INDEX
CONSULTATIONS
UK NEWS
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
PROJECTS & RESEARCH
PUBLICATIONS
REPORTS FROM EVENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
CONSULTATIONS
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY Working Together to deliver river basin management: NATIONAL CONSULTATION RESPONSE DOCUMENt
(Posted 23 April 2013)
In December 2009, the Environment Agency published river basin management plans covering England and Wales that outlined what would be done to protect and improve the environment. The Environment Agency is now reviewing and updating them and will publish the revised plans in December 2015. A public consultation ran from 22 June 2012 to 22 December 2012.
Both the full and summary consultation response documents can be found at:
(https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/portal/ho/wfd/working/together2012)
REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENT AGENCY AND NATURAL ENGLAND
(Posted 23 April 2013)
This is a joint triennial review, providing an opportunity to look at what functions the two agencies carry out and how they do it. Defra states ’Its aim is to ensure that we have sufficiently strong and resilient delivery bodies to meet our environmental ambitions’. Defra has published a discussion paper setting out a broad range of possible reforms to the current delivery arrangements, ranging from keeping the structural arrangements of the agencies as they are to having the work of the Environment Agency and Natural England carried out by a single organisation.
Preliminary conclusions will be published in the spring.
The review documents can be found at: (http://www.defra.gov.uk/review-ea-ne/)
phosphorus and biological standards
(Posted 23 April 2013)
WFD UK TAG (Technical Advisory Group) held a stakeholder review from 10 December 2012 to 28 February 2013 for people to comment on the UK TAG’s proposals for phosphorus and biological standards for lakes, rivers, transitional and coastal waters.
All the stakeholder comments can be accessed at:
(http://www.wfduk.org/stakeholders/stakeholder-review-phosphorus-and-biological-standards)
marine conservation zone consultation
(Posted 23 April 2013)
The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (Part 5) enables Ministers to designate and protect Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). These are a type of marine protected area, which will exist alongside European marine sites (Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protected Areas (SPAs)), SSSIs and Ramsar sites to form an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas. Similar schemes are operating in Wales and Scotland and soon in Northern Ireland to contribute to a UK wide network of Marine Protected Areas. Unlike other marine protected areas, MCZs will also take social and economic factors into account when identifying potential sites, alongside the best available scientific evidence.
Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel, a former Marine Nature Reserve, became the first MCZ in January 2010.
A consultation on MCZs was held from 13 December 2012 to 31 March 2013. Information and comments submitted will be used to inform the decision on which sites will be designated in the first tranche in 2013. Information gathered at this stage will also be used as part of the decision-making process for designation of sites in later tranches.
A summary of responses will be placed on Defra’s website at: (http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult)
Information on the recommended sites and an interactive map will be made available on the updated MCZ map at: (http://www.mczmapping.org/)
For more information and access to factsheets see:
(http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/marine/protect/mpa/mcz/)
draft 3rd uk report on implementation of the eu habitats directive
(Posted 23 April 2013)
The EC Habitats Directive came into force in 1994. It requires Member States to take conservation measures in relation to these threatened habitats and species, to undertake surveillance in relation to them, and, every six years, to report on the outcome of these measures on their conservation status. For some of the listed habitats and species, the Directive requires Member States to designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). For some of the listed species, the Directive does not require SACs to be established, but requires Member States to take other measures.
Every six years, Member States of the European Union are required to report on implementation of the Habitats Directive. The six-yearly reports are intended to track improvement in the conservation status of these habitats and species since the Directive came into force in 1994.
JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation Committee) are keen to ensure that they have reached the correct conclusion on conservation status for each species and habitat, and are asking to be informed of any further data or information, of which they may not be aware, and which would substantially strengthen or alter the conclusion(s) reached.
The consultation is open until Friday 10 May 2013 and can be accessed at:
(http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/article17)
UK NEWS
the guardian newspaper publisheS new water-themeD short stories
(Posted 23 April 2013)
To observe World Water Day on 22 March 2013, the Guardian published one new water-themed short story each day, leading up to 22 March. Well-known writers from across the globe participated in this exercise in creativity and awareness raising.
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/series/water-stories+short-stories)
consumer council for water forward work programme
2013/2014 to 2015/16
(Posted 23 April 2013)
This document sets out the focus of the Council’s work for water and sewerage consumers over the coming three years. Throughout the document the Council aims to respond to the priorities which consumers tell them about.
(http://www.ccwater.org.uk/server.php?show=conWebDoc.2648)
wFD UK TAG: updated recommendations on environmental standards
(Posted 23 April 2013)
This report was published February 2013 by WFD UK Technical Advisory Group, following a stakeholder review.
The report is available at:
(http://www.wfduk.org/stakeholders/stakeholder-review-2012-response-submissions)
efra (environment, food and rural affairs) select committee report on draft water bill
(Posted 23 April 2013)
This was published following a thorough, in-depth inquiry during which Efra and other key stakeholders (such as regulators, consumer organisations, environmental bodies and water companies) provided evidence.
The report is available at:
(http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environment-food-and-rural-affairs-committee/news/draft-water-bill-report-publication/)
Water UK’s response can be found at:
(http://www.water.org.uk/home/news/archive/government/-01-02-2013)
ciwem launches environmental education network
(Posted 23 April 2013)
This has been launched by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) to engage and inspire the next generation of water and environment managers. It will focus on raising the profile of water and environmental challenges at school level, helping young people to develop the understanding and skills required to solve them in the future.
(http://www.ciwem.org.uk/knowledge-networks/networks/environmental-education.aspx)
sepa annual operating plan 2013-2014
(Posted 23 April 2013)
The plan provides details of SEPA’s main aims and targets for 2013-2014.
It can be seen at:
(http://www.sepa.org.uk/about_us/publications/annual_operating_plans.aspx)
red tape challenge: water & Marine theme
(Posted 23 April 2013)
The ‘Red Tape Challenge’ was launched in April 2011 to open up government regulation to the scrutiny and challenge of the public, businesses and experts. The website is being used to gather innovative ideas on how the aims of regulations can be met in the most successful and least burdensome ways. The Water and Marine theme was open for comment on the Cabinet Office website for eight weeks from 12 February 2012. The Water element covers 168 regulations in four areas: Water treatment and Supply, Water Quality, Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management, and Inland Waterways. Of 168 regulations, Defra is proposing to scrap or improve 63%. A total of 84 will be improved, mainly through simplification, consolidation and improving implementation on the ground; 62 will be kept to maintain important environmental and public protections; 22 obsolete regulations will be removed.
See the full package of proposals at:
(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/red-tape-challenge-water-and-marine-theme)
marine environmental data and information network
(Posted 23 April 2013)
The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and Marine Scotland have been accredited as a combined Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) Data Archive Centre for fish, shellfish, fisheries and related samples data. This combined data archive centre is called FishDAC. The data available are predominantly marine but cover both migratory species and transitional waters as well. Data from England, Wales and Scotland are currently available, with data from Northern Ireland to be added in due course.
(http://www.oceannet.org/data_submission/fish_dac.html)
catchment change management hub website
(Posted 23 April 2013)
This was launched at the end of January. It is being developed by Lancaster University and Cascade Consulting, working with the Environment Agency, Defra, Sciencewise, Rivers Trust and the Freshwater Biological Association. The idea is to have a central place for sharing and commenting on all the information, tools and resources available in connection with catchment management.
The Hub can be found at the link below and your feedback is welcome: (http://ccmhub.net/)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
more than half of eu surface waters below ‘good’ ecological status
(Posted 23 April 2013)
The report, ‘European waters – assessment of status and pressures’, published this week by the European Environment Agency (EEA), considers the status of 104,000 rivers, 19,000 lakes, and 4,000 transitional and coastal water bodies reported by EU Member States according to the WFD and the river basin management plans (RBMPs). The authors conclude that water bodies are generally improving, but not quickly enough to meet the targets set by the WFD – in fact only 52% of water bodies are predicted to achieve good ecological status by 2015, according to Member States’ own plans. This is due mainly to water pollution and physical modifications.
(http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/more-than-half-of-eu)
Read the report at:
(http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/european-waters-assessment-2012)
europe failing own water quality standards
(Posted 23 April 2013)
Water is failing EU environmental standards in more than 6,000 towns and cities across Europe, putting the health of millions of people at risk and rendering taxpayers liable for fines of over €1bn (£846m) a year, new research shows.
Brussels, home to the European Commission, is among 6,311 areas that are not meeting the requirements, while capital cities where water is sub-standard include Bucharest (Romania), Sofia (Bulgaria), Madrid (Spain), Budapest (Hungary) and Rome (Italy). The research also showed that some of the continent’s most popular tourist destinations are not fully compliant with EU water laws, including Pisa in Italy, Halkidiki in Greece, Balaton in Hungary and Ayia Napa in Cyprus. However, 16 countries are currently compliant with EU water quality standards, including the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands.
The researchers examined official EU data to determine for the first time which towns and cities are failing the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, a piece of legislation which came out in the 1990s in order to improve water standards. The directive applies to the collection, treatment and discharge of domestic and industrial wastewater.
(http://www.edie.net/news/2/Europe-failing-own-water-quality-standards/)
A new online face for the world water council
(Posted 23 April 2013)
The World Water Council has launched its new, improved website. The new site reflects the organisation’s mission to promote awareness, build political commitment and trigger action on critical water issues at all levels.
(http://www.worldwatercouncil.org)
proposal for a european dIRective establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management
(Posted 23 April 2013)
The Commission launched this new initiative on 12 March 2013. The proposal, which takes the form of a draft Directive, aims to establish a framework for maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management in EU Member States with a view to promoting the sustainable growth of maritime and coastal activities and the sustainable use of coastal and marine resources. The proposal will require Member States to map human activities at sea and identify their most effective future spatial development in maritime spatial plans and to coordinate relevant polices affecting coastal areas in integrated coastal management strategies.
(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/iczm/prop_iczm.htm)
programme of the irish presidency of council of the eu
- 1 january – 30 june 2013
(Posted 23 April 2013)
See (http://www.eu2013.ie/media/eupresidency/content/documents/EU-Pres_Prog_A4.pdf)
Priority substances
In January 2012 the European Commission published a proposal to amend the Water Framework Directive and the Environmental Quality Standards Directive. The Presidency will work to reach agreement with the European Parliament on amending the Directive.
LIFE Programme for Environment and Climate Action
The EU LIFE Programme is one of the main mechanisms for funding projects in the environment area. The Commission has presented a proposal for a new LIFE Programme with a significantly increased budget to cover the period 2014-2020. The Irish Presidency will seek early agreement on the programme.
facilitating water information exchange between science, policy and industry
(Posted 23 April 2013)
Europe funds a great deal of water-related research, but more needs to be done to ensure that the results are brought to the attention of policy makers and industry.
See the roadmap for the uptake of EU water research into policy and industry at:
(http://www.spi-water.eu/)
PROJECTS & RESEARCH
euro-mediterranean information system on know-how in the water sector
(Posted 23 April 2013)
The STEP-WISE project ended on 31 December 2012. The project aims to bridge the communication gap between policy, science and industry.
The final briefing can be accessed at:
(http://www.emwis.org/thematicdirs/news/2013/01/step-wise-policy-brief-3)
The WISE-RTD Water Knowledge Portal will continue to provide information on EU water guidelines and EU research results.
Go to: (http://www.wise-rtd.info/en)
fine-tuned policies needed to limit phosphorus runoff
(Posted 23 April 2013)
New research in Ireland has evaluated two policies designed to reduce phosphorus runoff from agricultural land into water. Data indicate that policies need to be better tailored to specific times and locations, in order to deal with, for example, the impact of seasonal changes and different soil types on phosphorus runoff.
Read more at:
(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/archive_yr/archive2012.htm)
Pollutants released by seafloor trawling affect marine life
(Posted 23 April 2013)
Commercial bottom trawling, the technique of pulling fishing gear across the seabed to catch fish and other seafood, releases pollutants trapped in the seabed, which can negatively affect local marine life and ecosystems. Recent findings from a Norwegian fjord show how mussels can take up high levels of contaminants released by trawling, with important health implications for consumers.
Read more at:
(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/archive_yr/archive2012.htm)
viewing fish stocks as economic investments
(Posted 23 April 2013)
In economic terms, overfishing can be regarded as borrowing natural capital at a high rate of interest, according to a new study. Combining economic and biological principles, the study develops a concept that expresses overfishing in terms of the ‘interest’ that the fishing industry have to repay in future years as a result of lost income from depleted fish stocks.
Read more at:
(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/archive_yr/archive2012.htm)
is ‘minimising the footprint’ an effective intervention to maximise the recovery of intertidal sediments from disturbance?
(Posted 23 April 2013)
Activity on intertidal soft sediments can cause damage or disturbance of the habitat from abrasion, penetration and removal. For example, vehicles used to reach cockle beds for fishing or access to structures such as piers for maintenance works. Natural England’s advice has usually been that developers and developments should minimise the scale and extent of impact on the environment. This approach of ‘minimising the footprint’ generally leads to a more intense disturbance over a relatively smaller area. Recent anecdotal evidence suggests that recovery is quicker, and more complete, if the disturbance covers a wider area, but at a lower intensity. This work was commissioned to review existing information on recovery of intertidal soft sediment habitats from different levels and intensities of disturbance.
(http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5091106)
evidence for effects of chemical pollution on riverbed invertebrates
(Posted 23 April 2013)
To date, it has been difficult to collect data that are robust enough to demonstrate specific effects of chemical pollution in rivers on aquatic wildlife. However, a recent study combining detailed chemical, toxicological and ecological data in three European river basins now provides evidence linking cause and effect by revealing significant differences in the effects of differently polluted sediments on the organisms living in the river basins, and the riverbed biodiversity.
Read more at:
(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/archive_yr/archive2013.htm)
PUBLICATIONS
the catchment based approach newsletter
issue 5, March 2013
(Posted 23 April 2013)
There have been many meetings on the Catchment Based Approach over the past few months – the newsletter reports on progress. Richard Benyon, Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries, gave the keynote speech at the Catchment Based Approach conference on 14 February 2013, giving a clear reaffirmation of the government’s support for this approach to river basin planning. The EA and Defra are now considering options for implementation of this approach to support the second cycle of river basin management plans. The newsletter summarises the seminars, meetings and conferences that have taken place recently.
If you want to be included on the mailing list please contact:
bob.earll@coastms.co.uk
(Posted 23 April 2013)
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) have published their annual ‘Good Beach Guide’ online at:
(http://www.goodbeachguide.co.uk/)
One of the UK’s wettest summers on record has led to a worrying drop in the number of beaches around the country being recommended for their excellent bathing water quality in the annual guide. MCS has recommended only 403 of the 754 UK bathing beaches tested in 2012 as having excellent water quality. That’s 113 fewer beaches than were recommended last year. Relentless rain and flooding in many parts of the country led to an increase in the amount of bacteria and viruses ending up in our bathing waters.
unesco water e-newsletter: water cooperation
(Posted 23 April 2013)
Special Edition on the occasion of the International Year of Water Cooperation 2013
To access the newsletter, please go to:
(http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/water/water-cooperation-2013/Water_e-Newsletter)
wfd implementation report on the river basin management plans (2012)
(Posted 23 April 2013)
In accordance with article 18 (Water Framework Directive) the Commission must publish a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of this Directive in November 2012. It has to include a review of progress and a survey of the submitted River Basin Management Plans, and must contain suggestions for the improvement of future plans.
You can access the report at:
(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-framework/implrep2007/index_en.htm)
‘The environment’ magazine replaces the former ‘wem magazine’
(Posted 23 April 2013)
For more information see:
(http://www.ciwem.org/information-and-resources/publications/the-environment-magazine.aspx)
(Posted 23 April 2013)
The winter newsletter is available, covering topics such as the Living North Sea project, the Trust’s autumn conference and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Trust and the EA.
(http://www.theriverstrust.org/newsletter/index.htm)
REPORTS FROM Events
the history and future of british rivers and waterways
21 February 2013
(Posted 23 April 2013)
This was a joint meeting of the Linnean Society, the Freshwater Biological Association and the University of Southampton. Improvement in the ecology of our rivers has been remarkable over the past 50 years, following a long history of pollution and physical damage since the Industrial Revolution. Legislation, technology, research, and public pressure are some of the reasons for this improvement. However, problems encountered today include invasive non-native species, diffuse pollution from agriculture and urban run-off, plus abstraction. How we can best tackle the future health of our waterways was considered, for example by engaging charitable trusts and enthusiastic groups – the concept of ‘citizen science’.
Presentations are being made available at:
(http://www.linnean.org/Meetings-and-Events/Past+Events/HistoryofRivers)
evaluation of the catchment-based approach:
30-31 January 2013
(Posted 23 April 2013)
This was a ‘national learning’ event, the aim being to share information coming from both the original 25 pilot catchments plus the further 37 catchment initiatives. This informed the evaluation of the pilot phase and made an important contribution to learning about collaborative catchment management. The event marked the close of the pilot phase of the work.
Reports and workshop records can be found at:
(http://www.catchmentchange.net/pilot-catchments/)
demonstrating test catchments – national conference
21-22 January 2013
(Posted 23 April 2013)
Demonstration Test Catchment (DTC) is a UK government-funded project designed to provide robust evidence regarding how diffuse pollution can be cost-effectively controlled to improve and maintain water quality in rural river catchment areas. The project currently involves three catchments across England – the Eden in Cumbria, the Wensum in Norfolk and the Avon in Hampshire. A two-day conference was held in January and discussions focused on the latest research and findings.
Abstracts and presentations can be accessed online:
(http://www.demonstratingcatchmentmanagement.net/research/knowledge-exchange/the-demonstration-test-catchments-project-2013-conference)
ciwem/defra catchment-based approach conference
14 February 2013
(Posted 23 April 2013)
This one-day conference attracted 275 delegates. Richard Benyon, Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries, gave the keynote speech, giving a clear reaffirmation of the government’s support for the catchment-based approach. The role of the major stakeholders, learning from the catchment pilots, thinking on the policy framework, and wider adoption plans for the approach were the other main issues considered.
Outputs from the day can be seen at:
(http://www.coastms.co.uk/conferences/470/show)
coastal futures 2013 – review and future trends
23-24 January 2013
(Posted 23 April 2013)
This conference covered a host of subjects, ranging from marine mammal strandings, marine conservation zones, fisheries and fishery management, to marine litter and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
See presentations at: (http://www.coastms.co.uk/conferences/468)
towards a living north sea – the rivers trust autumn conference
14-15 November 2012
(Posted 23 April 2013)
This conference covered topic areas such as tidal barrages, sea trout management and science, strategic management and tracking migration.
Presentations from the conference can be found at:
(http://www.theriverstrust.org/seminars/archive/lns_Nov_2012/index.html)