INDEX
CONSULTATIONS
UK NEWS
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
PROJECTS & RESEARCH
PUBLICATIONS
Reports from Events
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
CONSULTATIONS
common fisheries policy: implementation of the demersal landing obligation (discard ban) in england
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Defra is seeking views on how they should implement the demersal landing obligation in England. The demersal landing obligation is a ban on the discarding of fish. This prevents fish being thrown back into the sea after being caught, except when subject to specific exemptions. Demersal fisheries are those in which fishermen primarily catch demersal species (fish which live and feed close to, or on, the seabed) such as cod, haddock, sole and plaice.
In particular, they are seeking views on five key areas of implementation including:
The landing obligation for demersal fisheries will come into force gradually between 1 January 2016 and 1 January 2019.
Implementation of the demersal landing obligation is one of several measures that will contribute towards achieving Good Environmental Status in our seas.
This consultation closes on 31 March 2015.
marine conservation zones: second tranche of designations
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Defra is seeking your views on each of the 23 sites they are proposing to designate as Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). They are also asking for views on adding extra features to the 10 MCZs designated in 2013.
MCZs are areas of sea where rare or important features are protected from damaging activity. They protect important habitats such as honeycomb worm reefs and seagrass beds as well as species such as native oyster and stalked jellyfish.
This consultation closes on 24 April 2015.
(https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/marine-conservation-zones-second-tranche-of-designations)
marine strategy framework directive (MSFD): proposals for UK programme of measures
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Defra is seeking your views on their proposed programme of measures to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) in UK seas by 2020. They want to know what you think about their plans to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) in the UK.
The Directive requires EU member states to take measures to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) in their seas by 2020. The consultation covers measures for each of the 11 MSFD Descriptors. These include biological diversity, non-indigenous species, commercially exploited fish, eutrophication, hydrographical conditions, contaminants, underwater noise and litter.
This consultation closes on 24 April 2015.
draft flood risk management plans for the solway tweed
(Posted 19 March 2015)
The consultation on the English catchments of the Solway Tweed draft flood risk management plan is open until 2 June 2015. This aligns with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency consultation on the Scottish catchments. This public consultation seeks your views on how the risks from flooding should be managed.
Consultations for the English draft flood risk management plans, including the Severn and the Dee, closed on 31 January 2015. The consultations sought views on proposals to reduce flood risk for communities and deal with the impacts of flooding when it occurs. Your responses will inform the first cycle of flood risk management plans. These will be published in December 2015.
This consultation closes on 2 June 2015.
(https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/draft-flood-risk-management-plans)
update to the draft river basin management plans
(Posted 6 November 2014)
This consultation gives you the chance to comment on shaping the water environment throughout England - consider the issues, current and possible future action to protect and improve the water environment, and the outcomes that are worth achieving.
This is the third of three Environment Agency consultations. Previous consultations:
Natural Resources Wales is consulting on the draft updates to the Dee and Western Wales river basin management plans. To respond to these consultations you will need to visit the Natural Resources Wales consultation pages.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is consulting on the draft updates to the Solway Tweed river basin management plan. This consultation will open on 20 November 2014. To respond you will need to visit the Scottish Environment Protection Agency consultation pages.
Your input matters. Deciding how best to work, what to invest in and where, how fast action should be taken and who should pay is a complex process with significant consequences. The updated river basin management plans will direct considerable investment and action from 2016 and provide benefits to society and the environment.
This consultation closes on 10 April 2015.
(https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/update-to-the-draft-river-basin-management-plans)
(https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/portal/ho/wfd/draft_plans/consult)
draft flood risk management plans
(Posted 6 November 2014)
Defra are seeking views on proposals to reduce flood risk for communities and deal with the impacts of flooding when it does occur. The proposals set out how the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, local councils, drainage authorities, highway managers and water companies will work together with communities to manage flood risk.
Flood risk management plans have been produced for each of the 10 river basin districts which cover England. Draft flood risk management plans have been developed jointly with Natural Resources Wales for the Dee and Severn river basin districts. The draft flood risk management plan for the Solway Tweed river basin district only covers the English catchments. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) will consult on plans for the Scottish catchments from December 2014.
Consultations for all the English river basin districts, including the Severn and the Dee, will run until 11:45pm on 31 January 2015.
The consultation on the English catchments of the Solway Tweed river basin district will run until 2 June 2015, to align with SEPA’s consultation on the Scottish catchments.
Deciding how best to work, what to invest in and where, how fast action should be taken and who should pay is a complex process with significant consequences. Your responses will inform the first cycle of flood risk management plans, to be published in December 2015. These plans will direct considerable investment and action from 2016 to 2021 and beyond, and will provide benefits to society and the environment.
(https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/draft-flood-risk-management-plans)
(https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/portal/ho/flood/draft_frmp/consult)
reforming environmental guidance and information obligations
(Posted 30 July 2014)
This consultation seeks comments on Defra’s plans to simplify environmental guidance. Defra wants to make it easier for users of government guidance to understand environmental regulations. Defra will be focusing on different topics throughout this consultation period. The regulations themselves will stay the same.
Defra is also carrying out an independent review of all the environmental information that businesses have to report to government regulators. Defra asked for your views on proposals to make this reporting simpler; comments for this closed in March 2014.
This consultation closes on 31 March 2015.
UK NEWS
new infographic highlights the benefits of sustainable drainage
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Recognising that spring heralds major changes in the delivery of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), susdrain have launched an engaging new infographic on SuDS that provides a simple overview of the drivers and benefits for SuDS. [Created by CIRIA, susdrain (www.susdrain.org) is the independent and authoritative platform for those involved in delivering sustainable drainage.]
The ‘Going with the flow’ infographic details some of the key objectives and outcomes from a sustainable drainage approach, such as improvements to local flood risk management, water quality, landscape amenity, and biodiversity.
Based on four case studies from both new build and retrofit examples, the infographic demonstrates what can be achieved with early engagement and appropriate design. The case studies highlight how SuDS can enable savings in construction costs, manage local flood risk and deliver great places and spaces.
Susdrain have commissioned the infographic to raise awareness of the challenges that SuDS can help overcome, and emphasise the opportunities and multiple benefits that they can deliver.
Download the infographic at:
(http://www.susdrain.org/files/resources/ciria_guidance/susdrain_going_with_the_flow_infographic.pdf) (5mb)
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Effective provision of advice to local planning authorities in relation to water drainage management – new consultation announced.
In a written statement to Parliament, Eric Pickles writes: “As part of the government’s continuing commitment to protect people and property from flood risk, my department (Department for Communities and Local Government) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs recently consulted on a proposal to make better use of the planning system to secure sustainable drainage systems. Today (18 December 2014) we are publishing our response to the consultation explaining how we will be strengthening existing planning policy. This will make clear that the government’s expectation is that sustainable drainage systems will be provided in new developments wherever this is appropriate.
To this effect, we expect local planning policies and decisions on planning applications relating to major development – developments of 10 dwellings or more; or equivalent non-residential or mixed development (as set out in Article 2(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2010) - to ensure that sustainable drainage systems for the management of run-off are put in place, unless demonstrated to be inappropriate.
These changes will take effect from 6 April 2015. For avoidance of doubt this statement should be read in conjunction with the policies in the National Planning Policy Framework.”
Read the full written statement at:
(https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/sustainable-drainage-systems)
scottish aquaculture innovation centre
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Aquaculture currently contributes an aggregate economic impact of over £1,300 million per annum to the Scottish economy. There exists, nonetheless, considerable untapped potential in Scotland for increased production of high quality aquaculture products. The Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) aims to release the potential for growth through effective collaboration between the industry and the Scottish research community.
http://scottishaquaculture.com/scottish_aquaculture_aboutus)
sea bass measures come into force
(Posted 19 March 2015)
The European Commission has introduced measures affecting fishing for sea bass in waters around the UK. Vessels fishing with mid-water trawls with mesh size greater than 70mm will not be permitted to catch, retain or land bass caught with these fishing gears. The measures apply immediately and will remain in force until 30th April 2015.
Further details can be found on the European Commissionﾒs website.
Defra took part in the discussions on regulation at European level on behalf of the UK. The full regulation can be found here.
Source of information:
(https://www.gov.uk/government/news/information-on-sea-bass-measures)
European Commission leaflet:
(http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/documentation/publications/2015-seabass-facts_en.pdf)
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Terry A’Hearn has been appointed as the next Chief Executive of SEPA. Mr A’Hearn is currently CEO of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.
Mr A’Hearn is expected to take up his position in April.
mcerts explained (Monitoring certification scheme)
(Posted 19 March 2015)
The Environment Agency’s Monitoring Certification Scheme is designed to ensure that potential polluters are monitoring their emissions effectively. But how exactly does the scheme work?
The scheme provides the framework for businesses to meet regulators' performance specifications and monitor their emissions to the environment. If your company needs to comply with Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2010 (EPRs), you will need a permission, usually in the form of a permit, from the EA to operate. This permit usually requires you to monitor your company's emissions. The MCERTS scheme assists companies in compliance with the European directives, which are the objectives each Member State must achieve to control and reduce pollution.
Schedule 1 of EPR 2010 lists almost every industrial activity and applies a threshold to each which dictates if, and how, your company's activity needs to be regulated. The government lists the nine types of facilities which require regulation: an installation; a mobile plant; a waste operation; a mining waste operation; a radioactive substances activity; a water discharge activity; a groundwater activity; a small waste incineration plant; a solvent emission activity.
Read more at:
£14 million now available to farmers for water and woodlands (defra press release)
(Posted 19 March 2015)
The first grants have opened up under the new Rural Development Programme for England. Farmers will soon be able to apply for new grants to help them protect the environment and reduce water pollution. Environment Minister, Dan Rogerson, announced that Natural England will be accepting applications for Water Capital Grants from 2 March. Further information about how to apply was covered in a Natural England news story on 27 February 2015.
Providing £10 million worth of government funding to the farm industry, these grants will fund new projects to reduce the impact agriculture can have on water quality. The grants are just one part of the wider Countryside Stewardship Scheme that will see millions of pounds worth of investment to help farmers and land managers protect the environment, building a stronger rural economy and fairer society.
The new water grants build on the successful Catchment Sensitive Farming Scheme. Between 2011 and 2014, over 6,200 farms across the country benefitted from a total of £72 million.
The Water and Woodland Capital Grants make up the first phase of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Set to be rolled out in full later in the summer, Countryside Stewardship will commit around £900m to benefitting the environment over the next six years. This will help farmers and land managers develop environmentally friendly techniques and adopt initiatives such as restoring hedges and improving water quality.
(https://www.gov.uk/government/news/14-million-now-available-to-farmers-for-water-and-woodlands)
plans unveiled for cardiff’s 2.8 gw tidal lagoon power plant
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Tidal Lagoon Power has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment scoping report for the Cardiff Tidal Lagoon, which would have a capacity of 1.8 GW to 2.8 GW. The project will be the UK’s first full-scale tidal lagoon power plant, representing a major step towards the delivery of tidal lagoon infrastructure in the country.
Tidal Lagoon Power expects to submit a full planning application for Tidal Lagoon Cardiff, which will include 90 turbines set within a 22 km breakwater, in 2017. A decision is expected in 2018. The project follows the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon which was developed as a scalable pilot for the sector and is due to receive a planning decision by June 2015.
Tidal Lagoon Power has also confirmed that work is underway to deliver four other full-scale UK tidal lagoons at Newport, West Cumbria, Colwyn Bay and Bridgwater Bay. Together, the national fleet of six lagoons would meet 8% of the UK's total electricity requirement for the next 120 years.
(http://www.edie.net/news/6/Plans-for-2-8-GW-tidal-lagoon-power-plant-in-Cardiff-unveiled/?utm_source=weeklynewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=news&utm_campaign=weeklynewsle tter)
chris smith to lead public-private uk water partnership
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Lord Chris Smith, the former head of the Environment Agency, is chairing a new public-private body to promote resilience, innovation and growth in the UK water sector. The UK Water Partnership, launched on 26 February, brings together public and private sector organisations for the first time to stimulate ideas and develop the products and services that will take on the challenge of global water scarcity.
A vast array of public and private sector organisations have already expressed their support for the UK Water Partnership, including Severn Trent, the Met Office, Innovate UK and Defra. The group aims to add many new members from across the water technology, services and research communities in the near future.
The not-for-profit group has already identified several short-term areas for action, including:
(Posted 19 March 2015)
SEPA are launching their new website at the end of March 2015.
Feedback from users revealed that:
The new site is more streamlined, has a better search function and is structured more intuitively for users. When the new site launches, links to the old site, whether online or in documents, will be broken. If your online content links to their old site they encourage you to update your links when they go live or change your links now to their homepage: www.sepa.org.uk. This will take you or your users to the new site when it is launched, or to the old site over the next few weeks.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
a pocket guide to the EU’s new fish and aquaculture consumer labels
(Posted 19 March 2015)
The rules for labels accompanying all fishery and aquaculture products for EU consumers changed in December 2014. This pocket guide explains what must appear on the new labels and what additional information can be displayed.
See the guide at:
pollution and overfishing are European public’s biggest marine concerns
(Posted 19 March 2015)
A pan-European survey has revealed the public’s awarenesss, concerns and priorities about human impacts on the oceans. The results show high levels of concern about marine pollution in particular, and that generally, respondents were most concerned about the issues they felt most informed about. The study could help policymakers develop marine strategies that are more responsive to public preferences.
spanish farmers would pay more for guaranteed water supply
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Farmers in one of Europe’s most water-stressed regions would be willing to pay double the current amount for irrigation water in order to ensure a reliable supply, new research from Spain suggests. The study also shows that they appear unsupportive of new policies proposed by the researchers, such as water markets and tighter controls on groundwater pumping, which could help enable a guaranteed supply of water.
PROJECTS & RESEARCH
cumulative effects of hydropower schemes on fish migration and populations
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Hydropower schemes are regulated on a scheme-by-scheme basis. As the number of hydropower schemes within a catchment increases, however, there is a greater chance that any adverse effects may cumulatively become significant. This Environment Agency study looked to see if it was possible to assess the cumulative effects of multiple hydropower schemes on migratory fish species, such as salmon, in English rivers, and whether these effects were significant.
A literature review showed that multiple hydropower schemes have the potential to increase impacts, but most of these studies were on overseas sites much larger than those typically found in England.
The study results will be useful to staff in the Environment Agency and other bodies concerned with the planning, management and regulation of hydropower schemes. It will also be of value to people involved in wider aspects of river management and planning who need to consider the cumulative effects of schemes or measures on migratory fish.
integration of the ecosystem approach into marine planning in england (MMO 1048)
(Posted 19 March 2015)
This document outlines an operational framework that demonstrates how the MMO (Marine Management Organisation) can improve the implementation of the principles of the ecosystem approach in marine planning.
In undertaking marine planning, the MMO is required by the Marine Policy Statement (MPS) to use the ecosystem approach, in particular to ensure that human pressures are kept within levels compatible with the achievement of environmental objectives.
The need to manage crowded usage of sea waters involving activities with the potential for significant impacts on marine ecosystems (both positive and negative) is increasing. Equally, experience with the development and implementation of marine plans is also growing. It is expected that marine plan policies will become more specific and directional in order to account for the important goods and services derived from marine ecosystems and the multiple and cumulative impacts of human activities in these systems. Application of the ecosystem approach within marine planning will therefore become increasingly important in supporting sustainable development.
review of the effectiveness of river restoration schemes on the rivers wylye and rother
(Posted 19 March 2015)
This research reviews measures to assess the effects of river restoration schemes at Shopham Loop on the River Rother in West Sussex and Seven Hatches on the River Wylye in Wiltshire. The effectiveness of these river restoration schemes are measured against site-specific environmental objectives aligned with the Water Framework Directive.
The case study reports describe the measures put in place at each site and document the effects of the schemes on physical and biological quality elements adopted for the Water Framework Directive. The monitoring reports provide further details of the types of monitoring performed at each site and describe the analysis techniques and interpretation of the results.
chemical composition of fracking wastewater
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Wastewater produced by hydraulic fracturing, or ‘fracking’, has been chemically analysed in the most comprehensive study of its kind to date. The researchers found that water from three US fracking sites contained a diverse array of chemicals including toxic metals such as mercury and the carcinogens toluene and ethylbenzene. However, a group of harmful chemicals, ‘polyaromatic hydrocarbons’ commonly found in mining and coal extraction wastewater, were absent.
Fracking involves pumping fluid underground at high pressure to break open shale rocks, releasing natural gas. The initial fracturing fluid is made up of water and sand with additional chemicals; however, some wastewater, known as ‘produced water’, flows back to the surface after fracturing. Produced water can contain a complex mixture of metals, salts and other chemicals, partly composed of the original fracturing fluid components, but also of chemicals released by the rocks in the area.
There is widespread concern about the large volumes of water used for fracking and the effects of the wastewater on human and environmental health. How best to treat the wastewater depends on the specific types of chemical contamination present.
Read more at:
waters acidified by air pollution have recovered as predicted
(Posted 19 March 2015)
In 1999 a group of scientists predicted how changing air pollution levels would affect the acidity of lakes and rivers in Europe in 2010 using a computer model. A follow-up study has now gathered actual measurements of these waters to see if the predictions came true. The observations show that most of the rivers and lakes did recover from acidification, as forecast by the model, and therefore demonstrate the model’s value in predicting future water chemistry.
nutrient pollution in dutch streams is falling, but further reductions are needed
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Nutrient pollution in The Netherlands is falling as a result of national and EU policies, new research has shown. However, many waters still routinely fail to meet environmental quality standards. The study, which focused on the headwaters of 167 rivers where agricultural fertilisers are the main cause of pollution, showed that up to 76% of these did not meet water quality standards.
Read more at:
plastic waste dominates seafloor litter in mediterranean and black sea surveys
(Posted 19 March 2015)
This study, conducted under the EU PERSEUS project, assessed marine litter on the seafloor of five areas in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The most littered area was the Saronikos Gulf near Athens where 1211 items were gathered per km2 of area trawled. The most commonly found items were plastic bags and bottles. In fact, half of all plastic items were bags. The researchers state that this result provides further support for the EU decision to reduce the use of plastic bags.
Read more at:
almost half of eu freshwaters suffer from organic chemical pollution
(Posted 19 March 2015)
New research finds that the health of almost half of all European freshwaters is at risk from organic chemical pollution. The conclusions of the study, a continental-scale risk assessment of the potential effects of toxic organic chemicals on freshwater ecosystems, were based on data for over 200 pollutants measured at 4000 monitoring sites across Europe.
effects of bottom trawling on fish foraging and feeding
(Posted 19 March 2015)
The effects of bottom trawling on benthic invertebrates include reductions of biomass, diversity and body size. These changes may negatively affect prey availability for demersal fishes, potentially leading to reduced food intake, body condition and yield of fishes in chronically trawled areas.
In this research, the effect of trawling on the prey availability and diet of two commercially important flatfish species, plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) and dab (Limanda limanda), was investigated over a trawling intensity gradient in the Irish Sea. As trawling frequency increased, both fish and prey biomass declined, such that the ratio of fish to prey remained unchanged. Consequently, even at frequently trawled sites with low prey biomass, both plaice and dab maintained constant levels of stomach fullness and gut energy contents. However, dietary shifts in plaice towards energy-poor prey items were evident when prey species were analysed individually. This, together with a potential decrease in foraging efficiency due to low prey densities, was seen as the most plausible cause for the reduced body condition observed.
Understanding the relationship between trawling, benthic impacts, fish foraging and resultant body condition is an important step in designing successful mitigation measures for future management strategies in bottom trawl fisheries.
Read the full paper at:
water framework directive: an analysis of measurement issues
(Posted 19 March 2015)
This report provides a review of analytical measurement tools available for measuring priority substances and priority hazardous substances at increasingly low concentrations in water bodies. These tools are available to help fulfil requirements outlined in the Water Framework Directive (WFD Directive 2000/60/EC).
The report highlights the gaps in available methodology and provides guidance on how resources and research can be prioritised to improve methodology which will help with enforcement and monitoring.
microplastic deposits found deep in world’s oceans and seas
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Deep sea sediments are acting as a sink for microplastics. Scientists believe they have solved the mystery of where tens of thousands of tonnes of missing tiny pieces of plastic are ending up - the answer lies in the mud and sand on the ocean floor. Researchers have previously been puzzled by why they found much less plastic on the ocean surface than they expected, but a study by a British and Spanish team concludes that deep sea sediments are acting as a sink for such microplastics.
Analysing samples from 12 sites in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean taken between 2001 and 2012, they found for the first time that substantial quantities of microplastics - which measure less than 1mm in length - had accumulated in deep sea sediment. The tiny fibres were found at depths from 300m down at the shallowest in the Mediterranean to over 3,000m deep, at volumes 1,000 times higher than those at the surface of the sea.
[This article first appeared in the Guardian]
Read more at:
deeper sea habitats most at risk from bottom trawling
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Bottom trawling – dragging nets along the sea floor – reduces biodiversity most severely in deeper, species-rich habitats, a study suggests. New research in the Dutch North Sea has shown that this type of trawling had less effect on species richness in shallow areas with coarse sediments. These results suggest that efforts should be made to reduce trawling in deeper, sensitive habitats.
is britain’s biosecurity being threatened by the risk of an ‘invasional meltdown’?
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Britain’s freshwater ecosystems are on the brink of an invasional meltdown, a new study concludes. Examining 23 freshwater species from south-east Europe, researchers investigated whether individual species in the group would ‘pave the way’ for others, resulting in a rapid increase in establishment of invasive species. The results showed that 76% of the interactions between the species were positive or neutral, highlighting the possibility of severe consequences for Britain’s freshwater ecosystems.
Aquatic and riparian plant management: controls for vegetation in watercourses
(Posted 19 March 2015)
The management of aquatic and riparian plants is essential to ensure the efficient functioning of many watercourses. Management needs to be cost-effective, take account of legal restrictions, and meet the needs of the greatest number of watercourse users while minimising negative environmental impacts.
The field manual, technical guide and decision-making spreadsheet tool are intended for use in catchments where aquatic and riparian plants need to be periodically controlled or removed to achieve the watercourse’s desired function. The case study report and a literature review report summarise the evidence on which the framework is based. These resources provide watercourse managers in flood risk management operating authorities in England and Wales with a framework to help inform decisions on when and how to manage vegetation, taking into account the species present and the type of watercourse.
Published: July 2014
Updated: January 2015 (the case study report was updated in January 2015 following additional field work at the case study sites in August 2014).
PUBLICATIONS
Community Guide to Your Water Environment
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) and the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) have produced a Community Guide to Your Water Environment aimed at engaging parish councils and local community groups in catchment management.
Download here
Read more at:
(http://www.catchmentbasedapproach.org/images/PDFS/CommunityGuideWater_LR.PDF)
Natural England's publications, maps and data
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Use Natural England's resources to support your environmental research. The following types of information are available:
(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-englands-publications-maps-and-data)
Environment Agency’s Catchment Data Explorer
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Use the catchment data explorer to navigate to catchments and water bodies, view catchment summaries and download data. This site supports the consultation on the updates to the river basin management plans.
Place name: searches for River Basin Districts, catchments and water bodies within a 10 mile radius, by town and local authority ward.
Postcode: searches for River Basin Districts, catchments and water bodies within a 10 mile radius.
Co-ordinates: searches for River Basin Districts, catchments and water bodies within a 10 mile radius using latitudes and longitude or eastings and northings.
Catchment/Waterbody name: searches for River Basin Districts, catchments and water bodies by name.
(http://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/)
Fisheries Newsletter from the Canal & Rivers Trust
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Recently launched; includes news on the National Canal Angling Championships, survey results on canal angling clubs, and information on the National Angling Advisory Group.
(https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/features/anglers-update)
To receive future fisheries updates from C&RT, sign up to their mailing list at:
(https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/anglers-update-register)
Best Practice Showcase for the Catchment Based Approach
(Posted 19 March 2015)
Westcountry Rivers Trust have published ‘Best Practice Showcase for the Catchment Based Approach’ to celebrate their 20 year anniversary. This collection of case studies has been created using funding from the EU WaterLIFE Project to showcase all of the great work being undertaken by catchment partnerships across the country. By sharing best practice the aim is to avoid duplication of effort and to ensure that CaBA Hosts can benefit from all of the lessons that have been learnt over the years by those engaged in catchment management.
(http://www.slideshare.net/CaBASupport/best-practice-showcase-for-the-catchmentbased-approach)
(Posted 19 March 2015)
A practical introduction to making the most of natural services, assets and resources in policy and decision making.
This guide is designed to help policy makers across government understand:
The guide is focused on helping policy makers to put this into practice and includes:
First published: 1 April 2013
Last updated: 20 January 2015
(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-nature-can-do-for-you)
Reports from Events
World Wetlands Day (2 February 2015)
(Posted 19 March 2015)
World Wetlands Day is on 2nd February each year. This day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
Each year since 1997, the Ramsar Secretariat has provided materials to help raise public awareness about the importance and value of wetlands.
World Wetlands Day handouts:
Ramsar fact sheets:
The Value of Intelligence in the Wastewater Network (18 February 2015)
(Posted 19 March 2015)
A number of water and sewerage companies are actively looking at adding ‘intelligence’ into the wastewater network. This event aimed to identify the drivers and regulations relating to the wastewater network and discuss the application of technological solutions to challenges being faced by water and sewerage companies. It also aimed to showcase examples from Europe where ‘Smart’ wastewater networks are already in use, and identify how experience gained in these cases may be applied in the UK. Talks included: The need for event duration monitoring, Using smart network monitoring to reduce flooding and pollution, and Smart permitting: A cost-effective regulation framework for water quality risk management.
See the presentations at: (http://www.ciwem.org/events/events-outputs.aspx)