Catchment Evidence Summary Old Bedford Including the Middle Level January 2014 Old Bedford Including the Middle Level Management Catchment

Unclassified

Catchment Evidence Summary Old Bedford including the Middle Level January 2014 Old Bedford including the Middle Level Management Catchment

The Old Bedford including the Middle Level Catchment is one of Defra’s 100 Water Framework Directive (WFD) Management Catchments within England and Wales. This map shows the first River Basin Management Plan Waterbody names with correct or locally ‘known as names’ in brackets. We are the Environment Agency. It's our job to look after your environment and make it a better place - for you, and for future generations.

Your environment is the air you breathe, the water you drink and the ground you walk on. Working with business, Government and society as a whole, we are making your environment cleaner and healthier.

The Environment Agency, out there, making your environment a better place.

Contact address for queries regarding this document:

Michael Nunns (Catchment Delivery Manager) Teresa Brown (Catchment Co-ordinator) Environment Agency Bromholme Lane Brampton Huntingdon Cambridgeshire PE28 4NE

Email: [email protected]

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 2

Contents 1 Introduction ...... 4 1.1 Purpose and scope of the document ...... 4 1.2 What is Water Framework Directive? ...... 4 1.3 Baseline from the first River Basin Management Plan...... 5 Map 1 Status of the waterbodies in the first River Basin Management Plan, December 2009 showing the ecological classification and morphology designation by waterbody area, name and number (ID) ...... 5 Map 2 Canal waterbodies as linear features over the other waterbody areas...... 9 Map 3 Baseline (2009) WFD Classification Monitoring Points...... 10 1.4 Pressures and Reason for Failure...... 19 Map 4 Pressures and reason for failure in the Old Bedford including the Middle Level…………...... 19 2 Catchment issues and potential actions ...... 23 2.1 Water quality ...... 23 2.2 Water resources...... 28 2.3 Ecology ...... 29 2.4 Groundwater ...... 32 2.5 Morphology – river function and form ...... 32 Map 5 The main watercourses within each waterbody and the organisation managing flood risk ...... 33 3 Protected areas ...... 36 3.1 Drinking Water Protected Areas...... 36 3.2 Nutrient Sensitive Areas...... 37 Map 6 Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in the catchment ...... 37 3.3 Habitat and Species Protected Areas...... 38 Map 7 Water dependant Natura 2000 sites in the catchment ...... 38 Map 8 Freshwater Fish Protected areas in the catchment ...... 39 3.4 Bathing Water Protection Areas in the catchment...... 39 4 Integrated catchment management ...... 39 4.1 Biodiversity Action Plans...... 40 4.2 Flood Risk Management...... 40 5 Looking forward to the next Anglian river basin management plan . 40 Map 9 Future waterbody boundary changes ...... 41 Map10 Second, cycle 2 Classification Monitoring Points...... 42

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 3

1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose and Scope of the document This Catchment Evidence report is a summary of available Water Framework Directive (WFD) Evidence for waterbodies in the Old Bedford including the Middle Level (OBML) management catchment. This document can be used in discussions about the issues and projects that will contribute towards delivering overall good status. The 2009 baseline dataset was reported to the European Union (EU), and therefore sets the benchmark against which we need to assess improvements (Map 1 and Table1). This was published in the first River Basin Management Plan (RBMP). The Environment Agency has an investigations programme which is designed to look at the failing elements with the aim of improving our confidence that they are genuinely failing and to identify the main causes of the failures. The majority of our investigations programme was completed by December 2012, however the programme is an ongoing process and as new investigations are completed, we will share the outcomes with others. These investigations help us understand the actions that need to be carried out to improve the status of the waterbodies within the OBML Management Catchment. As well as the direct Water Framework Directive issues that need to be addressed, we also need to consider the issues associated with the Protected Areas such as the Drinking Water Protected Areas and Freshwater Fish Directive stretches. 1.2 What is WFD (Water Framework Directive)? WFD is an EU directive which became law in England in 2000. WFD requires ‘overall good status’ for each of the two types of waterbodies, groundwater and surfacewater, by 2021. Aims and objectives of WFD are to:  achieve the overall ‘good’ status of waters  prevent deterioration and enhance the quality of the Water Environment  promote the sustainable use of water  reduce contamination  mitigate against the impacts of floods and droughts  create better habitats for people and wildlife

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 4

1.3 Baseline from the first River Basin Management Plan Map 1. Status of the waterbodies in the first River Basin Management Plan, December 2009 showing the ecological classification and morphology designation by waterbody area, name and number

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 5

Table 1. Baseline (2009) overall WFD status of the rivers and tributaries from the first River Basin Management Plan

phytes

Waterbody ID and

Status/Potential HeavilyModified WaterBody Morphology (supporting element) Hydrology (supporting element) Diatoms Invertebrates Macro Fish Phosphorus Ammonia Dissolved Oxygen pH Temp Classification Method Waterbody Group ID Name Ecological GB105033043140 Supports High Lode (Bury Moderate Yes Moderate Good Poor Good Poor High High Calculated Good Brook) GB105033042880 Moderate Yes Bad Good Bad Good Moderate High High Calculated Cranbrook Drain GB105033047922 Moderate Yes Good High Poor High Poor High Good Calculated Counter Drain GB105033043170 Supports Supports Good No High High Good Good High High Good Calculated New Dyke Good Good GB105033043130 Supports Moderate Yes High Good Moderate High Bad High Good Calculated Great Raveley Drain Good GB105033043200 Supports Does not Old Course River Good No Good High Good Good Good High Good Calculated Good support good Nene GB105033047711 Supports Moderate Yes Good Moderate High Moderate High Good Calculated Floods Drain Good GB105033047690 Bevills Leam (inc.

Whittlesey Dyke) GB105033043180 Forty Foot (inc. Ash

Drain) GB105033042890 Good Yes Crooked Drain GB105033043150 Does not Moderate Yes Good High Moderate Poor Bad High High Calculated Twenty Foot Drain support good GB105033043160 Supports Moderate Yes Poor Moderate Poor Bad High High Calculated Forty Foot Drain Good GB105033042910 Forty Foot (west of

Welchs Dam) GB105033047700 Does not Moderate Yes High Good Good Good Moderate High Good Calculated Well Creek support good

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 6

phytes

Waterbody ID and

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 7

Classification Method For the 2009 River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) all waterbodies were given a baseline classification. To do this we used data and information from existing monitoring points within the waterbody (calculated). However, some, generally smaller waterbodies didn’t have any monitoring points; these were classified either by using data from a waterbody with similar characteristics (grouped) or by a judgement made by technical experts (expert judgement). This work was done at a national level.

2009 RBMP Classification for the OBML Management Catchment Some of the data presented here should be treated with caution for two reasons. Firstly, the classification ‘tools’ were developed for use with ‘conventional’ river systems that naturally flow down a gradient from their catchment watershed boundary (high ground) to eventually reach the sea. However, in the OBML Management Catchment few watercourses flow naturally in this way. The majority are artificial, man-made drains and they don’t flow like ‘natural’ rivers. Water movement between ‘high level’ and ‘low level’ drainage systems is driven by pumping operations for irrigation, water storage, land drainage and navigation purposes. As such, the OBML drainage catchment is extremely complex. This presents two issues:  The classification criteria used to judge the status of some of the individual ‘elements’ weren’t completely appropriate for systems with a non-natural flow regime. This may have resulted in a misrepresentation of overall ecological status classification.  Because of the non-natural flow regime, the geographical catchment boundaries for some of the individual waterbodies were not correct. There were more’ individual’ waterbodies created and classified than really exist. Secondly, the monitoring network used to provide data for WFD classification wasn’t designed specifically for this purpose. This means that some of the waterbodies haven’t been characterised correctly. Monitoring data for statutory purposes may not have been appropriate for WFD classification because, for example, the sample point may have been too close to a point source discharge. In some cases in the OBML catchment, monitoring points used to provide data to classify a waterbody were found to be linked to the wrong waterbody. This occurred because of the drainage system complexity; the way things look on paper aren’t the same in reality! A review of the sample points used to classify the OBML waterbodies showed examples of both types of problem. See Map 3 and Table 3 below. These issues have now been largely overcome. In 2012 a Fenland Waterbody Review was carried out and new waterbody boundaries were created for the OBML and other fenland areas. As a result some of the first RBMP waterbodies will be amalgamated into fewer, larger waterbodies for the second RBMP. WFD classification for these new waterbodies will be based on data from monitoring points correctly located on the high level ‘carrier’ drains. This doesn’t mean we’re not interested in water quality and ecology of the low level drains; we will want to follow up and take appropriate action where our investigations, and other information, show that a problem exists. From 2015, the second RBMP OBML water body boundaries will, therefore, look different and they may have different classification because of the changes we’ve made to the monitoring network. See Map 10, page 43.

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 8

Map 2. Map to show canal waterbodies as linear features over the other waterbody areas.

Table 2. Baseline (2009) overall WFD status of canals from the first River Basin Management Plan

Waterbody ID and Name Ecological Status 2009

GB70510035 Middle Level Navigations Good

GB70510037 Old River Nene Good

GB70510038 Sixteen Foot Good

GB70510039 New Bedford River Good

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 9

Map 3 – Baseline (2009) WFD Classification Monitoring Points

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 10

Table 3 – Baseline (2009) WFD Classification Monitoring Points

Water Body ID Monitoring Point Monitoring Status and Monitoring Point Name Locations Comments Point ID for WFD Name Classification

GB105033042880 52M14 Cranbrook Drain, Correct for Cranbrook Drain Colne Fen Farm Classification Access B1050

GB105033042890 No WFD classification Crooked Drain monitoring points

WFD classification based on Expert Judgement

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 11

Water Body ID Monitoring Point Monitoring Status and Monitoring Point Name Locations Comments Point ID for WFD Name Classification

GB105033043130 53M46 Great Raveley Drain, Correct for Great Raveley Wood Walton Fen Classification Drain Sluice

GB105033043140 53M36 Forty Foot River Forty Assigned to Foot Bridge Ramsey Wrong Water Bury Brook Body

53M51 High Lode 200m Correct for Downstream of Classification Ramsey Sewage Treatment Works Outfall

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 12

Water Body ID Monitoring Point Monitoring Status and Monitoring Point Name Locations Comments Point ID for WFD Name Classification

GB105033043150 53M41 Fenton Lode Correct for Twenty Foot Drain Washways Bridge Classification Pumping Station

GB105033043160 53M37 Forty Foot River Correct for Forty Foot (incl Carters Road Bridge Classification Nightlayer’s Fen Chatteris Drain) 53M43 Nightlayer’s Main Incorrect for Drain Nightlayer’s Classification Pumping Station

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 13

Water Body ID Monitoring Point Monitoring and Monitoring Point Name Status Locations Comments Point ID Name for WFD Classification

GB105033043170 53M19 Middle Level Correct for New Dyke Catchwater, Thistle Classification Hill Farm

GB105033043200 53M08 Old Course River Assigned to Wrong Old Course River Nene Ramsey St Water Body Nene (incl Yaxley Mary Road Bridge Lode) 53M55 Old Course River Correct for Nene Pig Water Classification Sluice Yaxley

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 14

Water Body ID Monitoring Point Monitoring Status and Monitoring Point Name Locations Comments Point ID for WFD Name Classification

GB105033047700 53M13 Popham’s Eau Black Correct for Sixteen Foot Drain Sluice B1098 Road Classification Bridge

53M39 Sixteen Foot Drain Correct for Cottons Corner Classification

53M76 Sixteen Foot Drain Correct for Bensons Farm Road Classification Bridge

GB105033047711 53M09 Old Course River Correct for Old Course River Nene Benwick Road Classification Nene Bridge

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 15

Water Body ID Monitoring Monitoring Point Monitoring Point Status and Locations Comments Point ID Name for WFD Classification Name

GB105033047712 52M06 Counter Drain Old Assigned to Wrong Water Body Old Course River Bedford Sluice Nene (inc. Well Creek and 53M11 Old Course River Nene Assigned to Wrong Water Body Popham’s Eau) Town Bridge March

53M14 Middle Level Main Correct for Classification Drain Mullicourt Priory Sluice

53M54 Old Course River Nene Correct for Classification Andrews Farm March

53M57 Well Creek Mullicourt Correct for Classification Priory Aqueduct

53M74 Well Creek B10094 Correct for Classification Road Bridge

GB105033047922 26M32 Hundred Foot River Correct for Classification Counter Drain Mepal Road Bridge

26M48 Old Bedford River Correct for Classification Sutton Gault

26M49 Old Bedford River Correct for Classification Welches Dam Pumping Station

26M50 Old Bedford River Correct for Classification Delph Bridge Welney

52M04 Counter Drain Welches Correct for Classification Dam

52M05 Counter Drain Correct for Classification Welney Bridge

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 16

Water Body ID Monitoring Monitoring Point Status and Monitoring Point Name Locations Comments Point ID for WFD Classification Name

GB105033042910 No WFD classification Forty Foot Drain monitoring points West of Welches Dam WFD classification based on Expert Judgement

GB105033043180 No WFD classification Forty Foot (incl monitoring points Ash Drain)

WFD classification based on Expert Judgement

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 17

Water Body ID Monitoring Point Monitori Status and ng Monitoring Point Name Locations Comments Point ID for WFD Name Classification

GB105033047690 No WFD classification Bevill’s Leam (incl monitoring points Whittlesey Dyke)

WFD classification based on Expert Judgement

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 18

1.4 Pressures and Reason for Failure

Map 4. Map to show pressures and reason for failure in the OBML Management Catchment The map shows the pressures and reason for failure in each waterbody in the OBML catchment. A description of each pressure (shown on the map as a bar chart) is included below

The height of the individual bars in the waterbody bar graphs represents the number of reasons of failure (given in the pressure summary table below) per category. One pressure can have a number of reasons for failure. For example, rural diffuse pollution can be as a result of arable fields, mixed agricultural run- off and farm infrastructure and would be displayed as three reasons for failure.

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 19

Description of the pressures displayed in the maps as coloured bar chart. Physical modifications Changes made by people to rivers, lakes and estuaries, for example flood defences, weirs, for land drainage and navigation. These modifications alter natural flow levels, may cause excessive build up of sediment and the loss of habitats. Pollution from waste water Waste water can contain large amounts of damaging substances, such as nutrients (phosphates and nitrates), ammonia and other chemicals. Pollution from towns, cities and transport including urban diffuse pollution Pollutants, such as oil, chemicals and organic debris, are carried into the water environment by rain water draining off hard surface (roads, pavements and yards). Chemicals from contaminated land. Sewage/liquid wastes from homes and commercial premises wrongly connected to surface water drains rather than foul sewers. Changes to the natural flow and level of water including abstraction Too much water taken from rivers, canals, lakes and groundwater, means less water flowing. Invasive non-native species The impact of non-native plants and animals introduced to UK waters. Pollution from rural areas including rural diffuse pollution The effects of poor agricultural practice and rural land management on the water environment. Other Failures that occur naturally or are due to suspect data or are unresolved failures.

Table 4. Pressure summary table for the OBML Catchment

Waterbodies Number of Category Affected by Failures the Failure Physical Modifications 20 9 Waste Water 22 9 Urban Diffuse Pollution 4 2 Flow and Abstraction 3 3 Invasive non-native Species 0 0 Rural Diffuse Pollution 24 9 Other 5 4

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 20

Table 5. Reasons for Failure - Baseline (2009)

Significant Water Management Issue Water Body ID & Name Element (Degree of Certainty) Activity/Source (Degree of Certainty)

GB105033042880 Dissolved physical modification (probable) land drainage - operational management Oxygen (probable) Cranbrook Drain point source (confirmed) incidents (confirmed)

Invertebrates (unassessed) (unassessed)

diffuse source (probable) drainage - road run-off (probable)

physical modification (confirmed) flood protection - structures (confirmed)

physical modification (confirmed) land drainage - operational management (confirmed)

Phosphate diffuse source (suspected) arable field (probable)

point source (unassessed) sewage discharge (continuous) (unassessed)

GB105033042890 Crooked Drain

GB105033043130 Dissolved physical modification (probable) land drainage - operational management Oxygen (probable) Great Raveley Drain Mitigation physical modification (confirmed) (unassessed) Measures Assessment

Phosphate diffuse source (suspected) arable field (suspected)

point source (confirmed) sewage discharge (continuous) (confirmed)

GB105033043140 Dissolved flow (confirmed) land drainage (confirmed) Oxygen Bury Brook point source (confirmed) sewage discharge (continuous) (confirmed)

Invertebrates diffuse source (suspected) arable field (probable)

physical modification (confirmed) flood protection - structures (confirmed)

physical modification (confirmed) land drainage - operational management (confirmed)

Mitigation physical modification (confirmed) inland navigation (confirmed) Measures Assessment

Phosphate diffuse source (suspected) arable field (probable)

point source (unassessed) sewage discharge (continuous) (unassessed)

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 21

Significant Water Management Issue Water Body ID & Name Element (Degree of Certainty) Activity/Source (Degree of Certainty)

GB105033043150 Ammonia diffuse source (suspected) drainage - mixed (suspected) (Annex 8) Twenty Foot Drain point source (confirmed) sewage discharge (intermittent) (confirmed)

Ammonia diffuse source (suspected) trading/industrial estates (suspected) (Phys-Chem) point source (confirmed) sewage discharge (intermittent) (confirmed)

Dissolved flow (confirmed) land drainage (confirmed) Oxygen point source (confirmed) sewage discharge (intermittent) (confirmed)

point source (probable) industrial discharge (probable)

suspect data (confirmed) N/A (N/A)

Hydrology unknown (N/A) unknown (N/A)

Mitigation physical modification (confirmed) (unassessed) Measures Assessment

Phosphate diffuse source (suspected) arable field (probable)

diffuse source (suspected) drainage - mixed (suspected)

*indicates that the reason for failure is inactive

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 22

2 Catchment issues and potential actions This section sets out the main issues and reasons for failure in the following categories:  water quality  water resources  ecology  groundwater  morphology – river function and form  canals This information, based on current understanding, will help discussions on future activities and projects. Some wider issues that may need to be addressed such as, biodiversity and flood risk are discussed in the section on integrated catchment management. 2.1 Water Quality

Phosphate Ammonia Dissolved Oxygen

WFD water quality elements are phosphate, ammonia, dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature. There are very few waterbody failures for pH and temperature so most of our investigations have been on waterbodies that fail for phosphate, ammonia and dissolved oxygen. An elevated phosphate concentration causes excessive plant growth. This can unbalance dissolved oxygen levels (a process called eutrophication) which has a detrimental effect on water ecology. Ammonia is directly toxic to river life. As well as killing fish and invertebrates, high ammonia levels prevent their natural distribution because the amount of suitable habitat available to them is reduced. All living creatures need oxygen to survive. Waterbodies with low or fluctuating levels of dissolved oxygen can't support healthy ecological communities. Common reasons for water quality failures include ‘point source’ pollution, mainly from sewage treatment works (STW), and ‘diffuse’ sources, such as agricultural and urban run-off. Water quality failures can also be influenced by: problems with flow; barriers and structures; unregulated activities, such as small domestic sewage discharges, and foul water/sewage misconnections into the surface water drainage system. Phosphate WFD has given phosphate a quality target for the first time. Because it hasn’t been formally controlled before, phosphate is the most common water quality failure. ‘Source apportionment’ modelling is our main tool for investigating phosphate failures. The model brings a lot of information together and gives us an estimate, expressed as a percentage, of the proportion of phosphate coming from different sources. The results have been verified by our staff, using

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 23 their local catchment knowledge, and by further desk studies were necessary. The results show where, and what, action needs to be taken in the waterbody catchment. However, because the flow regime in this catchment doesn’t behave like a ‘flowing river’, we have less confidence in the model’s output.

Table 6 Results of our investigations are summarised in the table below.

Water Body ID

and Comments Oxygen

Name Ammonia

Dissolved Phosphate

Phosphate Source apportionment modelling identified 75% of phosphate is from water company STW 21% from agriculture (12% arable, 9% livestock), and 2% from urban sources and small domestic discharges. Modelling suggests that Somersham STW is the largest source of phosphate. The potential for additional P-removal at this STW is being assessed under the Periodic Review. To achieve Moderate status a permit limit 0.4mg/l AA is necessary and to achieve Good status 0.14mg/l AA. To tackle diffuse sources, we will continue to work with Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) officers to develop and focus activity to maximise river quality improvements. This waterbody is within the Target Area for the Lower Great Ouse CSF catchment. Waterbodies within this catchment have been identified as priority CSF areas. Also GB105033042880 our Land and Water teams may carry out limited, specific farm and Bad Good Moderate Cranbrook Drain pollution prevention visits to identify and advise on remedies to sources of pollution from farm and other commercial premises. Dissolved Oxygen (D0) WFD status was assessed using data from sample point 52M14, which in May 2007 was removed from the monitoring program. Following review of monitoring for the second RBMP, monitoring has resumed at this sample point and this waterbody will become part of GB205033000010 – Counter Drain. The original investigation identified a pollution incident was the most likely cause of the DO failure. There is currently insufficient new data to determine if there are any further DO issues, therefore classification should be reviewed in the second RBMP. DO issues caused by eutrophication should be addressed if measures to be identified in the phosphate feasible measures are carried out.

GB105033042890

Crooked Drain Phosphate Following investigation, it is anticipated that the new classification will be Good status. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) This waterbody consists of a low lying fen environment with very little natural flow and embanked watercourses to protect lower lying farm GB105033043130 Moderate High Bad Great Raveley Drain land. The slow flowing nature of the IDB drains is the likely cause of the low DO levels. There is currently a Natural England project looking into water quality and sediment issues affecting Woodwalton Fen. This project will also include Great Raveley Fen. Once this has been concluded, there shall be a review to determine if any feasible measures for DO can be identified.

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 24

Water Body ID

and Comments Oxygen

Name Ammonia

Dissolved Phosphate Phosphate GB105033043140 Bury Brook Source apportionment modelling has shown the major contribution in this waterbody is from STW. The main STW affecting this waterbody is Ramsey STW. The potential for additional P-removal at Ramsey STW will be assessed under the Periodic Review. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Poor Good Poor DO failure is predominately the result of super saturation, which is likely to be the result of eutrophication. It is not thought that it is affecting fish or macro-invertebrates. Evidence of eutrophication has been seen throughout the water body, although is less pronounced upstream of Ramsey where watercourse more naturalised. Mitigation measures and phosphate feasible measure investigations should identify measures that should address DO issues in this waterbody. Phosphate Source apportionment modelling identified 72.5% of phosphate is from agriculture (59.7 arable, 12.8 livestock), 18.4% from urban sources and 9% from small domestic STWs. The waterbody review for the second RBMP has incorporated the Twenty Foot Drain into the new waterbody Middle Level (GB205033000050). Improvements have been carried out on the Combined Storm Overflow (urban source) which should have removed this influence on the sample point quality. Arable and livestock farming practices have been identified as a major source of phosphate. A new CSF designation for Middle Level should be considered. Our Land and Water teams may carry out limited, specific farm and pollution prevention visits to identify and advise on remedies to sources of pollution from farm and other commercial premises. GB105033043150 Ammonia Moderate Poor Bad Twenty Foot Drain Following investigation, it is anticipated that the new classification will be Good status. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Effects of a storm sewer overflow and limited flows from an artificially maintained water environment are affecting the DO at the sample point. Discharges from vegetable processing plant may also be a contributor to intermittent organic enrichment. Proximity to the storm sewer overflow and river structures makes the location of the sample point inappropriate to classify this waterbody. The waterbody review for the second RBMP has incorporated Twenty Foot Drain into the new waterbody Middle Level (GB205033000050). Improvements have been carried out on the storm overflow which should have removed this influence on the sample point quality. No feasible measures are planned.

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 25

Water Body ID

and Comments Oxygen

Name Ammonia

Dissolved Phosphate Phosphate Phosphate quality is improving steadily, but the waterbody is unlikely to achieve Good status without further P-removal at Chatteris STW. This has been confirmed using source apportionment modelling and the potential for additional P-removal at Chatteris STW will be assessed in future Periodic Reviews as implications of the new WFD boundaries become clearer. Ammonia The ammonia failure is caused by a combination of the final effluent and storm discharges from Chatteris STW. This waterbody become part of the Middle Level (GB2050033000050) for the second RBMP where high level carriers will be monitored covering the whole catchment. There is GB105033043160 no current Periodic Review scheme proposed due to a change in the Forty Foot (incl Moderate Poor Bad waterbody boundary. Chatteris STW will be assessed in future Periodic Nightlayer’s Fen Drain) Reviews as implications of the new WFD boundaries become clearer. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) This waterbody consists of two different watercourses. Nightlayers Fen Drain which is a low level carrier and the Forty Foot Drain which is a high level carrier, within the Middle Level Internal Drainage Board. DO failure is due to both low and high (supersaturated) dissolved oxygen, on both watercourses which is an indicator of eutrophication. Both sample points suffer from slow flow and low DO on Nightlayers Fen Drain also appears to be linked to instances of elevated ammonia. Further monitoring effects of ammonia on the high level carrier sample points may determine if Chatteris STW will require future investment. Catchment Delivery Officers to discuss pumping regimes with Middle Level Commissioners with regard to slow flow issues. GB105033043170 New Dyke Good Good High

GB105033043200 Old Course River Nene Good Good Good (incl Yaxley Lode) Dissolved Oxygen (DO) DO failure is the result of supersaturation caused by eutrophication however, following implementation of phosphate removal at various GB105033047700 Good Good Moderate Sixteen Foot Drain discharges, phosphate levels continue to be at Good status. Since the baseline classification in 2009, DO at both locations has now improved to Good Status (2012 interim classification) which would suggest this measure to address eutrophication is reducing super saturation of DO. Phosphate Source apportionment modelling showed a number of contributions over three watercourses in this waterbody. Though there are a number of STW in other waterbodies affecting this waterbody, Whittlesey STW is the only Water Company STW that will be assessed for feasible measures for this waterbody. Other confirmed contributions are from diffuse agricultural sources, Land and Water teams may carry out specific farm and pollution prevention visits to identify and advise on remedies to sources of GB105033047711 Moderate High Moderate Old Course River Nene pollution from farm and other commercial premises and walkover surveys to identify potential impacts from urban and intermittent sources of pollution. The use of Sustainable Urban Drainage (SuDS) techniques can be a very effective means of reducing diffuse pollution from housing developments. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, STWs of greater than 10,000 population equivalent had P-removal installed to address eutrophication in the wider catchment. It is anticipated that further monitoring will show improvement also to DO.

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 26

Water Body ID

and Comments Oxygen

Name Ammonia

Dissolved Phosphate Dissolved Oxygen (DO) GB105033047712 Old Course River Nene Many watercourses in this waterbody are level managed with associated slow flows affecting DO. Failure is predominantly attributed (incl Well Creek and Good Good Moderate Popham’s Eau) to super saturation which is likely to be the result of eutrophication. Catchment Delivery Officers may discuss pumping regimes with Middle Level Commissioners with regard to slow flow issues. Phosphate Source apportionment modelling shows 54% contribution from STW. Somersham STW is the largest AWS STW contributing phosphate to the Counter Drain. In addition there is one smaller AWS STW (Manea Town Lots) and several small private discharges which influence this drain. In addition modelling shows 36% contribution from agricultural diffuse pollution. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) The Poor classification is a result of very low and high (supersaturated) DO results on Counter Drain (Old Bedford) and Old Bedford (Delph) watercourses. This is a result of eutrophication however Phosphate GB105033047922 Poor High Poor Counter Drain removal at relevant STWs to address nutrient loading has been implemented after the Habitats Directive review of consents in 2010. Macro-invertebrates do not appear to be affected by DO issues on the Counter Drain (Old Bedford), however there is some effect on the Old Bedford (Delph).

Fish classification at High status, however fish mortalities on both the Counter Drain (Old Bedford) and Old Bedford (Delph) are a known issue, which are as a consequence of very low DO. The Ouse Washes Incident Response manual was updated for 2013. As part of this 6 DO monitors have been installed so that action can be taken to mitigate the effects on fish. Measures to reduce DO issues are currently being discussed as part of the review of the ‘10 year management plan’

GB105033042910 Un-named

(Forty Foot Drain West of Welches Dam)

GB105033043180

Un-named (Forty Foot inc. Ash Drain)

GB105033047690

Un-named (Bevill’s Leam inc. Whittlesey Dyke)

Future Water Quality Projects Actions to tackle public sewage treatment works discharges Actions we’ve identified to improve water company sewage treatment discharges must be submitted to the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat), to consider in their ‘Periodic Review’ process. Ofwat assess all proposed improvement schemes for cost-benefit and technical feasibility; they confirm which schemes will be funded in the water company’s next

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 27 five year Asset Management Plan. This process is currently underway to determine the improvement programme for 2015-2020.

Actions to tackle other point sources We will deal with action required for other point source discharges, for example private sewage treatment and industrial processes, through our regulatory role. However, we will work with dischargers; we’ll give advice and guidance where possible to help find appropriate technical solutions to reduce the impact of the discharge.

Actions to tackle diffuse pollution Natural England’s Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) project provides practical solutions and targeted support for farmers and land managers; it helps them take voluntary action to reduce agricultural diffuse pollution. We support CSF officers to develop and focus their work to maximise water quality and other environmental improvements. 5 Waterbodies in this catchment have been identified as CSF target areas. Our Land and Water Teams may carry out targeted pollution prevention visits at farms and other commercial premises. They will identify pollution sources and give advice to those who are responsible about what should be done to reduce pollution risk. We encourage the use of sustainable drainage techniques (known as SuDS). SuDS techniques allow rainfall (surface water) run off to return, as naturally as possible, to the environment. They can be very effective at and reducing diffuse pollution and improving water quality. Other benefits include habitat creation and reduced flood risk. We may recommend other ways to reduce diffuse pollution and improve waterside habitats, such as tree planting, buffer strips and reed beds.

Other Actions – further investigations If, after our investigations, we are still unclear about why a waterbody has water quality failures, we will collect more data to improve our understanding of the issues. This includes additional environmental sampling, field investigations or walkover surveys. We will progress the ‘proportionate measures’ investigations for failing waterbodies and define tasks and specific actions to improve the status of water quality elements.

2.2 Water Resources

Hydrology

Hydrology (flow) is a ‘supporting’ element as it supports the status of the ecology elements. This means that the hydrological regime must not be a factor in a failure of the waterbody ecology to achieve at least good status or potential. We have a responsibility to assess the available water resources on a catchment scale before we consider any applications for an abstraction licence. Since 2001 we have published our assessments in our Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies (CAMS). This assessment has been refined to meet the requirements under the WFD and takes both surface and groundwater resources into account. We have managed to compare the actual flows in each

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 28 waterbody with the flow we estimate is needed to protect the river ecology. This ecological flow target is called the Environment Flow Indicator (EFI). Where the actual flow is below the EFI target, we have commissioned a hydrology investigation. These investigations have examined the risks of abstraction affecting flow in each waterbody. We have then identified a bespoke ecological target for each waterbody. Where we have sufficient evidence, our intention is to control abstraction in the waterbody to protect the flows for the ecology. There are large numbers of abstractors in the OBML catchment, largely abstracting from the Internal Drainage Board (IDB) managed drains. All abstraction takes water away from the drains system and hence will affect the level. The majority of water is abstracted by the farming community for spray irrigation of crops, and other industry such as vegetable washing There were no waterbodies in the OBML catchment that required hydrology investigations. This is because ecology in ‘level based systems’ such as this isn’t dependent on flow. Future Water Resources Projects When we have sufficient evidence and funding, it’s our intention to seek to control abstractions to protect flows for the river ecology. We will do this by varying the conditions written in abstraction licences held by the abstractors. The abstractors have a right of appeal and are entitled to financial compensation. Changing the shape of the river channel, to be more natural with more diverse habitats, is an alternative way of making sure that the flow regime isn’t a limiting factor on the river ecology.

2.3 Ecology

Diatoms Invertebrates Fish

Ecological elements include diatoms (microscopic algae), invertebrates (animals without back bones), macrophytes (larger plants) and fish. To classify ecological elements, an individual target, the Ecological Quality Ratio (EQR), is derived for each sample/survey location. Information on variables, such as geographical location, width, depth and substrate type, are used to produce an expected value for each element at the site. We then compare the expected value against the actual, observed value to calculate the EQR; from this we can derive the classification. If we have multiple sample/survey sites in a waterbody then individual classifications are combined to give an overall classification for that waterbody. WFD classification tools are still undergoing development and intercalibration. To date, revisions have been made to all of the tools; in particular significant changes have been made to the diatom tool. The 2009 baseline classification used the original tool, which is thought to have under-estimated the true status for diatoms. Our investigations, using the revised diatom classification tool, have shown significant improvements in diatom classification status.

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 29

Table 7. Preliminary outcomes from our investigations are summarised in the table below.

Water Body ID & Comments

Name Fish

Diatoms

Macrophytes Invertebrates

Invertebrates The watercourse changes from shallow field drains with minimal in-channel habitat to a wider, deeper, slow flowing fenland drain often choked with vegetation. There is evidence to suggest that flow is having an impact on the invertebrate community at the sample site during drought years – the data for which has GB105033042880 resulted in Bad status. Recovery is rapid however and Bad Good Cranbrook Drain in recent years no flow impact has been identified. Lack of habitat may be influencing the number and diversity of invertebrates and a wider investigation of the watercourse may help to determine whether the current sample location is representative of the watercourse as a whole. However, interim classification suggests that the invertebrate community is currently at Good status. GB105033042890

Crooked Drain Non-native invasive species GB105033043130 High Good Mitten crab and Zebra mussel are present Great Raveley Drain

Non-native invasive species Mitten crab and Himalayan balsam are present Invertebrates Work carried out to reduce fine sediment input, as detailed in the mitigation measures investigation will have an influence on the invertebrate community. Improvements proposed for habitat availability in this waterbody, as detailed in the mitigation measures GB105033043140 investigation should bring about improvements to the High Lode Moderate Good watercourse. Any activity to create a more sinuous (Bury Brook) channel or narrowing of the channel will improve flow variability and dissolved oxygen levels which will have positive benefits for the invertebrate community The above actions in combination with actions to reduce the phosphate load and thus reduce the impacts of eutrophication should bring about improvements to the invertebrate classification. Any improvement will be seen via the routine monitoring programme. GB105033043150 Good High Twenty Foot Drain Non-native invasive species Zebra mussel is present. Invertebrates GB105033043160 Without improvement to water quality in the Drain there Forty Foot is unlikely to be any significant change in the Poor (inc. Nightlayer’s Fen invertebrate classification. Measures to address the Drain) pumping regime as detailed in the dissolved oxygen investigation above may help to improve the invertebrate community by introducing some movement of water in the Drain.

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 30

Water Body ID & Comments

Name Fish

Diatoms

Macrophytes Invertebrates

Non-native invasive species GB105033043170 High High Mitten crab is present. New Dyke

GB105033043200 Non-native invasive species Old Course River Mitten crab is present. Good High Nene (inc. Yaxley Lode) GB105033047700 Non-native invasive species Well Creek High Good Mitten crab and Zebra Mussel are present. (Sixteen Foot Drain) Non-native invasive species GB105033047711 Good Mitten crab and Zebra Mussel are present. Floods Drain

Non-native invasive species Mitten crab and Zebra Mussel are present. GB105033047712 Diatoms Well Creek Following substantial updates to the diatom (Old Course River Moderate High High classification tool, with a much larger dataset of Nene (inc. Popham’s reference sites, there have been significant changes to Eau) the classification. Data now determines that this site will be classified as Good status. Non-native invasive species GB105033047922 Good High Mitten crab and Zebra Mussel are present. Counter Drain

GB105033042910 Un-named (Forty Foot Drain West of Welches Dam) GB105033043180 Un-named

(Forty Foot inc. Ash Drain) GB105033047690 Un-named

(Bevill’s Leam inc. Whittlesey Dyke) Fish populations throughout this catchment are numerically dominated by roach, however the fen drains are also well known as excellent bream and tench fisheries. Rudd are also regularly caught and individuals to specimen size are occasionally encountered. The fen rivers and drains are also rightfully famous for their predator fishing with specimen pike and also zander caught each winter. This catchment is also very important for eels. Being predominantly low- lying, man-made and pumped the nature of the watercourses in this fenland area result in slow flow and hence low dissolved oxygen levels. Nutrient enrichment arising from agricultural run- off and sewage treatment works can encourage excessive weed and algal growth that can also affect water quality. Due to their function for land drainage, the watercourses in this catchment are also predominantly straight, with limited morphological and habitat diversity. We have set up an Area Fish Passage Group to review structures (such as weirs, locks and sluices) which we know are barriers to fish passage. The review will focus funding for feasibility studies and improvement works on our most significant barriers. The group is currently focussing on eel passage and developing a way to prioritise barrier removal /modification based on its significance to fish passage and WFD waterbody failure.

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 31

Future Projects Fish Our Area Fish Passage Group will prioritise structures where there are problems for fish passage.

Habitat We will also identify projects that will improve the habitat availability of waterbodies. Projects could include improving arable land management practices and improvements to the riparian habitat to limit the amount of sediment entering the watercourses. Some morphological improvements have been identified and we will explore opportunities through partnership working to prioritise and implement projects. 2.4 Groundwater

The OBML catchment does not have any groundwater bodies.

2.5 Morphology – River Function and Form

Morphology (river function and form) is a supporting element as it supports the river ecology. This means that the morphological regime must not be a factor in the failure of biology to achieve good ecological status or potential. We, Local Authorities and Internal Drainage Boards (IDB) have powers to manage flood risk on the water courses shown. Waterbodies which have been altered over time by man for a number of reasons, including water supply, urban purposes, flood protection and navigation, are classified as heavily modified water bodies. It has been recognised that heavily modified water bodies may not be restored to natural conditions without significant adverse impacts on their use and the wider environment. In addition removing the modifications could be technically infeasible or disproportionately expensive. The Investigation process was called a Mitigation Measures Assessment. The assessment identifies actions that could be taken to reduce the impact of the physical changes made to a waterbody for its designated uses.

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 32

Map 5 The main watercourses within each waterbody and the organisation managing flood risk.

Improvements have been made to the morphological classification tool which led to a designation review in 2011/12. The morphology designation is important as it’s used to determine the appropriate actions for that type of waterbody.

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 33

Table 8 Changes made in the morphology designation review and where an investigation has been completed.

Heavily Morphology Modified/ Morphology Morphology Water Body ID & Designation Artificial (supporting Baseline Comments Review Name element) Designation Water 2011/12 Body Flood GB105033042880 Does Not Water Storage Yes protection; Cranbrook Drain Support Good -non-specific Land drainage Flood GB105033042890 Does Not Yes protection; Land drainage Crooked Drain Support Good Land drainage

Land drainage; This watercourse is a man made Wider IDB drain. Any in channel works environment; GB105033043130 Does Not would significantly impact on land Yes Land drainage Flood Great Raveley Drain Support Good drainage and affect its ability to protection; transfer water along a very flat Irrigation; gradient to the receiving pumping Recreation stations. Flood GB105033043140 Does Not Yes Navigation protection; Investigation completed and High Lode Support Good Land drainage actions defined.

Mitigation measure considered: re-profiling/ realigning to increase morphological diversity. However this measure was Land drainage; screened out and not carried Flood GB105033043150 Does Not forward as this watercourse has Yes Land drainage protection; Twenty Foot Drain Support Good a pumping station at its outfall. It Irrigation; is not possible to introduce in Recreation channel diversity without adversely impacting on flow to the pump and hence land drainage, which is its prime function.

Mitigation measure considered: re-profiling/ realigning to increase morphological diversity. However this measure was screened out and not carried forward as this GB105033043160 Does Not Land drainage; watercourse is a relatively short Yes Land drainage Forty Foot Support Good Irrigation; length with a pumping station at its outfall. It is not possible to introduce in channel diversity without adversely impacting on flow to the pump and hence land drainage, which is its prime function. GB105033043170 No Supports Good New Dyke GB105033043200 Old Course River No Supports Good Nene

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 34

Heavily Morphology Modified/ Morphology Morphology Water Body ID & Designation Artificial (supporting Baseline Comments Review Name element) Designation Water 2011/12 Body Mitigation measure considered: re-profiling/ realigning to increase morphological diversity. However Land drainage; this measure was screened out Land drainage; GB105033047700 Flood and not carried forward as this Flood Well Creek Does Not protection; watercourse is a man made IDB Yes protection; Support Good Irrigation; drain. Any in channel works would Irrigation; Recreation; significantly impact on land (Sixteen Foot Drain) Recreation Navigation drainage and affect its ability to transfer water along a very flat gradient to the receiving pumping stations. Flood GB105033047711 Does Not protection; Yes Land drainage; Floods Drain Support Good Land drainage; Irrigation Land drainage; Flood GB105033047712 Does Not protection; Yes Land drainage; Well Creek Support Good Irrigation; Recreation; Navigation Land drainage; It is not possible to introduce in Wider channel diversity without GB105033047922 Does Not environment; Yes Land drainage; adversely impacting on flow to the Counter Drain Support Good Flood pump and hence flood defence, protection; which is its prime function. Recreation GB105033042910 Forty Foot Drain Does Not West of Welches Yes Dam Support Good

GB105033043180 Forty Foot (incl Ash Does Not Yes Drain) Support Good

GB105033047690 Bevill’s Leam (incl Does Not Yes Whittlesey Dike) Support Good

GB70510035 Middle Level

Navigations

GB70510039

New Bedford River GB70510038

Sixteen Foot

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 35

In the OBML catchment, we recognise that the watercourses aren’t natural and must continue to be maintained for their various functions. However we will seek opportunities to work with relevant authorities and land managers to improve the morphology and habitat where possible.

Future Morphology Projects We will be exploring opportunities through working in partnership to identify and implement projects. Many of the improvements required are likely to need landowner approval, legal permissions and funding. For the waterbodies we manage for flood risk, and within the constraints of the waterbody designation, we will seek to enhance the morphology of the channel. In accordance with our position statement on morphological restoration we will seek to use sustainable solutions to address pressures. Priority will be given to schemes that aim to re-establish, as far as possible, the natural functioning of river systems by working with natural processes. Schemes that re- establish more naturalised flows, sediment transfer and patterns of erosion and deposition will provide the most sustainable and long-term solutions. Where possible schemes should allow systems to ‘self-recover’ rather than impose new engineered solutions. Priority will be given to those projects which deliver multiple benefits. To improve river continuity we will consider the cumulative impact of barriers to fish migration and sediment transfer. We will also seek to identify opportunities to improve floodplain connectivity with priority given to larger sites whereby the potential costs are proportional to the benefits generated. Where native crayfish populations are present in a waterbody, their protection is paramount. Any plans to remove or bypassing barriers should consider the negative impact of allowing the movement of signal crayfish.

3 Protected areas There are many areas where the water environment is particularly important, including rare wildlife habitats, bathing waters and areas where drinking water is taken from. These areas are known as ‘protected areas’ and are designated for special protection under specific EC directives. Protected areas are a priority for action to ensure they meet their statutory conditions and can continue to provide their special uses. This section covers the following protected areas:  drinking water  nutrient sensitive  habitat and species  bathing water

3.1 Drinking Water Protected Areas Surface and ground waterbodies with abstractions where more than 10m3/day is for human consumption or serving more than 50 people are designated as Drinking Water Protected Areas under the Drinking Water Directive.

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 36

The Drinking Water Directive sets further quality standards for abstractions and associated water treatment regimes. If the abstractors are unable to meet these quality requirements or are at risk of deterioration, the Drinking Water Protected Area is put ‘at risk’. The catchment upstream of an ‘at risk’ drinking water protected area abstraction can be identified as a safeguard zone where measures will be targeted to reduce pollution. For each safeguard zone we have produced an action plan outlining measures to address the sources of pollution and meet the WFD objectives. Our Area wide catchment groundwater safeguard zones are all at risk from rising nitrate levels. It’s difficult to reduce leached nitrate in this catchment. We have less rainfall and aquifer recharge is often half that of the rest of the country; nitrate leached from soil can enter the groundwater at up to twice the concentration it would do elsewhere. This means that current Nitrate Vulnerable Zone regulation measures aren’t enough to protect our groundwater Drinking Water Protected Area.

There are no surface drinking water protected areas / safeguard zones. However, groundwater has one safeguard zone in the Old Bedford including the Middle level Catchment.

3.2 Nutrient Sensitive Areas

These comprise Nitrate Vulnerable Zones and polluted waters designated under the Nitrates Directive and areas designated as sensitive areas under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. Map 6 – Nitrate Protected Areas

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 37

3.3 Habitat and Species Protected Areas The maintenance or improvement of the water environment is an important factor in the protection of these areas. They comprise the aquatic parts of Natura 2000 sites designated under the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive. The Ouse Washes and Fenland Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) water dependent Natura 2000 sites within the OBML catchment.

Map 7 – Map showing water dependant Natura 2000 sites

The Freshwater Fish Directive aims to protect and improve the quality of rivers and lakes to encourage healthy fish populations. This directive was repealed in December 2013 however designated freshwater fish waters continue to have protection as protected areas under the WFD.

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 38

Map 8 – Freshwater Fish Protected areas in the OBML Catchment

3.4 Bathing Water Protection Areas

These are bathing waters designated under the Bathing Water Directive, including both coastal and freshwater areas. Standards are set to protect and improve their quality to safeguard human health. Currently there are no bathing water protected areas in OBML Catchment. 4 Integrated catchment management The WFD aims and objectives apply to a wide range of environment management aspects:  Prevent deterioration and improve the water environment, including groundwater;  Promote sustainable water use;  Reduce pollution and the effects of floods and droughts. The Environment Agency has statutory duties in all of these areas. We aim to achieve maximum environmental benefit and value for money by taking an integrated approach in our work where possible. For example we can improve river wildlife habitats as part of our river maintenance work. In June 2013 the Government launched a policy framework to encourage a wider adoption of the Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) originally proposed in 2011. The CaBA brings all catchment scale plans for land and water use management together and involves collaborative working with local partners and stakeholders. This integrated approach provides more opportunities to take action that gives multiple benefits to improve the water environment.

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 39

4.1 Biodiversity Action Plans (BAP) The Government’s Biodiversity 2020: A Strategy for England`s wildlife and ecosystem services is directly relevant to the Water Framework Directive and re-iterates the requirement to protect water ecosystems, including habitats and species, through a River Basin planning approach. This groundbreaking action plan will protect threatened species, restore habitats and place biodiversity at the heart of Government decisions by 2020.Our natural environment needs to be more resilient to the impacts of climate change and population expansion: wildlife must be able to thrive in well maintained and connected habitats if it’s to continue to provide us with essential services including food and clean water. It involves a more integrated large-scale approach to conservation, including Nature Improvement Areas and the Water Framework Directive, tackling non native invasive species and protecting priority species and habitats. The Environment Agency is the National lead for 24 wetland, or water priority species, or species groupings and seven habitats. The OBML catchment is important both for priority species and contains some of the last remaining fragments of fenland wetland habitat in the country. It is a nationally recognised stronghold for Water vole and also supports Otter and Eel. A major, internationally recognised partnership project, Great Fen, will create a mosaic of 3,700 ha of wet habitats, linking the two National Nature Reserves of Woodwalton Fen and Holme Fen, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s). Woodwalton Fen, part of Fenland Special Area of Conservation (SAC), requires compensatory habitat creation to reduce flooding frequency. Creating diverse habitats on surrounding land to mitigate for lack of hydro-morphological diversity in the Middle level is important as the watercourses themselves are used for Navigation, Flood relief, Land Drainage and Water supply which limit any in-channel works. The Counter Drain is an important nature conservation site with rare plants and Spined loach; it is part of the Ouse Washes SSSI, Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area and Ramsar site. 4.2 Flood Risk Management The Environment Agency is responsible for providing sustainable flood and coastal erosion risk management solutions and we work closely with our Local Authorities and Internal Drainage Boards who also have flood risk management duties. We work with all our partners to maximize flood risk management benefits in land management schemes and changes that also improve water quality and biodiversity.

We’ve co-ordinated our Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMP) with the river basin planning process. The flood risk management objectives take Water Framework Directive significant water management issues into account; we’ve considered how the FRMP actions contribute to achieving our WFD objectives.

5 Looking forward to the next Anglian River Basin Management Plan The second, cycle 2, River Basin Management Plan (RBMP), to be published in 2015, will bring some changes to the waterbody boundaries within the Old Bedford including the Middle Level Catchment. The changes are shown in the map below.

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 40

Map 9. Second, cycle 2, RBMP waterbody boundary changes

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 41

Table 8 Changes to waterbody names and numbers for second river basin management plan

Second River Basin Management Current River Basin Management Plan Label Plan Waterbody ID Waterbody Name Waterbody ID Waterbody Name High Lode 1 GB105033043140 Bury Brook GB105033043140 (Bury Brook) Counter Drain GB105033042880 Cranbrook Drain (Sutton and Mepal 2 GB205033000010 GB105033047922 Counter Drain IDB incl. Cranbrook Drain) GB105033042890 Crooked Drain GB105033043170 New Dyke

GB105033043130 Great Raveley Drain

GB105033043200 Old Course River Nene

GB105033047711 Floods Drain GB105033047690 GB105033043180

GB105033043150 Twenty Foot Drain 3 GB205033000050 Middle Level GB105033043160 Forty Foot Drain

(Forty Foot Drain - West of GB105033042910 Welches Dam)

GB105033047700 Well Creek

GB70510035 Middle level navigations

GB70510037 Old River Nene GB70510038 Sixteen foot GB105033047712 Well Creek

GB105033047922 Counter Drain Counter Drain 4 GB205033000020 (Manea and Welney IDB) (Forty Foot Drain - West of GB105033042910 Welches Dam)

GB105033047922 Counter Drain 5 GB205033000060 Delph GB70510039 New Bedford River

Counter Drain 6 GB205033000030 (Upwell and GB105033047922 Counter Drain Outwell IDB)

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 42

Map 10 – Second, cycle 2 Classification Monitoring Points

Table 9 – Comparison of WFD classification monitoring points used for the first and second RBMP

Point Used for Point Name First RBMP Status Comments Code second RBMP?

Hundred Foot River, Assigned to wrong Not needed for second RBMP 26M31 No Earith Road Bridge water body classification

Hundred Foot River, Correct for Not needed for second RBMP 26M32 No Mepal Road Bridge classification classification

Hundred Foot River, Assigned to wrong Not needed for second RBMP 26M34 No Welney Bridge water body classification

Old Bedford River, Correct for Not needed for second RBMP 26M48 No Sutton Gault classification classification

Old Bedford River, Correct for Used for first and second RBMP 26M49 Welches Dam Yes classification classification Pumping Station.

Old Bedford River, Correct for Not needed for second RBMP 26M50 Delph Bridge No classification classification Welney

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 43

Point Used for Point Name First RBMP Status Comments Code second RBMP?

Old Bedford River, Reassigned to the correct Waterbody Assigned to wrong 26M51 Welmore Lake Yes and used for second RBMP water body Sluice classification

Counter Drain, Correct for Used for first and second RBMP 52M04 Yes Welches Dam classification classification

Counter Drain, Correct for Used for first and second RBMP 52M05 Yes Welney Bridge classification classification

Reassigned to the correct Waterbody Counter Drain, Old Assigned to wrong 52M06 Yes and used for second RBMP Bedford Sluice water body classification

Counter Drain, Not used for New monitoring point for second 52M13 A142 Road Bridge Yes classification RBMP classification Mepal

Cranbrook Drain, Correct for Used for first and second RBMP 52M14 Colne Fen Farm Yes classification classification Access B1050

Reassigned to the correct Waterbody Whittlesey Dike, Assigned to wrong 53M04 Yes and used for second RBMP Turning Tree Bridge water body classification

Reassigned to the correct Waterbody Bevill’s Leam, Assigned to wrong 53M07 Yes and used for second RBMP Chapel Bridge water body classification

Old Course River Assigned to wrong Not needed for second RBMP 53M08 Nene, Ramsey St No water body classification Mary Road Bridge

Old Course River Correct for Used for first and second RBMP 53M09 Nene, Benwick Yes classification classification Road Bridge

Old Course River Assigned to wrong Not needed for second RBMP 53M11 Nene, Town Bridge No water body classification March

Popham’s Eau, Correct for Not needed for second RBMP 53M13 Black Sluice B1098 No classification classification Road Bridge

Middle Level Main Correct for Used for first and second RBMP 53M14 Drain, Mullicourt Yes classification classification Priory Sluice

Middle Level Correct for Not needed for second RBMP 53M19 Catchwater, Thistle No classification classification Hill Farm

Bury Brook, Bury Not used for New monitoring point for second 53M29 Yes Road Bridge classification RBMP classification

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 44

Point Used for Point Name First RBMP Status Comments Code second RBMP?

Forty Foot River, Assigned to wrong Not needed for second RBMP 53M36 Forty Foot Bridge No water body classification Ramsey

Forty Foot River, Correct for Used for first and second RBMP 53M37 Carters Road Yes classification classification Bridge Chatteris

Sixteen Foot Drain, Correct for Used for first and second RBMP 53M39 Yes Cottons Corner classification classification

Fenton Lode, Correct for Not needed for second RBMP 53M41 Washways Bridge No classification classification Pumping Station

Nightlayer’s Main Incorrect for Not needed for second RBMP 53M43 Drain, Nightlayer’s No classification classification Pumping Station

Great Raveley Correct for Used for first and second RBMP 53M46 Drain, Wood Walton Yes classification classification Fen Sluice

High Lode, 200m Downstream of Correct for Not needed for second RBMP 53M51 Ramsey Sewage No classification classification Treatment Works Outfall

Twenty Foot River, Not used for New monitoring point for second 53M53 Yes Holloways Farm classification RBMP classification

Old Course River Correct for Used for first and second RBMP 53M54 Nene, Andrews Yes classification classification Farm March

Old Course River Correct for Not needed for second RBMP 53M55 Nene, Pig Water No classification classification Sluice Yaxley.

Well Creek, Correct for Used for first and second RBMP 53M57 Mullicourt Priory Yes classification classification Aqueduct

Well Creek, B10094 Correct for Not needed for second RBMP 53M74 No Road Bridge classification classification

Sixteen Foot Drain, Correct for Not needed for second RBMP 53M76 Bensons Farm No classification classification Road Bridge

Environment Agency Catchment Evidence – Old Bedford including the Middle Level, Jan 2014. Unclassified 45