NRA Severn-Trent 49 RIVER SEVERN LOWER REACHES CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN CONSULTATION REPORT MAY 1995 NRA National Rivers Authority Severn-Trent Region ...................................................................................................................................... YOUR VIEWS This report is intended to form the basis for consultation between the NRA and all those with interests in the catchment. Consultees may wish to: * comment on the Vision for the Catchment * comment on the issues and options identified in the report * suggest alternative options for resolving identified issues * raise additional issues not identified in the report Following the consultation period all comments received on the Consultation Report will be considered in preparing the next phase, the Action Plan. This Consultation Report will not be rewritten as part of the Action Plan process. The NRA intends that the Plan should influence the policies and actions of developers and planning authorities as well as assisting in the day to day management of the catchment. A pre-consultation Forum was held on the 18 January 1995 to discuss the issues. Representatives from Local Authorities, National Organisations, other interested parties and representatives of the NRA Statutory Committees were in attendance. These external Statutory Committees advise the NRA on all aspects of its work. Comments arising from the Forum have been incorporated into this document where possible. A list of organisations attending the Forum is given in Appendix 3. The NRA is grateful for the useful suggestions received. Comments on the Consultation Report should be sent to: Dr Richard A Bailey, Area Manager NRA Lower Severn Area Riversmeet House Newtown Industrial Estate Northway Lane Tew kesbury Glos GL20 8JG All contributions should be made in writing by: Friday 28 July 1995 If you or your organisation need further information, please contact Dr J K Everard at the above address or by telephone on (01684) 850951. 40 26 River Severn Lower Reaches Catchment Management Plan Map 1 M ay 1995 River NRA r I Severn National Rivers Authority 25 Severn-Trent Region 24 24 23 23 22 22 21 21 20 20 19 19 Lower Severn Catchment KEY Catchment boundary Sub - catchment boundary 18 Main River AVONMOUTH Ordinary Watercourse Canal Built up Area Land > 400 feet 17 May 1995 FOREWORD The National Rivers Authority was created in 1989 to preserve and enhance the natural water environment and to protect people and property from flooding. In its role as 'Guardian of the Water Environment', the NRA is committed to preparing a sound plan for the future management of the region's river catchments. This Consultation Report is the first stage in the catchment management planning process for the River Severn - Lower Reaches Catchment. It provides a framework for consultation and also a means of seeking commitment from those involved to realise the full environmental potential of the catchment. We look forward to receiving comments and contributions from interested organisations and individuals. These will enable a final Plan to be produced, balancing the conflicting demands placed upon the natural water environment. Dr Richard Bailey Area Manager Lower Severn Area VISION STATEMENT This vision for the catchment describes what the NRA would wish the catchment to be and how it might work toward that vision. This vision is long term and while it may only be partly achieved in the next five years, it is something we can all work towards. The NRA aims To ensure that water quality is appropriate for the current and future uses of the catchment. This includes: Seeking additional safeguards to protect water supplies by submission of proposals to the Department of Environment that the River Severn and Gloucester - Sharpness Canal should be designated as Water Protection Zones. Working in conjunction with other authorities to control mining activities in the Forest of Dean. Ensuring that development or use of contaminated land in Cheltenham, Gloucester, the Forest of Dean and Avonmouth is accompanied by responsible remedial measures. Upgrading the quality of the Rivers Chelt and Frome by sewage treatment works’ improvements and enhancing the quality of the major tributary of the Severn - the Warwickshire Avon, by actions detailed in the Avon's Catchment Management Plan. Seeking adequate rural sewerage systems to serve areas where pollution is evident. Support will be given to local schemes which will employ sensitive and sustainable methods of treatment. * Reduction of diffuse nitrate and phosphate pollution by assisting the Ministry of Agriculture in managing Nitrate Vulnerable Zones and proposing to the Department of the Environment that the Gloucester-Sharpness Canal and the Rivers Severn and Leadon be designated as Eutrophic Sensitive Areas. To protect ground and surface water resources. Particular aims are to: * Manage the residual flow in the Severn at Gloucester to meet requirements for water supply, navigation and fish migration. Restore flow in the Glynch Brook in dry summers. To provide flood defences to reduce the risk to people and property from flooding where this is cost effective and environmentally acceptable, to improve the system of flood warning in non-tidal rivers and to establish a warning system on the tidal River Severn. Particular aims are to: ^ rational Rivers /w; , formation Cenrre 111 ad Office ENVIRONMENT AGENCY . i 'l O ............... ..... 099887 I A c c ^ i o n No . A O V \A/. * Establish a strategy with Gloucester City using a combination of new roadworks, redevelopment of flood plain fringes, removal of redundant structures and installation of new flood defences. * Provide flood alleviation works in Cheltenham in co-operation with Cheltenham Borough Council to give increased flood protection to more than 700 properties. * To reinstate degraded sections of river corridor to their full potential especially on the Rivers Cam and Frome and the Hatherley, Norman and Horsebere Brooks. * To support and develop recreational activities including restoration of the Stroudwater, Thames and Severn and Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canals where this does not adversely affect other uses. * To seek the return of otters to the catchment and protect native stocks of brown trout, especially in the Forest of Dean, and crayfish in the Little Avon, from introduced species. * To improve and protect the fisheries in the catchment, in particular the elver fishery, via fisheries management, habitat and environmental quality improvements. * To support the development of small scale hydropower schemes where it can be demonstrated that they do not adversely affect other uses of the River Frome or other Cotswold streams. * To ensure that development at Avonmouth does not reduce the present flood storage capacity or adversely affect wetland ecology by co-operation with Bristol and Northavon Councils, the South Gloucestershire Internal Drainage Board and English Nature. * To forward the principles of sustainability and environmental protection and enhancement by consultation with local authorities, agencies and developers within the planning process. This includes participation in the formal planning system and via Water Level Management Plans, Coastal and Catchment Management Planning. The final overall aim encompassing all of these aspects is a sustainable water environment. NRA Severn-Trent Region IV River Severn - Lower Reaches CMP RIVER SEVERN LOWER REACHES CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN CONTENTS PAGE NO. YOUR VIEWS (i) FOREWORD (ii) THE NRAS VISION FOR THE CATCHMENT (iii) PART I THE CONSULTATION REPORT Section 1.0 The Catchment Management Plan Process 1 1.1 The National Rivers Authority (NRA) 2 1.2 The Catchment Management Plan 5 Section 2.0 An Overview Of The Catchment 7 2.1 Catchment Description 8 2.2 Key Details 17 2.3 Catchment Monitoring 19 Section 3.0 Issues and Options 22 3.1 Issues Identified 23 3.2 A Description of the Issues Facing the Catchment 25 3.3 Summary of the Issues and Options for Action 60 PART H SUPPORTING INFORMATION 89 Section 4.0 Catchment Uses and Resources 90 4.1 Development 91 4.2 Abstraction 9 5 4.3 Hydropower 103 4.4 Fisheries and Angling 105 4.5 Conservation, Amenity .Landscape and Heritage 108 4.6 Recreation and Navigation 113 4.7 Sewage and Effluent Disposal 117 4.8 River Ecosystem 120 4.9 Mineral Working 122 4.10 Solid Waste Disposal 124 4.11 Flood Defences 126 .4.12 Agriculture ~ 129 NRA Severn-Trent Region River Severn - Lower Reaches CMP CONTENTS (CONTINUED) PAGE NO Section 5.0 Targets and Current State of the Catchment 132 5.1 Water Quality 133 5.2 Water Quantity 145 5.3 Physical Features 151 APPENDICES 159 APPENDIX 1 Flood Defence Standards of Service 160 APPENDIX 2 Glossary 163 APPENDIX 3 Participants at Forum 167 INDEX OF MAPS OPPOSITE PAGE NO. 1. Main Map (ii) Section 2 - Overview 2. Land Use 9 3. Geology & Hydrogeology 10 4. Hydrology 11 5. Infrastructure 16 Section 3 - Issues 6. Summary of Issues 23 Section 4 - Catchment Uses and Resources 7. Licensed Abstractions 95 8. Hydropower Sites (Licensed) 104 9. Fisheries and Angling 105 10. Ecology and Nature Conservation 108 11. Landscape and Heritage 109 12. Recreation and Navigation 114 NRA Severn-Trent Region River Severn - Lower Reaches CMP CONTENTS (CONTINUED) OPPOSITE PAGE NO 13. Sewage and Effluent Disposal 117 14. Mineral Working Sites 122 15. Solid Waste Disposal Sites 125 16. Flood Defences 126 Section 5 - Targets and State of Catchment 17. GQA - Chemistry Component 135 18. GQA - Biological Component 135 19. Water Quality Objectives 135 20. Licence Policy Areas 146 21. Groundwater Vurierability and NVZs 149 22. Conservation Landscape, Recreation and Amenity: 152 Opportunities for further study, rehabilitation and/or enhancement. 23. Flood Defence Standards of Service - Land Use Bands 157 LIST OF TABLES PAGE NO. 1. Catchment River Flows 11 2. Sewage Treatment Plant undergoing improvements under the Urban 28 Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD)/AMP2 Investment Plans 3. Discharge Consents under Appeal 29 4. Candidates for Designation as Eutrophic Sensitive Areas 29 5. Local Planning Authorities and Development Plans 94 6.