NRA Severn-Trent 26 RIVER SEVERN - UPPER REACHES CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN CONSULTATION REPORT NOVEMBER 1994 NRA National Rivers Authority Severn-Trent Region NATIONAL RIVERS AUTHORITY SEVERN-TRENT REGION Nationa' «,h Info" ^ o r t t y Hec-, Class l\: .• _ .......... Accession Nc (/<0 RIVER SEVERN - UPPER REACHES CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN CONSULT A TION REPORT NOVEMBER 1994 National Rivers Authority Upper Severn Area Hafren House Welshpool Road Shelton SHREWSBURY Shropshire SY3 8BB ENVIRONMENT AGENCY 099818 f € * S This Report has been produced on Sylvancoat Recycled Paper and Board Further copies can be obtained from: The Catchment Management Planning Officer National Rivers Authority Upper Severn Area Hafren House Welshpool Road SHREWSBURY Shropshire SY3 8 BB Telephone Enquiries: Shrewsbury (0743 272828) November 1994 FOREWORD The National Rivers Authority was created in 1989 to preserve and enhance the natural water environment and to protect people and property from flooding. In its role as 'Guardian of the Water Environment', the NRA is committed to preparing a sound plan for the future management of the region's river catchments. This Consultation Report is the first stage in the catchment management planning process for the upper reaches of the River Severn. It provides a framework for consultation and also a means of seeking commitment from those involved to realise the full environmental potential of the Catchment. We look forward to receiving comments and contributions from interested organisations and individuals. These will enable a Final Plan to be produced, balancing the conflicting demands placed upon the natural water environment. Dr J H Kalicki Area Manager Upper Severn Area THE NRA's VISION FOR THE CATCHMENT The catchment of the upper reaches of the River Severn is predominantly rural in character, and is an area known for its attractive upland landscape and great natural beauty. The rivers in the catchment support high class fisheries and provide a diversity of habitats for a wide range of flora and fauna. The catchment is home to around 75,000 people, who depend on the water environment in many ways and value it for the amenities and enjoyment it provides for their local communities. The picturesque and unspoilt countryside within the catchment is also increasingly seen as a tourist attraction. The catchment has an important role far beyond its physical boundaries, and indirectly affects many people who live outside the catchment. One reason is the plentiful high quality water in its rivers and lakes, which is used as a major source of water supply to surrounding areas. Also of note is the fact that the catchment comprises the upper parts of the longest river in Britain. What occurs in these sensitive upper reaches can have an impact downstream for up to a distance of some 350 kilometres. The NRA's vision for the catchment is to: * safeguard existing high quality water and habitats, and where appropriate work towards enhancing the water environment. * work in an integrated manner towards resolving those issues and problems that have been identified in the plan. * ensure that future demands on the water environment from both within and outside the catchment are planned and managed in a balanced and sustainable way for the benefit of all users. Key objectives of this plan are to: * maintain the highest possible level of protection for the water environment, restore damaged habitats and protect rare and threatened species. * address the problem of stream acidification. * improve water quality of the 41 km of rivers where the required longer-term River Ecosystem water quality objective is not already achieved. * improve fisheries by making spawning areas in rivers more accessible to migratory fish. * ensure proper management of the catchment's valuable water resources. * influence the planning processes of local authorities to ensure that development does not adversely impact on, and wherever possible proceeds in a way to benefit, the water environment. The realisation of the NRA’s vision will be achieved through a balanced management approach to all activities in collaboration with all users of the catchment. It is our intention to work in partnership with all relevant agencies and representative organisations to promote and achieve an integrated approach to managing the catchment. The plan will ensure required improvements can be carried out, and future demands catered for, in a sustainable manner. NRA Severn-Trent Region 1 River Severn - Upper Reaches CMP CONTENTS RIVER SEVERN - UPPER REACHES CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN PAGE NO. THE NRA'S VISION FOR THE CATCHMENT - - = i PART I THE CONSULTATION REPORT SECTION 1.0 CONCEPT OF THE CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN 1 1.1 Concept 1 1.2 Consultation 2 SECTION 2.0 AN OVERVIEW OF THE CATCHMENT 3 2.1 Catchment Description 4 2.2 Data Collection within the Catchment 10 2.3 Key Details 12 SECTION 3.0 ISSUES AND OPTIONS . 14 3.1 Issues identified : 15 3.2 A description of the Issues facing the catchment - " 16 3.3 A summary of the Issues, and Options for action r 36 PART II SUPPORTING INFORMATION SECTION 4.0 USES OF THE CATCHMENT 61 4.1 Development - Housing, Industry, Commerce and Infrastructure 62 4.2 Abstraction - Surface Water and Groundwater 6 6 4.3 Strategic Water Resource Use 70 4.4 Hydropower and Renewable Energy........................ 73 4.5 Sewage and Industrial Effluent Disposal............... -76 4.6 Solid Waste Disposal 78 4.7 Mineral Working 81 4.8 “ Agriculture ' 84 4.9 Forestry 87 4.10 Flood Water Conveyance and Storage . " - - " - 4.11 - ■ — - Fisheries-Ecosystem - - - - ................... - 9 3 4.12 Angling 96 4.13 Conservation - Ecology . 98 4.14 _ . Conservation - Landscape,-Archaeology and Heritage. -1 . - 101 4.15 Amenity and Recreation 103 4.16 Boating, Navigation and Watersports 105 PAGE NO. SECTION 5.0 CATCHMENT TARGETS 107 5.1 Surface Water Quality Targets 108 5.2 Groundwater Protection Targets 113 5.3 Water Quantity Targets 115 5.4 Physical Features Targets 118 SECTION 6.0 CURRENT STATE OF THE CATCHMENT 123 6.1 Surface Water Quality 124 6.2 Groundwater 128 6.3 Water Quantity 130 6.4 Physical Features 134 APPENDIX 1: FLOOD DEFENCE ROLES 139 APPENDIX 2: GUIDANCE NOTES FOR LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITIES 141 APPENDIX 3: A BIOLOGICAL COMPONENT OF THE GENERAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SCHEME 150 B. CHEMISTRY COMPONENT OF THE GENERAL QUALITY 152 ASSESSMENT SCHEME APPENDIX 4: NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY STANDARDS FOR LIST II SUBSTANCES 154 APPENDIX 5: GROUNDWATER OBSERVATION POINTS 156 APPENDIX 6 : LIST OF ORGANISATIONS RESPONDING TO ISSUES CONSULTATION 157 APPENDIX 7: REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY 158 APPENDIX 8 : GLOSSARY 160 NRA Severn-Trent Region iii River Severn - Upper Reaches CMP INDEX OF MAPS p No. Title Opp Page No. 1 Catchment River Network 4 2 Location of River Level, Flow Measurement and Rainfall Telemetry Stations 11 3 Water Quality Monitoring Points 12 4 Administrative Boundaries and Infrastructure 62 5 Licensed Groundwater Abstractions and Groundwater Units 67 6 Licensed Surface Water Abstractions 68 7 Strategic Water Resource Use 70 8 Sewage and Trade Discharges 76 9 Waste Disposal Sites 78 10 Mineral Sites, Quarries and Mines 81 11 Land Use 84 12 Acid Sensitive Areas 87 13 Flood Alleviation Schemes and Flood Warnings 90 14 EC Designated and other Important Fisheries 93 15 Angling Waters 9 6 - 16 Conservation - Ecology 98 17 Landscape, Archaeology and Heritage 101 18 . Caravan Sites 104 19 Recreation and Navigation 105 2 0 River Ecosystem Water Quality Objectives for CMP period 108 21 Flood Defence Land Use Bands 1 ' ■■ 121 2 2 General Quality Assessment - 1993'.Chemistry Component' . - 124 23 General Quality Assessment - 1993^Bi61ogical'Component ■•V .127 - • 24 Groundwater Vulnerability < 128 25 Salmon Distribution and Density 135 26 Trout Distribution and Density 136 27 Main River 137 TABLES AND FIGURES Page No. Figure 1 Land Use Classification 6 Table 1 Local Planning Authorities and Development Plans 65 Table 2 Summary of Abstraction Licences in the catchment 67 Table 3 Abstraction Restrictions dependent on Prescribed Flows 68 Table 4 Catchment Land Use details 8 6 Table 5 River Ecosystem Classification : Water Quality Criteria no Table 6 ECDirectives Summary * - - - 110 Table 7 River Ecosystem Water Quality Class Objectives 111 Table 8 Indicative Standards of Protection for Flood Defence 122 Table 9 General Quality Assessment - 1993 Summary 126 Table 10 Exceedences of Environmental Quality Standards for Dangerous Substances 127 Table 11 Reliability of River Flows 131 Table 12 Flooding Problems (1990 Survey) - - 138 NRA Severo-Trenl Region iv River Severn - Upper Reaches CMP PART I THE CONSULTATION REPORT SECTION 1.0 CONCEPT OF THE CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN CONCEPT 1.0 CONCEPT OF THE CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN 1.1 CONCEPT Never before have the rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters of England and Wales been subject to such large and rapidly increasing demands from the users of water. Many different uses interact, or compete for water or water space, and will inevitably come into conflict with one another. The NRA is the major manager of the water environment in England and Wales and aims to reconcile conflicts between water users as well as its general duties that include:- * Control of pollution and improving the quality of rivers, canals, groundwaters and coastal waters. * Flood defence, including the protection of people and property. * Flood forecasting and flood warning. * Effective management of water resources. * Maintenance, development and improvement of fisheries. * Promoting the conservation of the natural water environment. * Promotion of water-based recreation. * Navigation (in some areas). Catchment Management Plans (CMPs) allow the NRA to balance the competing requirements and interests of all users. The process allows the environmental potential of a catchment to be realised in terms of water quality, water quantity and physical features. In the future, CMPs will provide the the framework within which the NRA can implement the new system of Water Quality Objectives (WQOs).