17/05/2005 - The Environment
Agency is asking local communities, farmers
and businesses for their views on the long-term
management of water resources on the river
systems in the Torbay, Teign and South Hams
area.
The Agency aims to find out what local people
think about important issues involved in balancing
the needs of water abstractors (such as water
companies), water users (like boaters and
anglers) and the natural aquatic environment.
Questions under consideration include whether
there are low flow problems in certain rivers,
how much water is needed to protect river
wildlife and how much water can be used for
abstraction.
The comments received will contribute to
a consultation Catchment Abstraction Management
Strategy - or CAMS for short. This will then
be made available for further public consultation
in early 2006.
The Environment Agency launched the CAMS
process nationally in April 2001 and set out
a six-year programme to develop a CAMS for
every catchment in England and Wales. A CAMS
is developed through a process of consultation
with local stakeholders according to a nationally
consistent framework.
With demands on river water and groundwater
increasing all the time, the Environment Agency
is taking a lead in looking at the way water
is used and how that affects the natural environment.
The CAMS looks at the geology of the area,
how much water is abstracted from the rivers
for various uses including agricultural, industrial
and private purposes, conservation issues
surrounding both animal and plant life, water
quality and fishing activity.
The Environment Agency develops CAMS with
assistance from local stakeholders including
Water Companies, local businesses, English
Nature and other local interest groups. They
aim to balance the demands of water users
and the needs of the aquatic environment in
a sustainable way.
"Water is not only vital to our own
lives, it also sustains the wonderful natural
environment we enjoy in Devon. But water is
not a limitless resource and we must manage
the competing demands for it very carefully.
This is an excellent opportunity for the public
and local interest groups to get involved
right from the start in drawing up a CAMS
for rivers in the Teign, Torbay and South
Hams area," said Stephen Chapman for
the Environment Agency
Anyone with views or suggestions that they
wish the stakeholder group to consider should
contact Stephen Chapman, CAMS Officer, Environment
Agency, Exminster House, Miller Way, Exminster,
Devon EX6 8AS, telephone 08708 506506 or email
cams.devon@environment-agency.gov.uk by 24th
June 2005.
