Page 49 - Freshwater-Biology-and-Ecology-Handbook

4.3 Catchments

River basins are often too large to manage effectively, whereas water bodies are often
too small. Catchments are groups of water bodies at a geographical scale that is suitable
for effective management, in particular so that participation with local partners and
stakeholders is possible.
To promote local management initiatives, the UK has introduced the Catchment Based
Approach initiative Government funding is matched with local industry and voluntary
groups to assist in the delivery of the WFD. The catchment based approach is not an
official part of WFD, but it was introduced in England in 2013 to help produce river basin
management plans with partners in 2015 and undertake the actions highlighted in the
WFD River Basin Plans.

Figure 1.9 shows the catchments for the UK catchment based approach initiatives.

Figure 1.9
UK Catchment Based Approach – map of catchments (from CaBA website)

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