Panorama
 
 
 
 
 

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY HELPS TACKLE
SEDIMENT POLLUTION ON MAJOR SALMON RIVER


Environmental Panorama
International
December of 2009


Water quality on the Hampshire Avon is set to improve thanks to a successful partnership between the Environment Agency, Wiltshire Council and a local landowner - The Avon is one of the UK’s top salmon rivers, but in recent years has suffered from sediment pollution – a major source being poorly-maintained farm tracks that discharge silt straight into local watercourses. Once in a river, sediment can harm the spawning grounds of salmon and trout. The run-off can also deliver pollutants that contribute to nutrient enrichment and upset the river ecology.

One of the worst affected areas was a farm track at Berwick St James where sediment was regularly washed into the River Till, a tributary of the River Wylye that flows into the Avon. The pollution turned the river a chalky white.

This stretch of the Hampshire Avon is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and is important for fish spawning. Contamination caused by the agricultural run-off resulted in Natural England downgrading the SSSI to an ‘unfavourable condition.’

The badly-eroded track at Berwick St James is a Right of Way that provides access to a local farm. It extends for 2 kilometres and belongs to Berwick Down Ltd. Over the years the sunken track eroded below the level of surrounding fields and became a huge drainage gully.

The problem has now been solved thanks to the combined efforts of the Environment Agency, Wiltshire Council and the landowner who have carried out improvements to prevent sediment being washed straight down the farm track into the river.

Run-off is diverted from the track into surrounding fields using existing ditches that have been dug out. A newly-installed drain carries run-off into a sediment pond where silt from the track and surrounding fields is captured. The track has also been re-surfaced and cambered to control the direction of flow.

The improvements at Berwick St James were funded by the Agency and carried out by Wiltshire Council contractors as part of a Catchment Sensitive Farming Initiative.

Catchment Sensitive Farming aims to reduce diffuse water pollution from agriculture with the help of farmers and landowners. The Hampshire Avon is one of 50 catchments across England where the river environment is being improved through a working partnership with the Environment Agency and Natural England supported by Defra.

‘The River Till is one of the most important tributaries on the Hampshire Avon. Previously we had a problem with large amounts of sediment-laden water entering a sensitive river system and harming the environment. Now, thanks the farm track improvements we’ll see a corresponding improvement in the SSSI which is great news,’ said Ellie Mantell, Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer for the Hampshire Avon.

The improvements have been welcomed by local anglers, ’All of us who care about the River Till and Lower Wylye are very grateful to the Environment Agency, Wiltshire Council and Berwick Down Ltd for the way they diagnosed and resolved this pollution problem as part of a Catchment Sensitive Farming Initiative. We are impressed by how well they worked together,’ said Peter Hayes, President of the Till Fly Fishers Association

‘This project has significantly reduced the amount of sediment entering the river. The future now looks much more positive for our salmon and trout stocks,’ said Mr Hayes.

‘We are very pleased to have worked in partnership with the Environment Agency and Wiltshire Council to improve this track and recognise the environmental benefits this project has had on the River Till,’ said Rod Crossly, Farm Manager at Berwick Down Ltd.

Photos of the improvement works are available from the Environment Agency’s south west regional press office on 01392 442008.

Note to Editor:

• Research by the Wessex Salmon and Rivers Trust has shown that for salmon and trout to spawn successfully, gravel beds should be as free from silt as possible. In order to develop, fish eggs need oxygen dissolved in the water. Silt clogs the gravel used by spawning salmon and prevents eggs from hatching by starving them of oxygen.
Environment Agency completes its action against composting site
Smells from a composting site in Stourbridge resulted in numerous complaints from local residents after decomposing waste was not handled adequately, Dudley Magistrates’ Court heard.

Composting company Simpro Limited, of Wolverhampton, was today (7 December) ordered to pay over £40,000 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to one charge of treating and keeping composting material in a way that caused pollution of the environment over a four month period.

For the Environment Agency, Counsel Barry Berlin told the court that Simpro operates several composting sites in the Midlands area. Their Stourbridge site at Iverley Park Farm, was situated within 500 metres of 50 residential properties. Due to number of complaints in 2007, a meeting between the site regulators was held. It was agreed that there were problems concerning off-site odour, with concerns being raised regarding the amount of material being composted at the site.

On the 10 October 2007, a letter was sent to Simpro detailing the issues of concern along with recommendations on how site operations could be improved.

Environment Agency officers and an officer from South Staffordshire District Council attended the Stourbridge site of Simpro on the 29 October 2007. The amount of composting material on the site was unacceptable to the Environment Agency and the site was removed from a required Register of Exempt Activities on 31 October 2007, effectively taking away the site’s permission to operate as a waste facility.

The court heard that the process of composting needs to be well managed. Without the correct amount of oxygen green waste can produce anaerobic organisms, which in turn give rise to offensive odours.

The site has not accepted waste since November 2007 but the company has refused to agree their responsibility for causing the odours until this time.

Speaking after the case Doug Freakley, Environment Management Team Leader, for the site said: “While we, of course, support appropriate recycling we are also aware of the problems that green waste sites can cause. While we endeavour to work with site operators and local residents to resolve issues, if necessary and where the required evidence can be obtained we will take enforcement action.“

In mitigation, Counsel Richard Kimblin told the court that excessive rainfall was a contributing factor and that the material received was wet.

The charge was brought by the Environment Agency under Section 33(1)(c) & (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 11000. Simpro Limited was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £26,162.65, along with a £15 victim surcharge.
Winding the willows will help stop erosion and protect ratty
Traditional methods are being used to safeguard the future of the river bank on a Lincolnshire waterway

The Environment Agency is using rods – or spiles - of freshly cut willow to combat erosion of the base of the flood bank on the River Ancholme at Snitterby, near Brigg.

Harvested from willows growing on the river bank at nearby Brandy Wharf, the rods will be woven around upright posts driven into the river bed. The willow will then grow, sending out shoots and root into the flood bank holding the soil firm and protecting against erosion.

Keith Stothard, Operations Delivery Team Leader at the Environment Agency, said: “Willow spiling is a very old system used to prevent erosion of river banks. It has many advantages over other methods. Because it uses a natural, living material it has an indefinite lifespan, is good for wildlife, consumes greenhouse gases which contribute to global warming and provides the raw material for future works.”

The willow which has been harvested from Brandy Wharf was originally put in using the same method during December 2005. It can be harvested four years after “planting”.

Willow spiling is a soft form of river engineering which requires minimal heavy machinery and causes the least disturbance to the river environment. Alternative methods which have been used in the past include wooden piles and planks, steel piles and stone but all have a limited lifespan and cost more - both environmentally and financially.

Reed rolls are also being placed along the base of the bank to further enhance the habitat for wildlife such as water voles, a protected species. The rolls are secured in position by softwood stakes and naturally back fill with silt meaning water voles are not disturbed.

Work on the 650 metre stretch of bank, downstream of Snitterby Carr Bridge, began on 30 November. It is expected to take three weeks to complete.

+ More

Aviation must play its role in reducing emissions

Environment Agency chief renews call for review of airport expansion plans - Lord Smith, Chairman of the Environment Agency, responding to the Committee on Climate Change Aviation Report Meeting the UK Aviation target - options for reducing emissions to 2050 said:

“The report by the Committee on Climate Change makes a clear case for slowing the growth in aviation to prevent an unsustainable rise in emissions that contribute to climate change.

“This is a conclusion that we welcome. Aviation has a significant impact on carbon emissions and can affect air quality around airports. That is why current plans for airport expansion, including Heathrow, must be revisited - and there is the opportunity for Government to do just that in a new National Policy Statement on airports, which could be brought forward from 2011.

“Ultimately aviation must play its role in reducing CO2 emissions. That will mean better planning for aviation use as well as a drive for cleaner jet engines. It is important that people are still able to fly abroad on holiday, but we also need more high speed rail networks in the UK and Europe to make low carbon travel quicker and cheaper.”

Media enquiries: Scarlett Elworthy on 020 7863 8617 or outside normal office hours, please contact the National Duty Press Officer on 07798 882 092.

 
 

Source: Environment Agency – United Kingdom
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