23/01/2006 - The Environment
Agency is to publish a new strategy to manage
water abstraction on rivers and streams
in North Devon including parts of the Dartmoor
and Exmoor national parks.
A consultation document for the Taw and
North Devon Streams has been developed by
the Agency with its partners in the community
as part of the Catchment Abstraction Management
Strategy (CAMS) programme.
The document has been compiled by the Environment
Agency and a group of stakeholders including
local anglers, farmers, South West Water,
and English Nature.
The publication of the final strategy document
follows a formal 12-week consultation period
in the summer of 2005
The consultation document for the Taw and
North Devon Streams was developed by the
Environment Agency CAMS team in consultation
with a stakeholder group. The group was
made up of representatives of local water
users including anglers, farmers, South
West Water, and English Nature.
With demands on river water and groundwater
increasing, the Environment Agency is taking
a lead in looking at the way we use water
and how it affects the natural environment.
This latest CAMS document covers an area
of approximately 1,437 square kilometres
stretching from the headwaters of the Taw
on Dartmoor to the coast at Lynmouth. Rivers
include the Taw and its larger tributaries
the Bray, the Mole, the Dalch and the Lapford
Yeo. The Rivers Heddon, East and West Lyn,
which flow to the north coast, also fall
within the area.
The CAMS process looks how much water is
licensed for abstraction from local rivers
and groundwater for various uses including
agriculture, industry and private use. It
also examines possible impacts of abstraction
on wildlife, water quality and fisheries
and calculates how much water is needed
to maintain a healthy river system.
"We received a good response to the
consultation document and worked with the
stakeholder group throughout the process.
The final strategy sets how we can manage
these rivers and groundwaters sustainably
and utilised the views and input of local
people on how they feel water resources
should be managed in the future,” said Georgina
Gray for the Environment Agency.
“We need to manage these rivers in a way
that will balance the needs of the environment
and those of other water users and abstractors.”
The strategy document is backed up by a
technical CD which contains background data
and general information about the catchment.
Further information and copies of the final
strategy document are available from the
CAMS team in Exminster House or on this
website www.environment-agency.gov.uk/cams.
For a copy of the technical CD contact the
CAMS team on cams.devon@environment-agency.gov.uk
Earlier this year the second of five CAMS
documents in Devon was produced for the
Rivers Otter, Sid, Axe and Lim. The Taw
and North Devon Streams is the third. All
five CAMS catchment areas in Devon will
have their own strategies produced by the
Agency by 2008.
