Loddon Catchment Implementation Plan
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Loddon Catchment Implementation Plan January 2012 – FOR COMMMENT (Version C2) Glossary.....................................................................................................................3 1 Introduction...................................................................................................6 2 Loddon catchment summary.......................................................................9 2.1 General Description .....................................................................................9 2.2 Catchment map........................................................................................... 10 3 Water body information ............................................................................. 11 3.1 Classification.................................................................................................. 11 3.2 Heavily Modified Water Bodies..................................................................... 11 4 Actions ........................................................................................................ 11 4.1 Operational monitoring (2010-12) ............................................................. 12 4.2 Investigations (2010-12)............................................................................. 12 4.3 Improvement actions (in place by 2012)................................................... 12 4.3.1 ‘Day Job’ activities.............................................................................................. 13 4.3.2 Field actions ....................................................................................................... 13 5 Partners....................................................................................................... 13 6 Sub catchments.......................................................................................... 15 6.1 River Loddon .............................................................................................. 15 6.1.1 What is failing ..................................................................................................... 16 6.1.2 Reasons for failure ............................................................................................. 16 6.1.3 Field Actions....................................................................................................... 16 6.2 Emm Brook ................................................................................................. 18 6.2.1 What is failing ..................................................................................................... 18 6.2.2 Reasons for failure ............................................................................................. 18 6.2.3 Field Actions....................................................................................................... 18 6.3 Blackwater & Cove Brook.......................................................................... 19 6.3.1 What is failing ..................................................................................................... 19 6.3.2 Reasons for failure ............................................................................................. 20 6.3.3 Field Actions....................................................................................................... 21 Loddon Catchment Implementation Plan Page 1 19/03/2012 6.4 Whitewater .................................................................................................. 22 6.4.1 What is failing ..................................................................................................... 22 6.4.2 Reasons for failure ............................................................................................. 22 6.4.3 Field Actions....................................................................................................... 22 6.5 Hart and Fleet Brook .................................................................................. 24 6.5.1 What is failing ..................................................................................................... 24 6.5.2 Reasons for failure ............................................................................................. 24 6.5.3 Field Actions....................................................................................................... 25 7 How to get involved.................................................................................... 26 8 Useful links and other reports:.................................................................. 26 APPENDICES........................................................................................................... 27 Appendix I - Schematic of stages undertaken during the Catchment plan and current delivery position............................................................................ 27 Appendix II - Summary of river, canal, lake and surface water transfer water body classifications (2010 data used) ...................................................... 28 Appendix III - Predicted ‘element’ improvements in the first RBMP cycle ..... 30 Appendix IV - Operational monitoring (2010 – 12) ............................................ 31 Appendix V - Investigations (2010-12) ............................................................... 32 Appendix VI – Summary of improvement actions for priority river water bodies.......................................................................................................... 36 Loddon Catchment Implementation Plan Page 2 19/03/2012 Glossary AWB Artificial Water Body - A man-made surface water body, rather than a modified natural water body, which supports important aquatic ecosystems. It includes canals and some man-made reservoirs. CAMS Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies CIP Catchment Implementation Plan Classification Method for distinguishing the environmental condition or “status” of water bodies and putting them into one category or another e.g. good or moderate ecological status. Diffuse source Pollution resulting from scattering or dispersed sources that are collectively significant but to which effects normally difficult to attribute individually. EA Environment Agency Element A feature of an aquatic (surface water) ecosystem that can be described as a number to give a classification. A biological element is a collective term for a particular characteristic group of animals or plants present in an aquatic ecosystem (for example phytoplankton; benthic invertebrates; phytobenthos; macrophytes; macroalgae; angiosperms; fish). Eutrophication ‘Eutrophication’ is the process whereby excessive nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, cause an accelerated growth of algae and plants. This growth affects water quality and the balance of organisms such as fish. High phosphorus concentrations are the main cause of eutrophication in fresh waters. ftRBMP First Thames River Basin Management Plan GES Good Ecological Status - The objective for a surface water body to have biological, structural and chemical characteristics similar to those expected under nearly undisturbed conditions. GEP Good Ecological Potential - Those surface waters which are identified as Heavily Modified Water Bodies and Artificial Water Bodies must achieve ‘good ecological potential’. Good potential is a recognition that changes to morphology may make good ecological status very difficult to meet. In the first cycle of river Loddon Catchment Implementation Plan Page 3 19/03/2012 basin planning good potential may be defined in relation to the mitigation measures required to achieve it and a willingness to pay for those measures. HMWB Heavily Modified Water Body - A surface water body that does not achieve good ecological status because of substantial changes to its physical character resulting from physical alterations caused by human use, and which has been designated, in accordance with criteria specified in the Water Framework Directive, as ‘heavily modified’. Hydromorphology Describes the hydrological and geomorphological processes and attributes of surface water bodies. For rivers, hydromorphology describes the form and function of the channel as well as its connectivity (up and downstream and with groundwater) and flow regime. This defines its ability to allow migration of aquatic organisms and maintain natural continuity of sediment transport throughout the fluvial system. The Water Framework Directive requires surface waters to be managed in such a way as to safeguard their hydrology and geomorphology so that ecology is protected. Phosphates Phosphorus in our river comes from a number of sources including treated sewage effluent and agriculture. P is essential for plant growth but at higher levels can lead to eutrophication and a change to the river's ecology. Point source Pollution arising from an identifiable and localised area, structure or facility, such as a discharge pipe or landfill. Sediment The term sediment refers to anything that is not dissolved or in solution and which can be removed by filtration or settlement. The term includes solids that are floating on top, or suspended within the water. Phosphate is often associated with sediment as it is bound to the soil (unlike nitrates, which are more soluble). STW Sewage Treatment Works WB Water Body - A manageable unit of surface water, being the whole (or part) of a stream, river or canal, lake or reservoir, transitional water (estuary) or stretch of coastal water. A ‘body of groundwater’ is a distinct volume of groundwater