Freshwater Tamar and Tributaries Catchment Management Plan Consultation Report
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FRESHWATER TAMAR AND TRIBUTARIES CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN CONSULTATION REPORT » -_vv-j' • * ■lr .-*<*■• > •‘•n W *>*: - BODMIN ■ NRA National Rivers Authority South Western Region September 1995 NRA Copyright Waiver This report is intended to be used widely and may be quoted, copied or reproduced in any way, provided that the extracts are not quoted out of context and that due acknowledgement is given to the National Rivers Authority. Published September 1995 E n v ir o n m e n t A g e n c y NATIONAL LIBRARY & INFORMATION SERVICE SOUTH WEST REGION Manley House, Kestrel Way. Exeter EX 2 7LQ Awarded for excellence L t A ' P S / f y v Foreword The National Rivers Authority has, since its formation in 1989, been developing the process of catchment management. A major initiative is the commitment to produce Catchment Management Plans setting out the Authority's vision for realising the potential of each local water environment. The Freshwater Tamar and Tributaries is the second Catchment Management Plan (CMP) produced by the Cornwall Area of the National Rivers Authority (NRA). CMPs will be produced for all catchments in England and Wales by the end of 1998. An important stage in the production of the plans is a period of public consultation. The NRA is keen to draw on the expertise and interest of the local communities and for them to have a say in the development of NRA plans and work programmes. This document includes relevant information about the catchment and lists the issues we have identified and which need to be addressed. Please send us your comments, your views are important. Following the public consultation period, an Action Plan will be produced with an agreed costed action programme for the future protection and enhancement of this important catchment. Please send your comments by 6 November 1995 to: Darragh Turley Area Catchment Planner - Cornwall Area NRA South Western Region Sir John Moore House Victoria Square, Bodmin Cornwall, PL31 1EB We look forward to hearing from you. AREA MANAGER (CORNWALL) (i) ENVIRONMENT AGENCY 009050 MISSION AND AIMS "We will protect and improve the water environment by the effective management of water resources and by substantial reductions in pollution. We will aim to provide effective defence for people and property against flooding from rivers and the sea. In discharging our duties we will operate openly and balance the interests of all who benefit from and use rivers, groundwaters, estuaries, and coastal waters. We will be businesslike, efficient and caring towards our employees." Our aims are to: Achieve a continuing overall improvement in the quality of rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters, through the control of pollution. Manage water resources to achieve the right balance between the needs of the environment and those of the abstractors. Provide effective defence for people and property against flooding from rivers and the sea. Provide adequate arrangements for flood forecasting and warning. Maintain, improve and develop fisheries. Develop the amenity and recreational potential of inland and coastal waters and associated lands. Conserve and enhance wildlife, landscape, and archaeological features associated with inland and coastal waters of England and Wales. Improve and maintain inland waters and their facilities for use by the public where the NRA is the navigation authority. Ensure that dischargers pay the costs of the consequences of their discharges, and as far as possible, to recover the costs of water environment improvements from those who benefit. Improve public understanding of the water environment and the NRA's work. Improve efficiency in the exercise of the NRA's functions and to provide challenge and opportunity for employees and show concern for their welfare. CONTENTS 1.0 CATCHMENT VISION .................................................................................................................. 1 2.0 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 CATCHMENT STATISTICS........................................................................................... 5 3.0 CATCHMENT CHARACTERISTICS........................................................................................... 7 4.0 CATCHMENT U S E S .................................................................................................................... 15 4.1 Conservation - Landscape, Wildlife and Archaeology .................................................. 15 4.1.1 Landscape............................................................................................................ 15 4.1.2 Wildlife . ............................................................................................................... 17 4.1.3 Archaeology ........................................................................................................ 19 . 4.2 Fisheries ............................................................................................................................ 21 4.3 A griculture........................................................................................................................27 4.4 Forestry.............................................................................................................................. 33 4.5 Recreation and Amenity................................................................................................... 37 4.6 Aquaculture ......................................................................................................................39 4.7 The Built and Developing Environment...........................................................................41 4.8 Flood Defence....................................................................................................................47 4.9 Mining and Quarrying ......................................................................................................55 4.10 Contaminated Land ......................................................................................................... 59 4.11 Abstraction and Water Supply......................................................................................... 63 4.12 Effluent Disposal ..............................................................................................................69 4.13 Waste Disposal..................................................................................................................73 5.0 TARGETS AND STATE OF THE CATCHMENT .................................................................. 77 5.1 Water Quality....................................................................................................................79 5.1.1 Water Quality Objectives...................................................................................79 5.1.2 EC Directives ..................................................................................................... 85 5.1.3 Additional Monitoring .......................................................................................90 5.2 Water Quantity Targets and Current State...................................................................... 93 5.2.1 Water Resources Strategy & Policy.................................................................. 93 5.2.2 Current & future demand for water .................................................................. 93 5.2.3 Low flows & the water environment ................................................................ 97 5.3 Physical Features ............................................................................................................ 100 5.4 Flood Defence.................................................................................................................. 113 6.0 TABLE OF ISSUES .................................................................................................................... 118 APPENDICES................................................................ .......................................................... 127 (v) TABLES 1: Hydrometric gauging statio n s.................................................................................................................. 5 2: Salmon and sea trout recorded at Gunnislake fish counter..................................................................23 3: Agricultural land u s e ............................................................................................................................... 29 4: Farm ty p e s .................................................................................................................................................30 5 : Pollution incidents arising from agricultural activities 1992 to 1994 ................................................ 31 6: Fish farm abstractions/discharges.......................................................................................................... 39 7: Development restraints due to problems in sewerage infrastructure ..................................................46 8: Land use factors........................................................................................................................................ 51 9: Typical nature of land use by b a n d ........................................................................................................53 10: Nett private licensed resource commitment in the Tamar Catchment ..............................................68 11: