INDEX

CONSULTATIONS

UK NEWS        

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

PROJECTS   

PUBLICATIONS

EVENTS

 

ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

 

CONSULTATIONS

The Water Act 2003: withdrawal of compensation on the grounds of Serious Damage - Defra Consultation

(Posted 16 February 2012)

The Water Act 2003, which introduced a number of changes to further the compliance with the Water Framework Directive, contained a power (section 27) to remove the right to compensation in certain circumstances. Under this provision, where a licence, that is not a time limited licence, is varied or revoked on, or after, 15 July 2012, no compensation will be payable where the Secretary of State is satisfied that the grounds for varying or revoking the licence is to protect the environment from serious damage. The impact of an abstraction on the environment depends on a number of factors, including for example the type/rarity of habitat or species affected, the scale and longevity/reversibility of the impacts and how these factors combine in specific cases.  The approach presented in the consultation identifies the key principles against which to assess whether the damage is serious for the purposes of section 27.

The consultation runs from 9 February 2012 to 3 May 2012.

For more details and information how to respond visit the Defra website:

(http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/02/09/water-act-1202/)

 

guidance ‘Pollution Prevention Pays’
Environment Agency Consultation

(Posted 16 February 2012)

Environment Agency is updating the good practice booklet currently known as ‘Pollution Prevention Pays: Getting your site right’. They are updating legal requirements and good practice action points for businesses across England and Wales. The purpose of this guidance is to help small to medium sized businesses, as well as larger businesses, reduce their risk of causing environmental pollution.

For more details and information how to respond visit the Agency website:

(https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/portal/ho/green/poll/pays)

 

the Fitness Check on Freshwater Policy
European Commission, Environment, Consultation

(Posted 13 January 2012)

As part of its Smart Regulation policy, the European Commission announced in its Work Programme for 2010 that, "to keep current regulation fit for purpose, the Commission will begin reviewing, from this year onwards, the entire body of legislation in selected policy fields through "Fitness Checks". The purpose is to identify excessive burdens, overlaps, gaps, inconsistencies and/or obsolete measures that may have appeared over time. The consultation offers an opportunity to all interested parties to express their views on issues of relevance to the European Commission’s Fitness Check of EU Freshwater Policy.

The consultation is opened from 06 December 2011 to 28 February 2012.

For information how to respond an to read the consultation document visit the Europa website:

(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/freswater.htm)

 

Implementation of the Nitrates Directive in England 2013-2016 - Defra Consultation

(Posted 13 January 2012)

The Nitrates Directive is intended to reduce water pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources. Defra is required to review the implementation of it every four years. Since its agreement in 1991, implementation in the UK has evolved. The last review, in 2007, eventually resulted in the designation of 62% of England as Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) and introduced a strengthened range of measures in the Nitrates Action Programme that farms within NVZs must comply with. The purpose of this Consultation Paper is three-fold:

  • To seek views on options for revised Action Programme measures to control nitrogen pollution from agricultural sources from 2013 onwards
  • To ask whether the consultees think these measures should be applied within discrete Nitrate Vulnerable Zones or throughout the whole of England
  • To set out some proposals to rationalise the Water Resources (Control of Pollution) (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) Regulations 2010.

Consultation started on 20 December 2011 and ends on 16 March 2012

The consultation and other relevant documents are available on the Defra website:

(http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2011/12/20/nitrates-directive/)

 

Implementation of the Sustainable Drainage Provisions in Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act (2010)
- Defra Consultation

(Posted 13 January 2012)

This consultation presents our proposals to implement the requirements for sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in new and redeveloped sites in England, which are provided for in Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act (2010). The Welsh Government will be consulting separately about implementation in Wales.

Consultation started on 20 December 2011 and ends on 13 March 2012.

For further information on how to respond and to view the consultation documents visit the Defra website:

(http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2011/12/20/sustainable-drainage-systems-1112/)

 

Defra discussion paper on the impact in England of EU Commission regulatory proposals for Common Agricultural Policy reform, post 2013

(Posted 13 January 2012)

This discussion paper invites views on the European Commission’s recently published Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Regulatory proposals for the period 2014 – 2020 that were released on 12 October 2011. Defra is seeking views from (English) farmers, environmental groups, rural communities, non-governmental organisations and other interested parties on how these proposals may impact those directly affected by the CAP.

The consultation started 12 December 2011 and ends 5 March 2012

For further information visit the Defra website:

(http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2011/12/12/cap-reform-1112/)

 

UK NEWS       

catchment restoration fund for england
£28 Million to Enable Communities to Spring-Clean England’s Rivers -
Defra News Release

(Posted 16 February 2012)

Part of a £92 million Defra commitment to clearing up England’s rivers and lakes, the Fund announced on 3 February 2012 will allow communities and charities to tackle local eyesores and encourage iconic wildlife to thrive by tackling pollution and removing redundant dams, weirs and other man-made structures to create habitats which work for wildlife. The fund will run initially from 2012/13 to 2014/15 with up to £10 million each year. The lead applicant for funding must be a charity or an organisation with charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes. Closing date for bids is 29 February.

Full text of the news release is available on the Defra website:

(http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2012/02/03/28-million-to-enable-communities-to-spring-clean-england%e2%80%99s-rivers/)

 

The Canal & River Trust
Over £1 billion investment secures future of new waterways charity

(Posted 16 February 2012)

On 31 January 2012 Environment Minister Richard Benyon announced that a new charity to look after England and Wales’ network of 200-year old canals and rivers will be given over £1 billion of Government help to give it the best possible start. In order to help the Canal & River Trust get off to the best possible start, Defra has committed a property endowment worth £460 million and funding of £800 million over the next 15 years to help put the nation’s historic network on a firm footing for the future. In addition the new Trust will give local communities and stakeholders a greater role in caring for their waterways.

Full text of the news release is available on the Defra website:

(http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2012/01/31/1-billion-investment-for-new-waterways-charity/)

 

UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) Published

(Posted 16 February 2012)

The Government published the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) on 25 January 2012, the first assessment of its kind for the UK and the first in a 5-year cycle. It sets out the main priorities for adaptation in the UK under 5 key themes identified in the CCRA 2012 Evidence Report – Agriculture and Forestry; Business, industries and Services; Health and Wellbeing; Natural Environment and Buildings and Infrastructure – and describes the policy context, and action already in place to tackle some of the risks in each area. It highlights the constraints of the CCRA analysis and provides advice on how to take account of the uncertainty within the analysis.

The Government Report, the Evidence Report, Reports and Summaries for sectors, including the water sector, and related documents are available on the Defra website:

(http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climate/government/risk-assessment/)

 

Environment Agency’s Water Framework Directive 2011 progress update

(Posted 13 January 2012)

River Basin Plans will be published every six years. Baseline results from the River Basin Plans were published in 2009. The Environment Agency has now published the 2011 progress update. The results are based on monitoring data taken over the period 2008 to 2010 inclusive. In England and Wales, 28% of surface water bodies (rivers, lakes and coastal & transitional waters) are at good ecological status/potential or better. The assessment in 2009 was 27%. For rivers, 27% of water bodies are at good ecological status/potential or better. The assessment in 2009 was 26%.

A summary of 2011 results for surface waters (rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal) can be viewed on the EA website:

(http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/data/97343.aspx)

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Proposal for a revised directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Priority Substances in the field of water quality

(Posted 16 February 2012)

On 31 January 2012 the Commission proposed to add 15 chemicals to the list of 33 pollutants that are monitored and controlled in EU surface waters. The 15 substances include industrial chemicals as well as substances used in biocides, pharmaceuticals and plant protection products. They have been selected on the basis of scientific evidence that they may pose a significant risk to health. The update will be achieved through a revision of the Directive on priority substances in the field of water quality. The Commission is proposing the revised list as part of a Directive amending the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Environmental Quality Standards Directive (EQSD). The proposal will pass to the Council and the Parliament for discussion and adoption. As a rule, Member States must meet environmental quality standards for new Priority Substances by 2021 (the deadline of the 2nd River Basin Management Plan).

For more information and full text of the press release visit the Europa website:

(http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/88&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)

 

Our Oceans, Seas and Coasts
New European Commission DG Environment website

(Posted 16 February 2012)

Provides information on EU Coastal and Marine Policy, interaction with other Policies (including the WFD), Good Environmental Status, international cooperation, research and more.

The new website is available at:

(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/marine/index_en.htm)

 

Pact for better River basins management of national and transboundary basins

(Posted 16 February 2012)

INBO, International Network of Basin Organizations, is inviting the participant of the 6th World Water Forum in Marseilles in March 2012 to subscribe to the Pact for better basins management in view of the development of integrated water resources management at national, regional and transboundary level to meet the challenges of the planet.

At the Forum, INBO also intends to launch a new handbook on Integrated Water Resources Management in Transboundary Basins.

For more information visit the INBO website:

(http://www.inbo-news.org/spip.php?page=sommaire&lang=en)

 

WFD Interactive maps now available on The EEA website

(Posted 16 February 2012)

EEA, the European Environment Agency, have updated interactive maps displaying data on surface and groundwater bodies reported in the River Basin Management Plans by Member States to the Commission under the Water Framework Directive. A new feature includes information on parameters such as the status of the fish population and other ecological factors used for classifying the individual water bodies, alongside information on types of pressures affecting the water body. Users need to zoom in and click on the water body of interest to view these parameters. For rivers, information at water body level is currently only displayed for 11 countries (AT, BU, CZ, DE, EL, FI, FR, NL, SE, SK, UK).

For further information visit the EEA website:

(http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/water/interactive/soe-wfd#smartTemplate=smart_folder_listing)

 

European Water Stewardship (EWS) Launched

(Posted 13 January 2012)

EWS is a voluntary scheme for Sustainable Water Management (SWM). It is an integrative system for business and agriculture to assess, verify and communicate sustainable water management practices. It is the result of a wide stakeholder process, coordinated by the European Water Partnership (EWP), and embodies the collective effort and know-how of water users in agriculture and industry. The EWS follows on the Water Vision for Europe by defining a system of clear steps towards sustainable water management at operational and river basin levels. The EWS comprises:

  • The European Water Stewardship (EWS) standard
  • The referring glossary and guideline
  • The EWS multi-site standard
  • The certification scheme
  • The referring EWS group certification scheme
  • The communication scheme

EWS was launched on 24 November 2011 in Brussels, Belgium. Highlights of the EWS Launch have been published online in ‘Voice of Water’, the December 2011 issue of the EWP newsletter.

For further information on the EWS visit the EWP website:

(http://www.ewp.eu/activities/water-stewardship/project-communication-swm/)

 

PROJECTS

Water Framework Directive Defra Funding
A Programme of 2011/12 WFD Delivery Projects

(Posted 16 February 2012)

In 2011/12, Defra has made £18m of the £110m of Defra funding to revamp England’s rivers (see WFDIC News Highlights, 22 April 2011) available to Environment Agency, Natural England, Coal Authority, The Wildlife Trusts, The Rivers Trust, to Defra’s Non-Native Invasive Species Secretariat and Local Action Group. The projects will contribute to bringing water bodies to Good Status and are over and above measures in River Basin Management Plans. In the case of Natural England’s projects, there is particular attention focused on water bodies within SSSIs, SACs and Natura 2000 sites. They include projects:

  • To restore rivers and lakes such as restoring old river courses, helping fish migration through fish pass installation, increasing channel widths, dredging and removal of silt, restoring in-stream habitat, increasing water retention.
  • To tackle diffuse rural pollution such as repairing sheep dips, fencing water courses, cattle bridges;
  • To tackle diffuse urban pollution through trialling different drainage systems
  • To tackle invasive non-native species such as Himalayan balsam and signal crayfish

A full list of the individual projects has been published recently and is available to download at the Defra website:

(http://www.archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/water/documents/wfd-projects-2011-12.pdf)

 

WFD Funding for Local Action Groups (LAGs) in England

(Posted 16 February 2012)

Defra is inviting bids for funding from local action groups to support work on tackling aquatic invasive non-native species. The Environment Agency has secured four years of funding from Defra to deliver Water Framework Directive outcomes. Some of this funding will be available to LAGs to deliver improved ecological quality. Over £250,000 was allocated in the financial year 2011/2012. Bids must be sent to Defra by 17 March 2012.

For further information how to apply for funding visit the NNSS (GB Non-native Species Secretariat) website:

(https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/index.cfm?pageid=355)

 

Big Waterways Clean Up 2012 – BWCU2012

(Posted 16 February 2012)

BWCU2012 is a partnership campaign to improve the East London’s rivers and canals ahead of the London 2012 Games by July 2012. It is led by environmental charity Thames21, with the support from London Waterways Commission, Environment Agency, British Waterways, London 2012 Changing Places programme, Mayor of London, Team London, Olympic Park Legacy Company, Port of London Authority, London Councils, City of London Corporation, and the Inland Waterways Association.

The new campaign, launched on 8 February 2012, aims to involve at least 4000 Londoners in more than 80 events, transforming over 50 waterway locations along 30km of rivers and canals by July 2012 when the eyes of the world turn to the capital. Events will include walking waterway litter-picks, wildflower meadow planting and non-native invasive weed removal.

 For more information on the project visit the Thames21 website:

(http://www.thames21.org.uk/project/bwcu2012/)

Full text of the press release is available on the Thames21 website:

(http://www.thames21.org.uk/media-releases/)

 

Defra River Improvement Fund

(Posted 13 January 2012)

Rivers trust
This Fund is grant funding from Defra for projects that contribute towards meeting the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive and achieving Good Ecological Status, the Habitats Directive and the EU Eel Regulation. The fund is administered by the Rivers Trust (formerly ART, the Association of Rivers Trust) and funds disbursed to local Rivers Trusts for approved projects, related mainly to fish passage, SAC & SSSI habitat, Salmon Action Plans and Eel Management Plans. This fund is limited to projects in England. For Phase 3, the commencement date for eligible expenditure is 1 June 2011. All costs must be committed by 31 March 2012, subject to Defra contract. All projects must be completed by 30 September 2012, with final claims submitted etc. by 31 October 2012.

For further information visit the Rivers Trust website:

(http://www.associationofriverstrusts.org.uk/projects/defra_ri/defra_river_improvements_fund.html)

 

REURIS (Revitalisation of urban river spaces) project

(Posted 16 February 2012)

This project (2008 – 2011) was implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund). REURIS was aimed at developing a holistic strategic approach that addressed ecological, economic, spatial and social issues and compiled a common set of methods, tools and procedures to deal with the challenges of urban river revitalisation. Issue 6 of REURIS Newsletter, published in January 2012, summarises achievements of the project. Closing Conference of the project was held on 24-25 of January, 2012 in Katowice.

Presentations from the conference and the REURIS project publication: ‘Manual for Urban River Revitalisation’ are available for download at the project’s website:

(http://www.reuris.gig.eu/en/home.html)

 

URSULA – urban river corridors and sustainable living agendas

(Updated 16 February 2012)

The research addresses the hypothesis that there are significant social, economic and environmental gains to be made by integrated and innovative interventions in urban river corridors. The project URSULA tackles river corridor issues holistically by treating the river and its urban setting as a system. 

The last of the URSULA conferences was two day event held on the 17 and 18 November in Sheffield. The theme was 'integrating multiple facets of river corridor development', so there were a diverse set of speakers, from both URSULA academics and students, and also external speakers. Presentation abstracts and pdfs of slides for the speakers are available on the URSULA website. To disseminate the results of the URSULA project in a format that can be quickly and conveniently understood by people who don't have time to get to grip with the academic literature (e.g. practitioners of urban design), a series of bulletins are being produced which summarise the findings of the research. Further bulletins will be added to this list as they are published.

The Research bulletins and other outputs from the project are available on the URSULA website:

http://www.ursula.ac.uk/

Launch of a new university website for the Don Catchment was announced on the URSULA website on 10 February 2012. The new site is to showcase the Don catchment as a study system, and detail the various Sheffield University water-related research projects that use the catchment as a study system. (http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/doncatchment)

 

RESTORE – Partnership for European River Restoration

(Posted 13 January 2012)

RESTORE is a partnership for sharing knowledge and promoting best practice on river restoration in Europe. It is supported by LIFE+ funding from the European Commission and works closely together with the European Centre for River Restoration (ECRR). RESTORE is a partnership between the Environment Agency, Defra, River Restoration Centre (RRC - UK), Wetlands International (WI - Netherlands), Government Service for Land and Water Management (DLG - Netherlands), Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) and Italian Centre for River Restoration (CIRF). The Environment Agency is the overall project leader of RESTORE. The first issue of RESTORE newsletter is available on the RESTORE website.

This month the partnership selected SFW to develop an interactive knowledge management system to compile and share information on at least 500 river restoration projects throughout Europe. The Wiki-style online information source will be used by European government agencies, engineers, ecologists, planners and other parties involved in restoring rivers. The system will be built using open source software. It is due to be delivered in June 2012.

For further information visit the RESTORE Partnership website:

(http://www.restorerivers.eu)

 

£100,000 fund to help farmers protect wildlife and manage flood risk

(Posted 13 January 2012)

On 28 December 2011 Environment Minister Richard Benyon unveiled the 12 successful projects that bid for Defra funding to benefit farmers and rural communities across England to reduce the risk of flooding, maintain farmland and create new wildlife habitats. The Internal Drainage Board (IDB) Grant Scheme was launched in August to help IDBs develop innovative ways to improve their efficiency while helping protect their local natural environment. Local IDBs manage water levels in areas that require special drainage, such as farmland in river valleys. Grant funding amounting to £99,796 is being awarded to the 12 most innovative and effective applications from across the country: four in Somerset, two in Nottinghamshire, two in Norfolk, two in Yorkshire & Humber, one in Bedfordshire, one in North Lincolnshire.

For further details visit the Defra website:

(http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/12/28/100000-fund-to-help-farmers-protect-wildlife-and-manage-flood-risk/)

 

Demonstration Test Catchment (DTC) Project
National DTC Website Launched

(Posted 13 January 2012)

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. DTC project is currently working in three river catchments across England, the Eden in Cumbria, the Wensum in Norfolk and the Avon in Hampshire. In December 2011 the new national DTC website was launched to provide a key focal point to allow knowledge to be exchanged among all those who have an interest in diffuse pollution management within the national DTC community itself, in addition to encouraging wider international sharing of best practice. The website is being managed by a team from the universities of Newcastle and Lancaster who are running the Knowledge Exchange component of the DTC programme.

The first DTC Newsletter (November 2011) is also available on the new website:

(http://www.demonstratingcatchmentmanagement.net/)

 

PUBLICATIONS

The State of Soil in Europe
A Contribution of JRC to the European Environment Agency’s Environment State and Outlook Report – SOER 2010

JRC Reference Reports JRC68418, EUR 25186 EN, 2012, 80 pages

(Posted 16 February 2012)

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has joined forces with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre on 'The state of soil in Europe', a comprehensive scientific report highlighting the need to protect and maintain soil in a co-ordinated way across the European Union. The report warns that failure to tackle increased soil degradation could eventually compromise food production. Moreover, degraded soil is less able to prevent droughts and flooding and stop biodiversity loss.

For further information and download the report visit the EEA website:

(http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/soil-protection-critical-to-safeguard)

 

Water Saving Potential in Agriculture in Europe:
Findings from the Existing Studies and Application to Case Studies

BIO Intelligent Service, Final Report prepared for European Commission DG ENV, 12 January 2012

(Posted 16 February 2012)

The importance of the issue of water saving in agriculture is highlighted by the numerous studies and assessments on water saving in agriculture that have been carried out so far. The objective of this study was to provide clarification on the current situation of agricultural water use in Europe, and to compile conclusions from this range of studies in order to provide input on what options need to be considered at EU level to maximise savings in agricultural water use.

The report is available for download at the Europa website:

(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/quantity/water_agri.htm#water_saving)

 

Demand management bulletin Resumed as a Quarterly Publication

(Posted 16 February 2012)

After one year break the Environment Agency has resumed the publication of the bulletin.  It will continue to provide news and analysis on UK and international water demand management and water conservation issues. It also promotes good practice.  The January 2012 edition includes short articles with web links on topics including the government's Water White Paper and the supporting Case for Change, drought conditions in parts of England and EU Blueprint.

The bulletin is available to download at the Environment Agency website:

(http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/news/103450.aspx)

 

PRACTICAL RIVER RESTORATION APPRAISAL GUIDANCE FOR MONITORING OPTIONS (PRAGMO)
Guidance document on suitable monitoring for river and floodplain restoration projects

Published by the River Restoration Centre (RRC), November 2011, 330 pages

(Posted 13 January 2012)

This guidance aims to assist all practitioners involved in the process of setting monitoring protocols as part of a river restoration project. Because there is a wide range of organisations, with a wide range of knowledge and abilities, this guidance seeks to include monitoring strategies suitable for different groups.

The steps outlined here are therefore intended to support technical staff working for the competent authorities, consultancies and academic institutions as well as organisations with limited funds and a small/volunteer workforce, which may need to demonstrate success to Trustees and other funders.

It is a ‘living’ document and it will be updated as new information and new methods become known.

PRAGMO is freely available for download on the RRC website:

(http://www.therrc.co.uk/rrc_pragmo.php)

 

Investment in natural assets

SEPAView, Published - December 16, 2011

(Posted 13 January 2012)

SEPA has been the guardian of the Scottish Government’s restoration fund for the last three years. The work areas they are targeting are based on the objectives from the river basin management plans to help to meet the environmental targets set out in the plans for Scotland and Solway Tweed river basin districts. The article outlines the past work and areas SEPA is focusing on in the future.

The article is available online at the new SEPAView website:

(http://www.sepaview.com/2011/investment-in-natural-assets)

 

EVENTS

Coastal Futures 2012 - Review and Future Trends

18 – 19 January 2012, London

(Posted 16 February 2012)

The conference, organised by CMS, covered a wide range of topics, including ICZM and planning policy, Flood and erosion risk management, Nuclear environmental impacts,  Marine licensing, Marine Monitoring, Impacts of Offshore Wind, Protecting mobile marine species,  Ecosystem change and prawn fisheries, MCZs,  Scallop fishery management, Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy – Discards – IFCAs - MMO & Fisheries

Marine Strategy Framework Directive and  Marine Spatial Planning.

The  presentations are available at the organiser’s website:

(http://www.coastms.co.uk/conferences/455/show)

 

LIFE+RESTORE PROJECT West Region engagement event and workshop outputs: River Restoration Policy and River Basin Planning.

29 November 2011, Paris, France.

(Posted 16 February 2012)

Across Europe, how to deliver the 2nd and 3rd cycles of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) is being discussed. How effective delivery can be reached through policy and planning in the context of catchment management, land use planning and the implementation of river restoration techniques needs to be discussed. The EU LIFE+ Information and Communication RESTORE project is a mechanism through which information and guidance can be communicated. A workshop was held in Paris to facilitate discussion on existing and future policy models and mechanisms that can help deliver WFD.

Best Practice River Restoration - Design & Delivery.

13 - 14 July 2011, New Forest National Park

Practitioners were invited from across Western Europe to take part in a workshop to discuss the issues which arise between the design of a river restoration project and the on the ground delivery of the project

Workshop Agendas, Workshop Reports and the presentations are available on the River Restoration Centre website:

(http://www.therrc.co.uk/rrc_workshops.php)

 

Severn Rivers trust- River Severn Conference
19 November 2011, Ironbridge, Shropshire

(Posted 16 February 2012)

The Severn Rivers Trust is an independent environmental charity established to secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of the rivers, streams, watercourses and water bodies in the Severn catchment, and to advance the education of the public in the management of water and the wider environment. Key topics of this first Severn Fisheries Conference included:

  • Decline of Silver Fish
  • Water Framework Directive
  • Predation
  • Habitat Improvement

Presentations from the conference are available on the Severn Rivers Trust website:

http://severnriverstrust.com/category/events/

 

Europe-INBO 2011
International conference, organized by the Group of European Basin Organizations for the Implementation of the Water Framework Directive

27-30 September 2011, Oporto, Portugal

(Posted 16 February 2012)

The meeting was organized around main and current topics on the implementation of the WFD in the National and Transboundary River Basin Districts, in particular:

  • Water and energy: the dilemmas, costs and benefits
  • Water governance in transboundary River Basins: Strategic cooperation and twinning among water authorities
  • Adaptation to long term challenges linked to climate change and prevention of extreme phenomena
  • Developing new knowledge and know-how on river hydro-morphology, restoration and protection of water ecosystems,
  • Cooperation with the neighbouring Countries, non-member of the European Union, for the application of the WFD principles and methods

The implementation of the WFD is now in an active and operational phase, which directly involves the Basin Organizations or the ‘District Authorities’ and all their partners that are facing operational problems in the field. The aim of INBO is to enable them to meet regularly and informally in order to exchange their practical experiences.

This conference in Oporto was also part of the European Regional Preparatory Process of the 6th World Water Forum to be held in Marseilles - France from 12 to 17 March 2012.

Details of the conference programme, the final declaration, the presentations and other relevant documents are available on the INBO website:

(http://www.inbo-news.org/inbo/papers-and-photos-of-past-events/euro-inbo-2011-and-general-assembly-of-the)

 

6th World Water Forum – time for solutions

12 – 17 March 2012, Marseille, France

(Posted 13 January 2012)

The World Water Forum is regarded as the world’s largest meeting concerning water. Since 1997 it is taking place every three years.  Thematic process commission has developed 12 priorities of action as well as 3 conditions of success. Regional process commissions have also defined priorities and targets for Africa, Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and 2 cross continental regions. The European Regional Process Steering Committee have selected and detailed 12 ‘Specific Europe Region Priority Target’ (SERPT). Among other plans the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) have announced a launch at the Forum in Marseille of the 4th edition of the World Water Development Report (WWDR4) - Managing Water under Uncertainty and Risk.

Latest news, Newsletters and extensive documentation relating to the preparation of the 6th World Water Forum are available on the event’s website:

(http://www.worldwaterforum6.org/en/)

 

The EU Blueprint to Safeguard Europe’s Water - Highlighting the Critical Issues for the UK

11 January 2012, London

(Posted 13 January 2012)

The aim of the conference was to raise awareness and brief a wide range of stakeholders on the EU’s Blueprint to Safeguard Europe’s Water process.   In particular, it focused on a number of the technical issues that have been raised by the process including: the strategic vision for Europe’s water, water scarcity, research and innovation, ecosystem goods and services, climate change impacts, closer integration of WFD- CAP objectives and water footprinting.

Details of the conference programme and conference outputs are available to download at the CMS website:

(http://www.coastms.co.uk/conferences/453/show)

 

Catchment Delivery: Towards more Effective Environmental and Societal Benefits

23 November 2011, London

(Posted 13 January 2012)

The Coalition Government have given the strongest endorsement for the need for catchment scale delivery fully involving local stakeholders of the Water Framework Directive and other environmental programmes. The aim of this conference will be to describe the major catchment scale initiatives and will focus on how these can be best drawn together into an overall catchment approach that delivers sustainable, integrated and effective gains for the environment and society

Details of the conference programme and conference outputs are available to download at the CMS website:

(http://www.coastms.co.uk/conferences/450/show)

 

Defra Water Stakeholder Forum

18 November 2011, London

(Posted 13 January 2012)

Jan2012-03
The keynote speech at this Forum was presented by Richard Benyon, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment and Fisheries (left with R Moore, the Forum co-ordinator, C Ryder, Head of Water Quality, Defra, and R Wallace, Head WFD Team, Defra). In addition to regular updates from Defra and the Environment Agency the presentations included SuDS, CAP reform, non-agricultural diffuse pollution, WFD funding and EU update.

Copies of the documents from the Forum, including the Minutes and all the presentations are available to download from our website:

(http://www.euwfd.com/html/england_and_the_wfd.html)

 

 

Climate change and the Water Sector - Integrating Adaptation and Mitigation in Practice

17 November 2011, London

(Posted 13 January 2012)

The aim of this CMS conference was to take stock of current thinking on climate change, the developing evidence base on emissions and risks, and in covering both adaptation and mitigation and their inter-relationships to look at how this thinking is being put into practice in response to the major drivers. The conference demonstrated the methods and practice being developed and used in response to current policy drivers such as, Climate Change Act, Future Price Limits (Ofwat), EU Directives (e.g. the WFD), and development of new Water Resource Management Plans.

Details of the conference programme and conference outputs are available to download at the CMS website:

(http://www.coastms.co.uk/conferences/451/show)

 

Coastal Flooding and Erosion Risk Management - Understanding Change: Risk and Organisational Responses

20 October 2011, London

(Posted 13 January 2012)

This CMS conference aimed to take stock of the past 18 months of new guidance, legislation and the changing emphasis of the Government’s policies in coastal flood and erosion risk. It also looked at our developing understanding of the risks to coastal communities, businesses and environment and the next steps that are needed.

Outputs from the conference are available to download at the CMS website:

(http://www.coastms.co.uk/conferences/449/show)