Farm Business Update 2014 presentation of Environment Agency taken from the Lavenham Event.

1. The Water Framework Directive
and the Catchment Based
Approach in your area
Dr Nicola Robinson
Catchment Co-ordinator Suffolk

2. Contents
 Introduction to the Water Framework Directive
 Catchment Based Approach
 Key pressures in the Stour catchment
 Implementing Water Framework Directive
 Key Actions for Farmers - what you can do to help
 WIYBY for Farmers

3. Water Framework Directive - background
 11 River Basins
 Objective – to improve
overall health of water
environment by 2027

4. New Classification System - key aspects:
Biology
Chemical quality (surface & ground waters)
Quantity (surface & ground waters) – ‘hydrology’
Physical structure – ‘morphology’
Considered for each ‘water body’ type – rivers, lakes,
estuaries, coastal waters and ground waters
An Ecology Based Directive

5. To achieve WFD objectives
Improving rural land management
Reducing the impact of transport and built environments
Addressing point and diffuse sources of pollution
Securing sustainable amounts of water
Improving wildlife habitats

6. some farming
practices
Drinking water
quality
Invasive
signal
crayfish
Phosphate from
treated sewage
discharges
nutrient runoff
surface water
sewer abuse
Amenity use
of pesticides
Barrier to fish passage
Typical Pressures on water
environment
Poor
morphology
Invasive fish
species
Low flow/over
abstraction
invasive
Himalayan
balsam

7. Catchment Approach
 Working together to understand the issues
 Discussing and agreeing on outcomes and priorities
 Sharing information and resources
 Working together to tackle difficult issues
 Working collaboratively to deliver work on the ground that
improves the catchment

8. WFD Management
Catchments

9. Stour Key Issues
UNCLASSIFIED 9
Physical modifications - fish barriers & unsuitable habitat
Pesticides
Phosphate & Sediment
Nitrate

10. Physical Modification

11. Pesticides

12. Phosphate & Sediment
UNCLASSIFIED 12

13. Nitrate
UNCLASSIFIED 13

14. Implementing WFD Improvements
UNCLASSIFIED 14

20. Working in partnership with Dedham Vale
and Stour Valley Partnership
River Stour Project Officer – Matt Holden
i) Catchment restoration projects
ii) Strategic control of invasive non-native species
iii) Community engagement

21. How you can help
UNCLASSIFIED 21
 Lots of work to be done, this is the start of the process
 Opportunities to get involved with new Catchment
Partnerships
 River Stour –Matt Holden, Stour Valley and Dedham
Vale Project

22. Opportunities for change
Bullet point
Sub point
Protecting watercourses
Stock husbandry
Soil management
Pesticide use
Land use
Nutrient and manure management
Farm infrastructure
Field drainage
Water efficiency
Riparian management

23. What’s in Your Back Yard
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby

24. Key Actions - Summary
 Know your local catchment and water quality issues –
WIYBY
 Support the Catchment Based Approach
Get involved in partnerships; CSF, E&S Rivers Trust,
ESW
 Protect your resources; managing your soil and land
sustainably
 Talk to us about opportunities to improve the local
water environment