Clear Streams Swansea (2013/14) Project Report and Evaluation Contents Executive Summary 1. Introductory Information 1.1 Purpose and Scope of this Report 4 1.2 The Clear Streams Concept 4 1.3 Dŵr Cymru WFD Project Funding 5 1.4 Project Funding Applications 5 2. Project Report 2.1 Project Aims 6 2.2 Organisation and Resources 7 2.3 Project Activities 10 2.3.1 Engaging Local Businesses 10 2.3.2 Engaging Householders and Communities 12 2.3.3 Engaging Partners 20 2.4 Publicity and Marketing 21 3. Project Evaluation 3.1 Online Survey 23 3.2 Delivery of Outcomes and Objectives 25 3.3 Project Governance 27 3.4 Lessons Learnt and Recommendations 28 This report has been prepared by PMDevelopments Executive Summary The Clear Streams Swansea project was an eighteen-month collaboration between Swansea Environmental Forum, the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and Natural Resources Wales. The project, funded by the Dŵr Cymru WFD Project Funding scheme, aimed to raise awareness of the water environment and improve water quality in the Swansea area. The project was part of, and built upon, a wider initiative developed by Environment Agency Wales, working in partnership with others to employ a holistic approach to managing water quality. Two new officer posts were created to deliver the project and these were supported by a steering group comprising representatives of the three partner organisations. The Dŵr Cymru WFD Project Funding scheme provided £100,000 to the project with an additional £30,000 contributed by Environment Agency Wales (replaced by Natural Resources Wales). The project sought to engage local businesses, householders and communities; and influence the agendas, priorities and strategies of other organisations in Swansea. Over 1,000 companies were contacted and over 200 were visited and provided with information and advice on water- related issues. A programme of 40 community events was organised and delivered by the project staff, who also attended several festivals and other larger events to promote the project and the water environment. 100 ponds and 140 water butts were distributed to householders and community groups to help them reduce surface water volume entering the sewer. Information sheets and newsletters were produced to inform organisations and individuals about saving water, reducing pollution caused by blockages and misconnections, and using their water environment. A Clear Streams website and social media facilities were established and well used to share information about water-related issues, events, projects and organisations. Many new partnerships were established and developed with organisations, schools and community groups and over 700 individuals completed pledge cards to protect the water environment. An online survey directed to individuals that had been engaged with the project provided very positive feedback and indicated that the project had influenced attitudes and behaviours. The project partners and many of the organisations, partnerships, projects and groups with which they have engaged during the project, have also been influenced. The profile of the water environment in Swansea and related water quality issues has been raised and an effective local focal point for information, advice and support has been established. A number of innovative schemes emerged from the project including the Wales Water Weekend, the Tawe Kayak Safaris and the River Rangers Network, with additional funding received from other sources to support some of these. Resources have also been secured by the project partners to deliver practical schemes and research, and further resources are currently being sought, to ensure that the Clear Streams initiative and approach can be continued and that the focus on the water environment in Swansea is maintained and developed. Whilst it would be difficult to measure the short-term impact of the project on the ecological status of local water bodies and the number of CSO discharges or pollution incidents, these are likely to be improved in the longer-term due to the better understanding of, increased interest in and involvement with, and the greater sense of ownership of the water environment experienced by those that have participated in the project. Through the Clear Streams project, the Dŵr Cymru WFD Project Funding scheme has been shown to be an effective mechanism for encouraging and supporting third sector organisations to deliver WFD outcomes and this report recommends that it is continued. “An excellent and progressive step forward in the protection of what are arguably some of our greatest (and undervalued) natural assets in Wales.” (respondent to Monkey Survey December 2014) Clear Streams Swansea (2013/14) Project Report and Evaluation – 08/01/2015 3 1. Introductory Information 1.1 Purpose and Scope of this Report In 2013, Swansea Environmental Forum and the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales collaborated on an eighteen-month initiative to raise awareness of and improve water quality in the Swansea area. The Clear Streams Swansea project, part of a wider initiative of the same name, was made possible through project funding from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and Natural Resources Wales. This report focuses on the eighteen months of the collaborative project, funded by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, from July 2013 to December 2014, when specific project staff were employed by the partner organisations. It should be noted that due to the delayed appointment of the Wildlife Trust’s project officer, some elements of the project are due to continue beyond December but are not detailed in this report (see page 28 for a summary of these additional activities). The report has two main purposes; to provide an overview of the project and to give an evaluation of the project. The provision of a project report and project evaluation were requirements of the grant funding from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water but this report is intended to be a useful document for each of the key partners: offering a record of what was achieved with recommendations for future activity. The report starts with an introduction to the concept and origins of the wider Clear Streams initiative and the Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water project funding. This is followed by the project report which lists the aims and objectives of the project; outlines each of the project activities, with a number of case studies; explains how the project, the staff and the finances were managed; and describes how the project and the activities were marketed and publicised. The final section of this report provides an evaluation which reflects on the projects aims and objectives and the effectiveness of its governance arrangements. Recommendations are then given for the Clear Streams initiative and the Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water project funding scheme. Information for this report was gathered from files provided by the project officers, through interviews with these officers and other staff from the project partner organisations and from a survey undertaken towards the end of the project period. The text in the case study sections, along with accompanying photographs and charts, were also provided by the project officers. 1.2 The Clear Streams Concept The Clear Streams concept was initiated by Environment Agency Wales (EAW) officers in Swansea as a means of addressing the Water Framework Directive (WFD) through an integrated or holistic approach to managing water quality – tackling pollution at source as well as driving forward a softer agenda aimed at raising people’s awareness of and sensitivity to the water environment. The Clear Streams concept and approach has been applied primarily within the Swansea area but also in Bridgend, and has now been adopted as a key delivery mechanism within Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and embedded in its business plan. The overarching aim of Clear Streams in Swansea is to promote a healthier and cleaner water environment for the benefit of people, communities and wildlife. To deliver this, Clear Streams in Swansea has outlined five key objectives: 1. to protect and improve our water ecology and environment. 2. to reduce water pollution and improve water quality. 3. to reduce the impact of business on the environment and improve responsible use of sewers. 4. to embed water quality issues in strategies, plans and activities across Swansea. 5. to promote community ownership of our water environment. Clear Streams Swansea (2013/14) Project Report and Evaluation – 08/01/2015 4 In 2012, EAW collaborated with Swansea Environmental Forum (SEF) to pilot a community engagement project – Digital Streams – under the banner of Clear Streams and part of the Sustainable Swansea initiative. Digital Streams combined site visits along the River Loughor with digital photography training to raise awareness and understanding of issues along the waterbody and inspire greater interest in the environment. The project was repeated in 2013, this time along the River Tawe, and in partnership with the newly established NRW. Both projects culminated in an exhibition of photographs taken by participants. In 2013, a Clear Streams Swansea Award was included as one of the category in the prestigious Sustainable Swansea Awards scheme, helping to raise the profile of water quality issues and celebrate the good work of organisations and projects linked to the water environment. Schools have also been engaged in Clear Streams activities including the Our River Project – delivered as part of Swansea Council’s Countryside Connections scheme in collaboration with Still Walks; and a river-based study programme delivered by Nature Days in collaboration with Swansea Environment Centre. It was the success of these projects, and the continuing offers of support from NRW, that prompted SEF to seek funding to expand the initiative. NRW contributed £30,000 to support SEF’s application for a grant from the Dŵr Cymru WFD Project Funding. 1.3 Dŵr Cymru WFD Project Funding In 2012, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW) made available £400,000 for a new funding scheme to encourage and support the third sector in delivering Water Framework Directive (WFD) outcomes in its supply area.