi on Reason for Failure/R isks of Failure 2010 Lakes Tour [2] Issues Issues resolved Designati on (based on Chla) DWPA, Unfavo FINNS, urable Feature Moderat No Loss e Change (vendace ) Unfavo urable No Change Trend Improving FINNS Good Stable Good Prob deteriorating Issues identified in Business Plan Phosphate, Sediment, Non Natives Species and Metals Phosphate, Sediment, Non Natives Species and Metals Phosphate, Sediment, Non Natives Species and Metals and Heavily Modified Water Body Current actions Ref Business Plan Ref Business Plan Ref Business Plan Additional Issues Need to maintain vendace population [4] Increase in phosphate since business plan launched Fish population not well known Action needed Further investigation of septic tank contribution to P loadings [4] Research: CEH and UU project assessing fish [4] - include in BLRP business plan (incl. Year initiated and year completed) Fish community survey in 2011 commissioned by UU. Winfield, I. J., Fletcher, J. M., & James, J. B. (2012). Assess ment of the fish community of Thirlmere. Final Report. Report to United Utilities. LA/NEC 04461/2. 36 pp

7 Influencing Strategic Priorities Lake District National Park Partnership 24 organisations 2006 Vision 2010 National Park Management Plan Action Plan annually reviewed 8 Priority themes June 2013 Lakes agreed as priority

8 Case Study: Force Crag Mine

9 Mining History UK long history of metal mining Romans invaded Britain for mineral wealth Many mine sites in Cumbria Predominantly copper, lead, zinc, but also silver, tungsten Worked from 1540 s by German s through to 1992 All now in an abandoned state

10 The Evidence Newlands Beck Bridge WFD sampling site failing for Zinc, Copper, Cadmium Satutory river sampling downstream of mine shows metals levels of Zn 430 ug/l, Cd 2.2ug/l Safe standard, Zn 8ug/l, Cd 0.08ug/l Monitoring also identified low invertebrate numbers and complete absence of fish

11 Force Crag Mine Force Crag mine worked for zinc, lead and barytes from 1835 until 1991 Famously the last working mine in the Lake District. The mine is a major source of heavy metal pollution in the Coledale Beck, a tributary of the Newlands Beck and the River Derwent & Bassenthwaite Lake SAC and SSSI. Site also a SSSI and a Scheduled Ancient Monument There are 2 discharges from the mine, as well as diffuse pollution from waste heaps and an old tailings lagoon.

12 8 levels over 1000 vertical feet

13 Open stopes on hilltop

14 Internal open space is large

15 Poor internal state

16 Level 1 & Level 0 discharge

17 Main discharge at Level 1

18 Mine discharge Site investigated from 2007 onwards Level 1 Zinc average 3020ug/l, Cadmium 15.4ug/l (Safe level 8ug/l & 0.08) 3 tonnes per year of Zinc discharged By far the worst discharge from the site Mine also blocked, 20 metre head of water behind Level 0

19 How we responded? In UK Law no one party responsible Set up a partnership Environment Agency Coal Authority (NGO) National Trust (landowner) Newcastle University (Researching minewater treatment)

20 Funding Significant problem nationally, 7% of UK rivers fail WFD standards for metals from mines Government allocated 10.5 million over 4 years up to 2015 to tackle metal mine pollution 1 million allocated to Force Crag to develop solution for site First in UK

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22 The solution -Challenges - Conservation and historical designations National Park Disruption to farmers/community No power, need passive solution Treatment technology subject to research

23 Newcastle University Compost Bio-reactor

24 Key principles Pond, 60 cm deep At base 30cm of limestone to adjust ph Overlain with 20cm of sewage sludge Key process is bacterial sulphate reduction Final wetland to remove solids Removes 70% of Zinc and Cadmium

25 Ongoing problems Still under research Funding from Government may be cut Unsustainable, media eventually becomes exhausted Need to dispose of material off site Hazardous Waste?? Not only mine in catchment, Gategill mine 40,000ug/l zinc, worst in UK

26 Light at the end of the tunnel

27 Any questions??