Whittle Dene Catchment Scoping Study
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1. INTRODUCTION The principles of integrated catchment management and sustainable agriculture are intimately linked. River catchments have been recognised as the most practical and logical units for the study, protection and enhancement of water resources. Water resource quantity and quality are closely linked to land use and land management. However, there are many technical, financial and institutional reasons why the interests of water resource planners and farmers have often been in conflict. Traditionally, the cause and effect of water contamination has been researched and investigated independently. Legislation, advisory services and demonstration activity have all focussed their efforts on individual activities or contaminants to seek a solution. The result is a plethora of legal or voluntary measures, information, advice and stewardship which are all presented separately to a farmer or land manager. Integration of the information is left to the capability and interest of individuals who have land management responsibilities. In many cases there is little incentive for compliance and certainly minimal proactive ‘policing’ by agencies. This is unfortunate, since rural communities, amenity provision and the maintenance of wildlife habitats are influenced and dependent on the land management and agriculture within a catchment. This scoping study aimed to examine these issues in preparation of the development of a practical framework of options which may be applied to provide an integrated solution to resolve the conflicts between agriculture, environmental, biodiversity, rural and social needs. A rural, semi-upland catchment has been identified in the north east of England, which is impacted by a range of pollutants. The source of these pollutants is yet to be investigated but is thought to be largely from agriculture and forestry, with an undetermined contribution from roads, ditches and small communities. Though it is technically possible to treat potable water resources to the required high standard, it is preferable to tackle problems at source. This approach is a key feature under the Water Framework Directive, (2000/60/EC) which makes provisions to protect strategic water resources. Agriculture and associated industries are important in the rural economy of the area. The farms have traditionally been run as small, mixed enterprises but in recent years falling incomes have precipitated a shift to arable production where possible. However, local characteristics, soil and climate are not generally suitable to such enterprises. Unless the land is carefully managed there is potential to cause pollution of watercourses and damage the local environment. In recent years there has been a general increase in contamination of watercourses feeding local water features by pesticides. However, there are also farm and land management issues relating to pathogens from farm animals and manure (including Cryptosporidium parvum) and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus). Amongst the objectives of the recently adopted Water Framework Directive is the achievement of “good water status by defining and implementing the necessary measures within integrated programmes of measures”. Another core objective is the initiation of dialogue to promote “integration of protection and sustainable management of water into other Community policy areas such as energy, transport, agriculture, fisheries, regional policy and tourism”. These approaches will be key elements of the proposed work. However, such a programme will inevitably highlight potential conflicts between stakeholders, and this study will help to understand and 1 address them. Further, there are likely to be conflicts between land management strategies to achieve specific water quality targets. For example, the establishment of a fine tilth in autumn may be effective in sorbing key herbicides to soil particles, which in turn may reduce pesticide losses to surface waters. Balanced against this, the fine tilth may encourage soil erosion during rainfall of high intensity, which may in turn increase losses of sediment to which herbicides and phosphorus have sorbed. This scoping study identifies and develops, in stages, a number of milestones which will lead to a proposal for an integrated catchment management strategy. The future work will aim to protect, conserve and enhance the land and water environment in a semi-upland area of Northumberland, the Whittle Dene catchment, while encouraging sustainable use of natural and agricultural resources to provide both economic and environmental good. The work will ensure that agriculture and other land-based industries operate in such a manner that is sympathetic to a healthy freshwater system, which can ultimately be utilised for potable water with the minimum of treatment. The study will provide a balanced framework in which the respective water quality parameters can be placed in relation to land use and socio-economic factors which influence their respective variables. In this way, the resultant studies will provide a unique and pertinent set of data which may benefit the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, and other distinct water quality drivers (eutrophication, pesticide and pathogen measures) to other catchments. The objectives of the scoping study programme were: Objectives 1. Collection of information on the impact of present land management practices on water quality in the Whittle Dene Catchment. To include regulatory agencies, statutory bodies and landowners (via ADAS farm advisors). 2. Review of present regulatory framework and possible impact of imminent regulatory developments. Assess likely impact of legislation on the suitability and practicality of the Western Reservoir to supply drinking water under current catchment management. 3. Characterisation of the catchment via published information (e.g. maps, technical literature/reports) and reservoir management (from the relevant water company). To include: ·Physical characteristics (e.g. geology, soil type(s), topography, climate) ·Chemical characteristics (e.g. soil and water nutrient status, pH, pesticide concentrations, seasonal cycles and effects) ·Hydrology (e.g. runoff pathways, soil water regimes, streams and field drainage) ·Land use area and relationship to surface water ·Socioeconomy and industry (e.g. fishing, tourism, water sports) 4. Collation of data and prioritisation of monitoring needs. Examine land use categories and highlight possible locations for instrumentation in conjunction with field technical team. If necessary, conduct basic soil or water sampling for selected parameters. 5. Review of catchment management approaches and future needs at an EU scale to maximise the probability of a ‘future proof’ project. 6. Identification of possible financial impacts of actions on landowners and the Water Company. A simple cost – benefit approach may include an assessment of the implementation of appropriate Agri-Environmental schemes such as wetland creation or restoration, buffer zones or reduced inputs. 7. Identification of likely causes of pollution of the reservoirs and selection of the most appropriate actions to mitigate the problems. Similarly the scientific objectives of the proposal to be addressed by this report were: 1. Initiation of dialogue with landowners and other interested parties. 2. Evaluation of the relevant EU regulatory framework and existing policy instruments. 2 3. Assessment of the suitability of selected experimental catchments (e.g. the western reservoir) to a large-scale research programme. 4. Collation of information on catchment characteristics and water quality parameters. 5. Evaluation of environmental performance indicators and feasibility of targets. 6. The likely costs, benefits, timescales and practicality of any proposed actions. 7. The priority and focus of research activity and the extent and timing of advisory measures. This report first outlines the background to the work and covers key areas of the Water Framework Directive, next the key features of the Whittle Dene Catchment and its environs are described, with sections on specific research topics, before a general discussion concerning knowledge transfer and knowledge management. Finally, a number of recommendations are made for a research programme to address the issues that have been discussed. During the course of this project the immediate area around Whittle Dene suffered confirmed cases of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). In the light of this, no fieldwork was conducted. This was both in response to persistent risks of transmission of FMD across the catchment and from farm to farm, and in anticipation of farmer reaction to such work. Some objectives of the project (catchment characterisation, field drainage and hydrology) were therefore not fully conducted. However, effort was made to collect information wherever possible. Limited farm liaison work was conducted in September and October 2001 with co-operation from farms and landowners. 3 1.1 Whittle Dene and the Water Framework Directive The EC Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) has been developed to provide an integrated basis for managing the water environment. A key feature of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) is that it seeks to provide a common framework to protect groundwater and all surface water within 1 mile of the shore within the European Community. Environmental objectives are also set for these waterbodies. The WFD specifies how the particular environmental objectives must be set, and this