Farm Business Update 2014 presentation of Environment Agency taken from the Forest Centre Event.

1. The Water Framework Directive
and the catchment based
approach in your area
Teresa Brown Catchment Co-ordinator
For the Upper and Bedford Ouse, Old Bedford and Middle Level

2. UNCLASSIFIED
The Water Framework Directive
Member states must plan and deliver a better water
environment with a focus on:
Ecology
Chemical standards
And protect all parts of the water environment:
Groundwater, rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters
Six yearly planning cycles 2009, 2015, 2021 and 2027.
Brings together or replaces several other EU Directives.
Habitats Directive site objectives can over-ride WFD.

3. Prevent deterioration and improve the water
environment, including ground water
Promote sustainable water use
Reduce pollution
Help reduce the effects of floods and
droughts
3
Water Framework Directive
- key objectives

4. Classification
Nationally defined for 2009 baseline (Cycle 1)
Waterbody areas
Type – river, lake, canal, transitional & coastal,
groundwater
Artificial or heavily modified
Status – based on data from three preceding years –
2006, 2007, 2008
• Surface water – high, good, moderate, poor bad
• Groundwater – good, bad
UNCLASSIFIED 4

5. UNCLASSIFIED
Defra’s 100
Management
Catchments for England
and Wales
5
The Catchment Based
Approach

6. Your local management catchment
7 Cam & Ely Ouse
8 Cherwell
9 Colne
45 Nene
55 Old Bedford
Inc Middle Level
77 Thame &
South Chilterns
82 Upper &
Bedford Ouse
84 Upper Lee
UNCLASSIFIED 6

7. County and Unitary Authorities

8. Management catchments

9. Both

10. Some typical pressures
UNCLASSIFIED 10
some farming practices
surface water sewer
abuse Invasive signal
crayfish
Phosphate from treated
sewage discharges
invasive Himalayan
balsam
Invasive fish species
nutrient runoff
surface water sewer abuse
Poor morphology
Amenity Use of
pesticides
Low flow / over abstraction
Barrier to fish passage

11. What are the main issues?
Everywhere:
Rising demand for water resources – ground and surface water
Point source discharges - treated sewage effluent – phosphate
Man-made structures and modifications – for flood defence, land drainage,
navigation , water supply, amenity
Rural areas:
Diffuse pollution from agriculture:
• Soil - sediment / phosphates / nitrates / pesticides – drinking water
Straight, over deep and wide channels
Urban areas:
Diffuse pollution - poor quality surface water runoff, misconnections
Concrete channels, culverts
ssUNCLASSIF 11

12. What you can do to help
‘Water friendly’ farming
Reduce water use - store / conserve where
you can
Provide and manage features for water
dependent wildlife
Keep soil on the field – follow good practice
Install and use ‘sustainable drainage’ features
and techniques
Exemplary nutrient planning and application
Exemplary crop protection procedures
Keep livestock out of water
UNCLASSIFIED 12

13. UNCLASSIFIED 13
Keep soil in your field
Fords & tracks near
water
Silt traps
Keep livestock out of
water

14. Catchment Partnerships
Upper and Bedford Ouse – 5 sub-catchment
partnerships
Ivel : Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
Bedfordshire Ouzel : The Greensand Trust
Bedford & Marston Vale : The Marston Vale Trust
Great Ouse & Ouzel, Milton Keynes : Milton Keynes Parks Trust
Lower Ouse : Great Ouse Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Upper Lee - 2 sub-catchment partnerships
Urban Luton and Hoo Lakes : Hertfordshire Groundwork Trust and
Cranfield University
Upper Lea (Hertfordshire) : Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust
UNCLASSIFIED 14

15. Catchment Partnerships
Colne - whole catchment
Groundwork South & Chilterns Chalk Stream Project
Cherwell – whole catchment
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust
Thame and South Chilterns – 2 sub-catchments
River Thame : Pond Conservation, the Water Habitats Trust & R Thame
Conservation Trust
Pang, Hughenden, Wye & Lower Middle Thames : Foundation for water
Research
UNCLASSIFIED 15

16. The Pontbren Farmers Group

17. Summary
In your area:
Get involved with your local catchment
partnership, CSF, FAS
Work together with your ‘land management’
neighbours
Make a difference: manage soil, land and
water sustainably
Protect your resources and safeguard your
business
Key Actions: our key messages
in one place