M 1 2 THE RIVER CLWYD CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN ACTION PLAN: 19 95
WELSH REGION LIBRARY COPY
NRA National Rivers Authority Welsh Region CONTACTING THE NRA
The national head office of the NRA is in Bristol Enquiries about the Clwyd Catchment Management Plan should be directed to: Telephone: 01454 - 624400 Kelvin Graham, From 01/01/96 The Welsh Region head office is in Cardiff Area Catchment Planner, Plot 10, Telephone: 01222 - 770088 Highfield, Parc Menai, The Area Manager for the Northern Area of the Welsh Priestley Road, Vaynol Business Park, R egion is: Caernarfon, Bangor, Gwynedd, Gwynedd. Steve Brown, From 01/01/96 LL55 1HR Bryn Menai, Plot 10, Holyhead Road, Parc Menai, Bangor, Vaynol Business Park, Gwynedd. Bangor, LL57 2EF Gwynedd.
NRA Copyright Waiver.
This report is intended to be used widely and may be quoted, copied or reproduced in any way, provided that the extracts are not quoted out of context and due acknowledgement is given to the National Rivers Authority.
Acknowledgement:-
Maps are based on the 1992 Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 scale map with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s stationary Office © Copyright.
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Awarded for excellence 111 CLWYD CATCHMENT AREA N A
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CATCHMENT STATISTICS
Area...... 900km2 Population...... >146,000 Area at flood risk...... 5000Ha Average rainfall...... 960mm KEY Average river flow...... 11.1m3/s CATCHMENT BOUNDARY River quality...... 111.5km Very Good 31.5km Good MAIN CENTRES OF POPULATION 0.4km Fair 'A ' CLASS ROAD Estuary quality...... 7.2km Good B* CLASS ROAD
Designated fisheries...... Salmonid: 99.5km RAILWAY LINE (78/659/EEC) Cyprinid: None COUNCIL BOUNDARY ABERCONWY BOROUGH COUNCIL Designated bathing waters...... North Shore at (76/160/EEC) Llandudno COLWYN BOROUGH COUNCIL Colwyn Bay DELYN BOROUGH COUNCIL Kinmel Bay Rhyl GLYNDWR DISTRICT COUNCIL Prestatyn RHUDDLAN BOROUGH COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
10337 9
THE NRA'S VISION FOR THE CLWYD CATCHMENT
The Clwyd Catchment Management Plan covers an acidification issues in upland waters will area more immediately known for the coastal need to be addressed in conjunction with attractions of towns such as Llandudno, Colwyn Bay, the forestry organisations. Rhyl and Prestatyn, than for the river valley itself. • Fisheries and Recreation - The generally But behind this important coastline lies a landscape experienced decline in salmon and sewin of great beauty and high conservation interest and fisheries could be partly ameliorated agricultural importance. through overcoming barriers to migration Away from the coastal belt the area is sparsely within the river system. There is also a populated, with the only sizeable population centres need to make the area more accessible for being the towns of Ruthin and Denbigh. Water those interested in more passive pursuits quality is generally very good, reflected by the use of such as walking. surface and groundwater abstractions for drinking Implementation of this Action Plan will ensure that water supplies, and the important salmonid fisheries. the problems we have identified are addressed. The However, there are issues that must be addressed if NRA's vision w ill be achieved through a balanced the potential of the area contained within the plan is management approach to all activities. We will to be realised: encourage imaginative proposals to allow sustainable • Water Resources - Surface and groundwater economic and community development to proceed resources are finely balanced and only careful whilst ensuring protection and improvement of the water environment. We will collaborate actively with management will ensure that groundwaters are all users of the catchment and all those statutory bodies not depleted in the future. that can assist us in striving to achieve this vision. • Water Quality - Bathing and coastal water quality, important to the tourist industry, requires improvement through construction of new sewage treatment and disposal schemes. Pollution prevention activity is essential to S. J . BROWN reduce the number of agricultural and other NORTHERN AREA MANAGER - incidents affecting freshwaters. Some of the NRA WELSH REGION
A s i a n t a e t h y r A m g y l c h e d d C y m r u E n v i r o n m e n t A g e n c y W a l e s
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NATIONAL LIBRARY & INFORMATION SERVICE
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CONTENTS
AREA MANAGER’S VISION FOR THE CATCHMENT
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
2.0 REVIEW OF THE CONSULTATION PROCESS 3
3.0 OVERVIEW OF THE CATCHMENT 3
4.0 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAND USE AND THE WATER ENVIRONMENT 6
5.0 ISSUES ACTIONS 7
7.0 FUTURE REVIEW AND MONITORING 17
INTRODUCTION
THE CONCEPT OF CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT We have chosen to use Catchment Management Plans PLANNING (CMPs) to translate those principles into action. The CMPs describe our vision for each catchment, identify The rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters of problems and issues and propose actions that may be England and Wales are subject to large and rapidly taken to resolve them. increasing demands from the users of water. Many different uses interact or compete for water and will To ensure the we 'get it right', the process of inevitably come into conflict with one another. The developing CMPs is divided into two phases: National Rivers Authority aims to protect and improve (i) Consultation Report the water environment in England and Wales and to (ii) Action Plan harmonise conflicts between competing water users. Our Mission Statement expresses the following The emphasis is clearly on participation through principles: consultation. This process has already occurred for the Clwyd catchment and has led to the development of We will protect and improve the water this Action Plan. In this Plan, actions are clearly environment by the effective management of ascribed to responsible parties who/which have agreed water resources and by substantial reductions in to their implementation within a specified timescale. pollution. We will aim to provide effective This involves a commitment to considerable defence for people and property against flooding expenditure in some cases. from rivers and the sea. In discharging our duties we will operate openly and balance the interests CMPs also provide the means of promoting two key of all who benefit from and use rivers, aspects of environmental management:- groundwaters, estuaries and coastal waters. We • -land use planning will be businesslike, efficient and caring towards • water quality objectives our employees. For purely operational reasons those actions identified Development Plans". for the Dulas and Ganol East catchments, whilst This CMP Action Plan sets out issues and actions ' covered here for continuity with the Consultation specific to the Clwyd catchment which have been Report, will be incorporated into the Conwy Action determined within the framework of these Guidance Plan at its first annual review. Notes. Section 4 outlines how the concerns of the RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAND USE PLANNING water environment should influence the location and AND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLANNING nature of development and land use change within the catchment. The broad objective of catchment management planning is to conserve and enhance the total river WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES environment through effective land and resource The Statutory Water Quality Objectives (SWQOs) management. However, whilst the NRA is well scheme, introduced under the Water Resources Act placed to influence some of the factors affecting the 1991, is a new system for water quality planning water environment, particularly in relation to the which, when fully implemented, will place quality river corridor itself, we have very little control over targets on a statutory footing. The scheme is based the mechanisms which determine land use change on upon the recognised uses to which river stretches a catchment-wide basis. This is to some degree the may be put, acknowledging that there is cost responsibility of local planning authorities through involved in meeting the quality targets necessary to the implementation of the Town and Country support these uses. It is envisaged that the scheme Planning Acts, whilst agriculture, as a major land will cover five uses including River Ecosystem, use in the catchment, can introduce significant Special Ecosystem, Abstraction for Potable Supply, changes. Agricultural/Industrial Abstraction and Water The policies in statutory development plans are Sports. (See River Quality. The Government's Proposals important in this regard, in that they set out the (December 1992)). framework for land use change and provide the key At present only the standards for the River reference in determining development applications Ecosystem Use have been developed on a formal basis The NRA encourages the inclusion of policies which and, as a result, this is the first WQO Use to be reflect its concerns and responsibilities. As guidance introduced by the Government through The Surface for local authorities, the NRA has prepared a set of Waters (River Ecosystem) (Classification) Regulations statements relating to water quality and water 1994. This replaces the Fisheries Ecosystem Scheme resources, flood defence, fisheries, conservation, used in the Consultation Report (see The Surface recreation and navigation in the river corridor, and Waters (River Ecosystem) (Classification) Regulations mineral workings and waste disposal. These 1994) and is the first of the five uses to be formally statements are summarised in our "Guidance Notes introduced. The new scheme contains water quality for Local Planning Authorities on the Methods of standards which are statistically more robust than Protecting the Water Environment through those in the earlier proposal. Consequently, the data used for the CMP Consultation Report have been re examined to reflect the new scheme and some of the actions proposed may have changed as a result. The benefit of this more rigorous examination is that the NRA can be even more confident that the money we spend, or ask others to spend, is targeted to resolve those issues that will lead to the most significant improvements in water quality. At present, these targets will only be applied informally although it is hoped that, in the near future, these may be established as Statutory WQOs by the Secretaries of State for the Environment and Welsh Office.
Aled Isa f Reservoir 2.0 REVIEW OF THE CONSULTATION PROCESS
The Clwyd Catchment Management Plan consultation reasons given in the tables at Section 5.0, whilst Issue report was distributed to 212 organisations and 13 has been integrated into Issue 14. This then gives individuals, including statutory and non statutory the total number of discrete issues within the bodies, to seek their views on the NRA's proposals. catchment as 23 albeit at first sight the tables indicate This was distributed a week in advance of the formal 26 issues. The four new issues are: public launch of the Plan at the Oriel House Hotel, St (i) elevated levels of nitrate in groundwater in the Asaph on the 28th July, 1994. In addition to the Dyserth/Ffynnon Asaph area (Issue 23). comments received at the launch, all consultees were invited to submit their detailed views by 31st (ii) the need to prepare and implement species October, 1994. management plans within the Clwyd catchment (Issue 24). There were 33 respondents, the support of which we found most encouraging. A small number were of the (iii) the adverse effects of invasive plants within the view that the NRA's proposals were not sufficiently catchment (Issue 25). exacting. Others questioned some of the factual (iv) the need to advance rod fishing byelaws to information and provided corrections/amendments. All enhance migratory fish stocks in the catchment respondents were sent an acknowledgement for their (Issue 26). valued contributions which were considered in the preparation of this Action Plan. The consultation process is a very important and The consultation report identified 22 issues within the integral part of our development of a Catchment catchment. The public consultation identified a further Management Plan and in particular the preparation of 8 potential issues of which 4 were adopted as new the Action Plan. The consultation on this particular discrete issues by the NRA, and which are now Plan has revealed that many share the NRA's vision for included in the Actions section (Issues 23,24,25,26 the Clwyd and are supportive of the proposed actions Section 5.0). Issues 10 and 16 have been withdrawn for to achieve the objectives set by the Authority.
3.0 OVERVIEW
The River Clwyd rises in the peaty uplands of the Rainfall in the catchment shows a progressive fall from Clocaenog forest and meanders slowly through the an annual average of 1300 mm on the Denbigh Moors picturesque Vale of Clwyd to discharge into Liverpool to 700mm and less in the Vale and along the coast. Bay at Rhyl. However, rainfall over the area can be extremely variable, as shown in June 1993 when 137mm fell in The Vale of Clwyd is a fertile area. It is situated in a the low-lying Llandudno area in 3 hours, causing downfaulted rift valley of Triassic age, bounded to both widespread flooding and destruction. the east and west by older and harder glaciated Silurian rocks. W ith high grade agricultural land it is noted The response of the rivers and streams to rainfall is for its dairy products, whilst in the upper reaches of markedly influenced by the geology and topography of the catchment to the west, farming is mainly mixed their catchments. The Elwy, which rises in the west above sheep and beef. There are a number of afforested areas, Gwytherin and which is augmented by the flow from the the largest of which is the Clocaenog forest at the Aled, passes over the relatively impermeable rocks of headwaters of the Clwyd. Silurian age. As a result it exhibits a rapid response and range of flow, which is in marked contrast to the Wheeler Metalliferous mining dating back to early Roman which is supported by groundwater in part, and to the times is evident in the west from Llanddulas to Clwyd itself. Thus flood problems are possible at St Asaph Llansannan, and in the east in the area surrounding and Llanddulas from the rivers that rise to the west of the Meliden. Despite the numerous abandoned mines catchment. This is especially so where these rivers flow spread throughout these parts, environmental onto the flat northern coastal strip. The vulnerability of degradation frequently associated with this type of the coastal area to fluvial and tidal flooding was clearly activity is not evident. demonstrated during the Towyn flood disaster in 1990. 3 Flood defence activity within the catchment is concentrated upon the maintenance of tidal and fluvial defences, the operation of pumping stations at a number of urban and rural locations and, shoal removal and river management schemes when and where necessary.
A flood warning scheme operates for the protection of property at St Asaph from extreme events on the River Elwy. Tidal surge warnings are disseminated to local authorities along the coastal frontage.
The catchment forms a valuable fisheries, conservation and recreation resource. The fisheries of the catchment are predominantly salmonid, with good quality salmon and sea trout fishing available on the rivers Clwyd and Elwy. Put and take trout fisheries are operated at a number of lakes in the catchment. Coarse fisheries are present but are confined to the coastal plain and reservoirs at the head of the Elwy system.
The conservation value of the catchment is reflected Canoeist in the number of designated sites (32 SSSIs, 215 SNCIs). Of the SSSIs, 7 are/or include river valleys, 7 are wetlands and 4 include coastal features. The river holiday season the marine lake at Rhyl is popular for valleys, particularly those which are steeper sided, boating, whilst sailing takes place at Aled Reservoir all contain tracts of ancient woodland. Otters are present the year round. in the catchment, notably in the Dulas system. The relatively few significant wetland areas include upland Water quality is generally good throughout the acidic bogs and former lake basins. There are also catchment. It is an important factor given the many sites of historical and archaeological interest catchment attracts a large number of visitors in the with over 150 Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) summer months, particularly to the coastal resorts of within the catchment. Llandudno, Colwyn Bay, Prestatyn and Rhyl. Unfortunately, bathing water quality has been Water based recreation is centred in the Clwyd estuary problematic with occasional failures of the identified and on the coast adjacent to the resort towns. In the waters to meet the mandatory standards of the EC Bathing Waters Directive.
The catchment is predominantly rural, with the population centred in 8 towns of population 3,500- 25,000. The total population within the catchment is approximately 146,000 which, with the exception of the towns of Ruthin and Denbigh, is mostly located in the coastal resorts and along the main A55 Expressway.
There is some industrial development consisting primarily of quarrying activities and a few fish farms. Other than agriculture, light engineering and forestry, the catchment depends upon tourism centred around the coastal resorts of Rhyl, Colwyn Bay Prestatyn and Llandudno.
Transport infrastructure consists of a network of trunk and main A roads which serve the main employment/ Salmon Leap on the Afon Ystrad population centres, with B roads linking smaller settlements, and the main London-Holyhead rail link in the Clwyd catchment are potential conflicts between which follows the coast of the catchment area. the anglers/riparian owners and those wishing more access to the riverside. Also canoeing and angling are CATCHMENT USES potentially in conflict, as is the use of powerboats and jet The range of uses and activities within the Clwyd skiis within the tidal sections of the Clwyd where there catchment is extensive. All legitimate uses of the are bird interests. catchment which can impact, or interact, within the All the Uses w ill have water quality and quantity as well water environment have been described under 21 as physical features requirements, which are already categories in the Consultation Report. available at the appropriate standards for the great These are:- majority of Uses. There are some exceptions to this, for Urban Development (including road, rail and example:- airport) • The River Clwyd downstream of Ruthin STW Abstraction for Drinking Water (Potable) Supply shows a deterioration in River Ecosystem class Abstraction for Industrial Supply from that upstream. The effect of the discharge Abstraction for Agricultural Supply persists for some 8km downstream. Sewage Effluent Disposal • The bathing waters identified under the EC Industrial Effluent Disposal Bathing Waters Directive have not always Solid Waste Disposal (Landfill) complied with the mandatory standards.
Mineral Extraction • The NRA is concerned at the level of usage of Agricultural Activity groundwater resources in the Vale of Clwyd and Forestry along the coast. In order to assess the long term Fisheries Ecosystem (now River Ecosystem) impact of abstraction it is intended to model Special Ecosystems groundwater resources in these areas. Conservation - General Ecology and Landscape • The suitability of water for agricultural use in Archaeology and Heritage the lowland tributaries of the Clwyd estuary is Commercial Harvesting of Sea Fish and Shellfish affected by the presence of saline water. for Human Consumption However, these have been identified as issues requiring Basic Amenity resolution along with 21 other within this Action Plan Angling (Section 5.0). Water Sports Activity There is no reason, given a collaborative co-ordinated Boating approach and mutual respect and understanding, why all Navigation the uses of the Clwyd catchment cannot continue in Flood Water Storage and Flood Defence harmony without suffering any detriment and without There will inevitably be some interaction and sometimes adversely affecting the water environment. Certainly the conflict between different Uses. Among those identified NRA will be seeking, as a minimum, to maintain the water quality and quantity and physical features currently available to all legitimate uses. Where appropriate, we will seek to improve on the existing situation, albeit within prevailing financial constraints.
The NRA, as a statutory consultee on matters of Town and Country Planning, will vigorously object to any proposals which would adversely impact on the water environment. When the proposals would be subject to NRA licensing or consenting remit, such licences or consents will not be forthcoming.
The baseline from which we will assess any environmental progress will be the 'State of the Otters are present in the catchment Catchment' as described in the Consultation Report. ■ 4.0 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAN USE AN THE WATER ENVIRONMENT ■
The policies in local authority statutory development Development in the higher reaches of the catchment plans are very important, given that they provide the may also increase this risk by reducing the time for framework for land use change and provide the key flows to peak and by increasing the peak flow at reference in determining development applications critical locations downstream. The NRA is obliged to (Planning and Compensation Act 1991). The NRA advise the local planning authorities where any therefore welcomes the inclusion of policies which proposed development is at risk from flooding, in reflect the our concerns and responsibilities in accordance with Welsh Office Circular 68/92. development plans, including the statutory The NRA will also be required during the lifetime of requirement to conserve and enhance the water the Action Plan to produce Water Level Management environment and associated lands. To facilitate this, Plans for all sites agreed between the NRA and the the Authority has provided 'Guidance Notes for Local Countryside Council for Wales. The plans will be Planning Authorities on the Methods of Protecting the produced over a three year prioritised programme. Once Water Environment through Development Plans' to all finalised, the details of the programme will be built into local planning authorities. the Action Plan at the time of its annual review. The Clwyd catchment has a varied and generally high Agriculture and afforestation are important in this quality environment. Nevertheless, the impacts of predominantly rural catchment and their associated different land uses on the water environment are activities can, if not properly managed, result in evident. The historical extensive residential deterioration of river water quality and adversely affect development of the coastal resort towns was not river flows. The Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry accompanied by development of environmentally and Agricultural Fuel Oil) Regulations 1991 have adequate sewage disposal facilities. This resulted in introduced standards of construction within the crude sewage being discharged into the sea, causing agricultural industry which will serve to reduce the aesthetic problems and bathing waters at places such as incidence of agricultural pollution. Rhyl, Prestatyn, Colwyn Bay and Kinmel Bay failing to comply with mandatory the standards of the EC The Forestry Authority, with an input from the NRA Bathing Waters Directive. However these problems has produced the Forest and Water Guidelines which should be eliminated within the lifetime of the Plan. set standards to minimise problems from forestry operations. These guidelines are regularly reviewed. A The NRA will object to development in areas where new protocol for dealing with forestry plans in acid existing inadequate sewage disposal facilities cause sensitive areas in Wales has been agreed between the degradation of the aquatic environment, and where NRA and Forestry Authority. Whilst coniferous there is no commitment to an adequate improvement afforestation is not the primary cause of acidification it scheme within an acceptable timescale. can exacerbate its impact. Acidification is evident in Development of low lying land adjacent to the river, or the west of the catchment and Indicative Forestry .in the flood or coastal plain, may put itself and other Strategies and associated future planting should have existing development at greater risk of flooding. proper regard to this fact. The NRA welcomes the increasing dialogue on planting proposals with the forestry organisations and local planning authorities. Coniferous planting in acid sensitive areas (where buffering capacity provided by the underlying geology is inadequate) must be kept to a minimum and in some cases avoided. Replanting of sensitive areas continues to be a cause for concern.
Despite the considerable amount of mining activity that has occurred within the Plan area since Roman times, there are only minor localised problems resulting from this activity. The most notable are elevated lead levels in river silts near Dyserth. There has been no mining activity since the end of the last century.
Flood defence work in the catchment Any land use which could result in contamination of 6 land, or which could mobilise pollutants in land planning authorities to regard the protection of already contaminated, will be subject to the groundwater as a material consideration in the requirements of the NRA's Groundwater Protection determination of planning applications. Policy. Groundwater is available in limited Land use and the water environment are thus closely quantities for abstraction and river augmentation in inter-related and the NRA will actively promote the catchment. Its importance as a source of with the local planning authorities the need for the drinking water and, in supporting springs and river protection of the water environment to be clearly flows during dry periods, reinforces the need to evident in policies within their statutory protect its quality. Therefore, in addition to development plans. pollution prevention work, the NRA will look to the
5.0 ACTIONS
INTRODUCTION The following abbreviations have been used in the main text and tables: The Clwyd catchment is generally of high quality, but issues have been identified that must be resolved to progress the vision for the catchment. ADAS Agricultural Development and Advisory Service This Action Plan is the means by which the vision is BC Borough Council progressively turned into reality. It is a clear statement of intent to carry out, or facilitate, CC County Council operational work in the field that will translate aims CCW Countryside Council for Wales and objectives into tangible improvements. The CLA Country Landowners Association implementation of this is necessary if the vision for the CMP Catchment Management Plan catchment is to be realised. CSO Combined Sewer Overflow This Action Plan has a 5 year programme initially and, DC District Council whereas many of the actions required will be in place D CW W Dwr Cymru Welsh Water by the end of this period, there will be some actions outstanding which will remain to be addressed for the EC European Community vision to be fully realised. Moreover, catchment FUW Farmers Union of Wales management planning is dynamic in nature and, more iFF Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries actions may be identified over the ensuing years, which and Food will be required to ensure the river environment of the RC Natural Environment Research Council Clwyd catchment is adequately protected. U National Farmers Union First of all, however, there are 23 issues to be resolved A National Rivers Authority which are presented in tabular form in this section. All the actions identified have been discussed with FWT North Wales Wildlife Trust those parties involved. Only where these parties have ?B Royal Society for the Protection of Birds agreed to the actions, the timescale of implementation VI Scheduled Ancient Monument and the costs involved has the NRA featured these Cl Site of Nature Conservation Interest elements in this Action Plan. In the absence of these 1 Site of Special Scientific Interest agreements or sufficient information, the issues are included but without the details of costs, timescale, W Sewage Treatment Works and responsibility. ZA Welsh Canoe Association
PROGRESS WITH ACTION PLAN/VISION IA Waste Regulator}'Authority 2 W ater Q uality The baseline from which the Action Plan operates is the 'state of the catchment' reported in the consultation document distributed during 1994. 5.0 CLWYD CMP ISSUES AND ACTIONS
ISSUE 1 Water quality degradation of the Clywd caused by the discharge from Ruthin STW
ACTIONS SUCCESSFUL HOW WILL IT RESPONSIBILITY COST 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 FUTURE OUTCOME BE MEASURED LEAD OTHER £
Determine and River Ecosystem NRA NRA lk impose target class monitoring and environmentally (RE2) achieved. sampling. protective dicharge consenr conditions.
Improve sewage River Ecosystem NRA DCWW NRA not — treatment to target class monitoring and known ensure (RE2) achieved. sampling. compliance with revised consent.
ISSUE 2 Occasional failure of identified bathing waters at Rhyl, Kinmel Bay/Sandy Cove, Prestatyn and Colwyn Bay to meet EC Directive (7 6 /1 60/EEC)
Connection of Compliance with NRA DCWW NRA 17m crude sewage EC Bathing monitoring and outfalls at Water Directive sampling. Pensarn, mandatory Kinmel Bay and standards. Rhyl to new treatment/dispos al facilities. COMPLETED MARCH. 1994.
disposal disposal in place, monitoring and facilities at and compliance sampling. Colwyn Bay with EC Bathing Water Directive mandatory standards.
ISSUE 3 The River Wheeler fails its target of River Ecosyst em Class 1 due to elevated ammonia levels
Consents 2nd discharge Target Class NRA sampling. consents to achieved. determine environmentally protective conditions.
Programme of NRA 3k farm inspections within the catchment. COMPLETED MARCH 1995.
River Ecosystem Monitoring and Farmers NRA 60k improvement Target Class sampling by identified. achieved. NRA. Farmers NRA 40k DCWW NRA not
treatment Target Class monitoring and facilities achieved. sampling. at Lixwm, Caerwys and Nannerch.
8 ------
5.0 CLWYD CMP ISSUES AND ACTIONS
ISSUE 4 Water Quality of the lower Clywedog, Ystrad and Dulas is affected by agricultural activities
ACTIONS SUCCESSFUL HOW WILL IT RESPONSIBILITY COST 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 FUTURE OUTCOME BE MEASURED LEAD OTHER £
Programme of farm inspections/ liaison with agricultural community, NFU/FUW. As follows:
Dulas to be Sites identified NRA NRA NFU, 3k completed by for monitoring and FUW December improvements sampling 1995
Ystrad and Sites identified NRA NRA NFU, 3k HHHH lower Clywedog monitoring and FUW scheduled for improvements sampling 1996.
Improve farm River Ecosystem Monitoring and Farmers NRA not effluent Target Class sampling by known management achieved. NRA. and handling/ storage facilities.
ISSUE 5 Premature operation of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) causes aesthetic problems
Investigate NRA CSOs in plan area to identify degree of environmental impact and remedial measures required. COMPLETED 1993.
Improve Discharges from Monitoring by DCWW NRA screening and CSOs comply NRA. re-set weirs. with declared Improve storm NRA standards. flow treatment at treatment works.
Confirmation «>f commit ment to specific schemes awaited. ISSUE 6 Leachate containment facilities required at Lon Parcwr landfill, Ruthin
ACTIONS SUCCESSFUL HOW WILL IT RESPONSIBILITY COST 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 FUTURE OUTCOME BE MEASURED LEAD OTHER £
Improve the Regulation of Monitoring by Waste NRA not * regulation of the restoration, W RA and NRA. Regulatory known site in terms of leachate Authority restoration, collection and * Timescale to (Glyndwr leachate disposal carried be determined DC) collection and out to the by new unitary disposal. satisfaction of Authority. the WRA and NRA.
Waste NRA appropriate risk to ground W RA and NRA. Disposal known measures. and surface Authority waters in the (Glyndwr vicinity. DC)
ISSUE 7 Migrating leachgate at Ddol Uchaf Landfill Site Afonwen perceived as a pollution threat to the Afon Wheeler
Site WRA NRA investigation by (Delyn Waste BC) Regulatory Authority in consultation with NRA to determine extent of leachate migration and any mitigating measures that are required.
INITIAL SITE INVESTIGATI ON COMPLETED 1994.
WRA NRA 6k to be introduced migration boreholes and (Delyn and monitored k to determine determine any WRA, audited (annual full extent of future action. by NRA. cost) m igration.
10 5.0 CLWYD CMP ISSUES AND ACTIONS
ISSUE 8 The Ganol East fails its target of River Ecosystem Class 4 due to diffuse agricultural and industrial pollution
ACTIONS SUCCESSFUL HOW WILL IT RESPONSIBILITY COST 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 FUTURE OUTCOME BE MEASURED LEAD OTHER £
Undertake All relevant sites NRA NRA 2.5k catchment identified. monitoring. inspection programme to identify sources of pollution.
Improve farm Improvements in Monitoring and Farmers NRA not effluent place and no sampling by known management agricultural NRA and handling/ contamination of storage facilities the Ganol East. where required.
Improve Improvements in Monitoring and Site NRA not pollution place and no sampling by owners, known prevention industrial NRA. dischargers measures at contamination of industrial sites the Ganol East. where required.
ISSUE 9 Solids contamination of water during forest planting and harvesting
Implementation Solids Reduced Landowners NRA not of Forests and contamination pollution known Water minimised. incidents. Guidelines, including riparian buffer zones.
Establishment Adherence to Forestry Forestry Forestry not of Forest Design approved Forest Authority audit. Enterprise Authority known Plans. Design Plans. NRA
Establishment Adherence to Clwyd C.C. Clwyd Forestry not of Indicative approved audit. County Authority known Forestry Indicative Council NRA Strategy. Forestry Strategy.
Research and Identification of Uptake of NRA, 135k development to improvements in improvements NERC, nationally identify forest manage by the forestry Forestry improved ment. industry. Authority, methods of Forest forestry manage Enterprise ment.
ISSUE 10 Elevated zinc levels due to acidification of the upper reaches of the Clywedog and Aled
A review of the data using the new River Ecosystem hardness bands indicates that zinc is not present at unacceptable levels for salmonid waters. WITHDRAW N AS AN ISSUE.
11 5.0 CLWYD CMP ISSUES AND ACTIONS
ISSUE 11 Saline intrusion in lowland tributaries may take the resource unsuitable for crop irrigation
ACTIONS SUCCESSFUL HOW WILL IT RESPONSIBILITY COST 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 FUTURE OUTCOME BE MEASURED LEAD OTHER £
and potential by NRA. complaints about abstractors to lack of inform problem of ation. saline intrusion and its potential impact on availability of resource for crop irrigation.
suitability for unsuitable water. abstractors. known irrigation purposes.
storage (if management to abstractors. NRA known necessary) for ensure only non Monitoring of uncontaminated saline water is compliance with water. stored for use. abstraction licence by NRA enforcement staff.
ISSUE 12 Limited hydrometric data with which to ensure effective management of water resources in the Vale of Clwyd
Assess water Information to Evaluation by NRA 160k resource clarify situation. NRA water 50k resources specialists.
Construct Robust Validation by NRA 25k groundwater computer NRA water 25k — model. software to resources analyse the data. specialists.
ISSUE 13 Lack of riparian habitat diversity within the Clwyd catchment
This has now been incorporated into Issue 14.
12 .--I' .
ISSUE 14 Lack of riparian and wetland habitat diversity within the Clwyd catchment
ACTIONS SUCCESSFUL HOW WILL IT RESPONSIBILITY COST 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 FUTURE OUTCOME BE MEASURED LEAD OTHER £
In consultation Target habitats Post project NRA, NWWT, 3k with riparian improved and/or appraisal, CCW, RSPB, owners produce created at sites drawing on ADAS, Otters in a plan to within the NRA, CCW, Riparian Wales manage and catchment, and a RSPB survey Owners enhance programme of results to habitats, in further work evaluate success appropriate agreed for of improvement locations, when implementation works under and if the when the taken. opportunity opportunity arises. Create or enhance the following habitats which have been identified as being below acceptable levels for a catchment of the Clwyd's nature.
1. Wetland Average habitats cost 4k (reedbeds, damp per site grassland, open waters). Average cost 4 k 2. Other per site habitats identified from the River Corridor Survey.
* Actual number of sites can only be determined once the plan is drawn up.
ISSUE 15 Bird disturbance from power boats and jet skiers in the tidal sections of the Clwyd
Define extent of Scale, nature and Agreement of all NRA RSPB, 2k the problem. specific parties to reports CCW, location(s) of recommend Rhyl Ski problem ations on future Club, identified to action required. Sports enable deter Council mination of future action. Wales
Implement Activities Field inspection NRA, appropriate managed such and audit of any Harbour management that bird implemented Authority agreement if disturbance is management (Rhuddlan required. minimised. agreement. No BC) confirmed reports of disturbance to birds.
* Timescale to be determined by new unitary Authority. 5.0 CLWYD CMP ISSUES AND ACTIONS
ISSUE 16 Lack of birdwatching facilities within the Clwyd estuary
ACTIONS SUCCESSFUL HOW WILL IT RESPONSIBILITY COST 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 FUTURE OUTCOME BE MEASURED LEAD OTHER £
Lack of public demand for further hides. WITHDRAWN AS AN ISSUE.
ISSUE 17 Potential for improved riverside access identified by statutory bodies
Review the Production of Agreement of all Clwyd CC, NRA existing strategy parties on NRA, costs network of acceptable strategy. CCW, Implement a Riverside access Final network to Clwyd CC, CLA, 50k work pro and associated meet target NRA, Angling gramme for facilities that levels identified CCW, Clubs, enhancing the meets public within strategy land FUW, network and demand. owners NFU associated facilities where appropriate in agreement with landowners. ISSUE 18 Lack of canoe access agreements within the tidal section of the Clwyd In conjunction At least one new Satisfactory use WCA, NRA not with riparian negotiated access of access point Riparian known owners, angling point for confirmed by Owners interests and canoeists within Welsh Canoe Welsh Canoe the tidal section Association and Association of the Clwyd. Riparian promote at least Owners. one access agreement in the tidal section by 1998. 14 ------ 5.0 CLWYD CMP ISSUES AND ACTIONS ISSUE 19 Barriers to fish migration on the Clywedog, Ystrad and Nant Melin Dwr ACTIONS SUCCESSFUL HOW WILL IT RESPONSIBILITY COST 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 FUTURE OUTCOME BE MEASURED LEAD OTHER £ Investigate cost/ Management Cost/benefit NRA benefits of information to analysis by NRA removal of determine the environmental barrier, or by most cost appraisal unit. passing with effective option. fish pass: (1) Clywedog. NRA 5.7k Fisheries Benefits Report Cpmplcted February 1995. Implementation Preferred option Monitoring of NRA Fishery 60k of the preferred implemented declared catch Owners option for the and fish returns by NRA Clywedog. successfully pass fishery staff. Implementation the barrier. will be subject to capital funding being available, or a suitable collaborative/ sponsorship scheme. (2) Ystrad. NRA not known Complete fish Design of Agreement of all NRA not pass design. preferred option parties to known acceptable to all suitability of relevant design. interested parties. (3) Nant Melin NRA not Dwr. known Complete fish Design of Agreement of all NRA not pass design. preferred option parties to known acceptable to all suitability of relevant design. interested parties. Repairs to Cefn Weir Fish Pass to allow effective upstream migration of salmonids Carry out Weir repaired to Weir fish pass Riparian NRA costs repairs to weir. allow successful repaired to the owner confid salmonid satisfaction of ential Repairs migration NRA fisheries completed upstream. staff and riparian August 1995, owners. Migration of salmonids upstream confirmed by monitoring undertaken by NRA fisheries staff. 5.0 CLWYD CMP ISSUES AND ACTIONS ISSUE 21 Review of licensed netting within the catchment to address declining migratory fish stocks (Net Limitation Order 1995 Review) ACTIONS SUCCESSFUL HOW WILL IT RESPONSIBILITY COST 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 FUTURE OUTCOME BE MEASURED LEAD OTHER £ The Net Approval by Monitoring by Welsh NRA 2k Limitation Welsh Office for NRA Bailiffs. Office OrdeKs) have the nets to be been advertised phased out. No and objections netting activity received. A within the decision on the designated plan to phase area(s). out the nets awaited from Welsh Office. ISSUE 22 Marina potential at Rhyl and Llanddulas, THERE HAVE BEEN NO FIRM PROPOSALS TO DATE Build environ Inclusion and Monitoring and Local NRA, mental controls adherence to reporting by all Authorities other into any environmental interested statutory planning conditions in bodies. consultees permission to planning in the the satisfaction permission such planning of the NRA and that no adverse process other statutory environmental and non- impacts arise statutory from the organisations. development(s). ISSUE 23 Elevated levels of nitrate in groundwater in the Dyserth / Ffynnon Asaph Area Monitor the Management Monitoring by NRA lk per spring discharge information to NRA. annum at Ffynnon confirm extent of Asaph. the problem. Establishment of Compliance with Audit by MAFF. MAFF NRA not a Nitrate requirements of known Sensitive Zone EC Nitrates under EC Nitrate Directive. Directive. ISSUE 24 To prepare and implement species management plans within the Clwyd catchment To implement Watching Brief Monitoring by NRA, NRA the Welsh Otter Management CCW/NRA/ CCW, costs Conservation Plan Otters Otters in To prepare and Species action Monitoring by NRA. <5k implement, in plans prepared CCW/NRA CCW, agreement with and imple conservation land landowners, mented. specialists to owners species action resulting in confirm plans for the stabilization/incr increased Black Poplar ease in species recruitment. (and any other status in the key species) Clwyd associated with catchment. river/wetlands under threat in the Clwyd catchment. 5.0 CLWYD CMP ISSUES AND ACTIONS ISSUE 25 Adverse effects of invasive plants within the catchment ACTIONS SUCCESSFUL HOW WILL IT RESPONSIBILITY COST 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 FUTURE OUTCOME BE MEASURED LEAD OTHER £ Phased Management Management NRA Eradicate species Problems of No adverse NRA not at the identified bank stability reports by NRA known sites with and species Flood Defence or landowners diversity Conservation agreement. removed. staff of associated problems. No adverse reports by members of the public. ISSUE 26 To advance rod fishing byelaws to enhance migratory fish stocks in the catchment Through Approval of Monitoring by NRA, Angling consultation byelaws by NRA Fisheries Welsh Assoc advance rod Welsh Office. staff. Office iations, fishing byelaws Byelaws Riparian to increase introduced in Owners spawning parallel with escapement of new Net salmonids. Limitation Order Issue 21. Increased salmonid escapement following implementation. 6.0 FUTURE REVIEW AND MONITORING The NRA will be jointly responsible, with other NRA, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution and the identified organisations and individuals, for Waste Regulatory Authorities. It will be the largest implementing this Action Plan. Progress will be environmental protection agency in Europe and will be monitored and normally reported annually. The reviews primarily concerned with integrated pollution will examine the need to update the CMP in the light of prevention and control, of air, land and water. It will seek changes in the catchment and the setting up of the to balance the interests of business with those of the Environment Agency referred to below. The period environment, the philosophy of sustainable development between major revisions will normally be five years. underpinning its approach to environmental protection and enhancement. At this time it is envisaged that the annual review will take the form of a short progress report, including The government recognises the value of integrated river comparisons of work achieved against that planned, and basin management, as practised by the NRA through the any changes to the Plan. implementation of its CMPs. It is therefore envisaged that CMPs will continue as the focus for river basin The annual review will be sent to all those involved in the management in the Agency, although they will need to actions identified for the catchment and to those who become more extensive management plans to cater for the demonstrated an interest in the Catchment Management protection and enhancement of water, land and air. Plan at the consultation stage. The reviews will also be available on request to members of the public. The implementation of this Action Plan must now be actively pursued and any changes introduced by the new From the 1st April 1996, the new Environment Agency Agency must be smoothly integrated as a positive for England and Wales will take over the roles of the evolutionary development of the plan.