Dave Ferguson - 22-Oct-2007
- Farmers, conservation groups and industry
across the Thames region are being invited
to have a say about the best ways to tackle
water management issues, such as alien species
and river abstraction, in an effort to further
protect and improve rivers, lakes and groundwater.
River Basin Planning: Summary of significant
water management issues is the second step
in the process of developing new and better
ways in which the Environment Agency and
others will work towards achieving the ecological
standards defined in the European Water
Framework Directive by 2015.
The Environment Agency’s Thames River Basin
District has identified seven priorities
across the region which it aims to target
to improve the water environment. These
are low flows in rivers, the impact of modifying
watercourses, pollution from a variety of
sources (urban, rural and industry), urban
development and alien species.
Examples of these include the River Beane
in Hertfordshire, which has ongoing low
flow problems, and is always dry at its
source. The Environment Agency is working
with partners to look at measures to reduce
the impact of the low flows, as well as
working towards a long term solution to
the issue.
Floating pennywort is becoming a serious
problem again across Hertfordshire, particularly
on the River Stort and Lee, where it is
having an adverse impact on the ecosystem
of the river as well as affecting the flood
risk.
Because it floats on the water, and does
not have to be attached to the bank to thrive,
it can cause a huge problem for navigation,
as well as regenerating easily if it is
cut up by passing boats. We would encourage
all riparian owners to remove it from the
river, as long as they can do so safely,
because it still is a serious issue.
The Environment Agency recently carried
out a successful cull of more than 100,000
topmouth gudgeon from Juniper Pond in Shalford,
Surrey. The fish were culled because they
are particularly threatening to native fish
in Britain.
Topmouth gudgeon were introduced to the
wild in Britain in the 1960s from their
native Asia. As well as eating the eggs
of other native fish, they breed at four
times the rate of native fish and carry
a parasite similar to that which causes
the disease "rosette agent" in
some US fish stocks.
As Juniper Pond is in the River Wey floodplain,
it was feared that a large flooding event
could have washed them into local rivers
where they could have spread to the Thames
and threatened a much wider fish population.
In order to address the effects of historic
channel modifications and the resulting
loss of habitat, the Environment Agency
plans to restore vast stretches of four
river catchments in south London – the Ravensbourne,
Wandle, Beverley Brook and Hogsmill – have
been produced.
These catchments extend along the River
Thames from Kingston-upon-Thames to Greenwich
in the north, south towards Caterham and
Warlingham and from Epsom in the west to
Bromley in the east.
The aim of the projects is to restore these
channelised rivers to their natural state,
providing a more natural environment for
wildlife as well as providing a place for
people to enjoy rivers as a natural resource.
Run-off from urban development around the
River Kennet, which adds to water quality
issues on an already fragile watercourse.
The use of sustainable urban drainage systems
in small and large developments could help
to resolve this issue.
The ecology of the River Kennet is also
suffering from an infestation of American
Signal Crayfish. They have all but wiped
out the native population of crayfish in
the river, and efforts to combat these and
a range of other issues are being looked
at as part of the consultation.
In January this year we issued a consent
for a new Thames Water sewage treatment
plant for the village of Beckley, near Oxford.
This was part of a scheme to bring a sewerage
system to the village for the first time,
as historically homes only had individual
septic tanks and plants.
The new plant should improve the water
quality in the area, which is upstream of
Otmoor, a recognised Site of Special Scientific
Importance. It is hoped that by working
with Thames Water similar schemes can be
rolled out across the county to improve
access to mains drainage.
Myles Thomas, Thames River Basin Programme
Manager, said: “These are just a few examples
of the huge number of issues we face in
managing water within our river basins.
Over the next two years we will work together
with different sectors – from industry to
farming representatives and conservation
groups – to determine how best to achieve
this.
"There has been very good progress
in recent years in improving the health
of our water environment. But if pressures
such as pollution and flow problems are
not managed properly in the future, there
is a risk that many rivers, lakes and groundwater
sites across the Thames region will not
meet the environmental standards we need
to see.
“The Water Framework Directive allows us
to think about our water environment as
a whole, whereas in the past we’ve often
worked on separate plans for addressing
different environmental issues. With river
basin planning, we now have the opportunity
to improve, protect and manage our water
environment in a more integrated way.
“We have set out what we believe are the
most significant water management issues
facing the Thames region. These may affect
your sector, your business or your environmental
interests, and your comments will help us
prioritise work and identify where environmental
improvements are needed.”
The Environment Agency is using an electronic
consultation, where people can view other
submissions before contributing their own
comments online. The consultation and responses
can be viewed on the Environment Agency
website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfd
The consultation Summary of significant
water management issues closes on 24 January
2008. For those with no internet access,
hard copies can be obtained by calling Lydia
Wyeth on 0118 953 5345 or email thamesRBD@environment-agency.gov.uk
Earlier this year, the first consultative
step in the River Basin Planning process,
titled Working Together, helped people to
understand how river basin planning could
work along the Thames and how and when people
could get involved.
Notes
The Thames River Basin District covers
an area of 16,133 square kilometres and
encompasses the River Thames and its tributaries
from its source in Gloucestershire through
London to the North Sea. The district includes
the rural areas of Wiltshire, Oxfordshire
and parts of Kent and Essex, as well as
heavily urbanised areas, such as Reading,
Slough, Luton, London and the Medway towns.
The non-tidal Thames is around 235 km long
and passes through 44 picturesque locks.
This famous river is home to important wildlife
habitats. Mute swans, herons and kingfishers
are abundant along the stretch and the river
hosts a number of important herb-rich meadows
found in the floodplains.
+ More
Environment Agency plants lasting reminder
of health and safety success
Alexandra Wales - 22-Oct-2007 - Staff at
the Environment Agency in Newcastle are
sowing the seeds of success by planting
a forest to mark their health and safety
achievement.
The officers, based on Newcastle Business
Park, won a gold award from the Royal Society
for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)
earlier this year.
On September 2, they racked up 1,000 days
since any of the 180-strong workforce had
a reportable accident, and staff will be
commemorating their success by planting
1,000 trees at Bulmer Forest Park near Seaham.
Environment Agency area manager Graeme
Warren said: “We are really proud of our
health and safety record and we wanted to
celebrate with a permanent reminder of our
achievement.
“Despite the many hazards that our staff
face during their work, they have protected
themselves as well as the environment so
it seemed fitting to celebrate this by planting
1,000 trees which will help protect the
environment for many more decades to come.”
Environment Agency teams have a range of
responsibilities which can put them in hazardous
situations such as working around waste
disposal sites and alongside fast flowing
water.
Around 30 staff will be planting the trees,
which will be mostly oak and ash, on Wednesday,
October 31 at Bulmer Forest Park which is
a 110 hectare community woodland near Seaton,
between Murton and Seaham.
The tree-planting has been organised thanks
to North East Community Forests which aims
to improve quality of life for people in
the region by ensuring that there are easily
accessible woodlands and green spaces in
and around our towns and cities.
Clive Davies, Chief Executive of North
East Community Forests said: “What better
way to celebrate a health and safety achievement
than to plant trees! North East Community
Forests are delighted to be working in unison
with the Environment Agency to plant 1000
mixed trees in Bulmer Forest Park to celebrate
their health and safety achievement.
"We have worked with the Environment
Agency on many projects over the years since
we share a similar commitment to environmental
improvements; I am especially delighted
by this collaboration as it not only says
a lot about these shared interests in the
environment but also in health and safety
too.”
Ends
Notes to editors
North East Community Forests work hard
to improve quality of life and health by
creating and developing beautiful and accessible
woodlands and green spaces in and around
our towns and cities. This charity encourages
and enables local communities, particularly
those living in deprived areas, of all ages
and abilities to enjoy and use these woodlands
and green spaces, to take part in outdoor
leisure activities, and to learn about woodlands
and wildlife. Green activities such as walking,
running, playing, cycling, (tree planting)
or just enjoying the tranquillity away from
the day’s stresses can improve lifestyle
and benefit emotional, physical & mental
health.
For further information on North East Community
Forest please go to www.necf.org.uk
