The Welland Valley Partnership

 realising a new vision for our water environment The Welland Valley Partnership's draft plan and invitation to get involved March 2012 Foreword The River Welland rises above Market Harborough and flows through the gently rolling countryside of Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, before reaching Stamford where it is one of the features that makes the town so attractive. Below Stamford, the river continues on its way to Market Deeping and Spalding where its character changes, slowing down as it becomes one of the four fenland rivers which drain the Fens, before entering The Wash. People have relied on the Welland for thousands of years for water, food, drainage, transport and energy and as a result, the River and its valley have changed enormously. For example, the River used to flow through the Trinity Bridge in Crowland, which is now almost a mile away and the bridge is now a dry monument in the centre of the town. While many of these changes have been positive, such as the creation of the water meadows which were such an important feature of the Welland Valley, others have been destructive. Although we have seen vast improvements in water quality, we are left with the legacy of some of these changes, particularly those associated with the physical nature of the river, how it behaves in draining the land and how much water flows in it. There are also other newer pressures affecting the river, such as sediment from fields. The Welland Valley Partnership has recently been set up to bring a wide range of partners together, including the Welland Rivers Trust, to try to solve some of the problems. The Rivers Trust was set up by volunteers who want to see a better river and to act to achieve it. We are pleased to be part of the Partnership and to take a central role. A lot of work is already being done to try to improve water quality and wildlife habitats in and around the River. Now we want more people and organisations to get involved in identifying what else needs to be done and helping to make a difference. This draft plan sets out what some of the issues are, what is already happening, what more could be done and who can help. This plan is just the start of a process to involve individuals, communities, organisations, companies and farmers in working together to improve the River. We want you to join the partnership and to help in any way to make the River even more beautiful, a wonderful resource for wildlife and a valued amenity. We want to hear your views, suggestions and offers of help to make the Welland Valley a better place. To offer your views and ideas, or for more information, please contact Amanda Jenkins at ajenkins@wellandriverstrust.org.uk or telephone her on 01476 550427. Peter Barham Chairman Welland Valley Partnership Steering Group 1 Contents page Map of the Welland Valley Rivers ........................................................................... 3
Our vision ............................................................................................................... 4
How can you help improve the Welland for everyone? ............................................................ 4
Our starting points .................................................................................................. 5
Background ................................................................................................................................ 5
The Water Framework Directive................................................................................................ 5
The Welland Valley Partnership................................................................................................. 6
Purpose .......................................................................................................................... 7
Working with others ...................................................................................................... 7
Improving water quality.......................................................................................... 9
Phosphate .................................................................................................................................. 9
Sediments .................................................................................................................................. 9
Pesticides ................................................................................................................................. 10
Protecting drinking water ........................................................................................................ 10
Working through the Welland Valley Partnership................................................................... 11
The future ................................................................................................................................ 12
Improving habitat quality...................................................................................... 13
Current activity ........................................................................................................................ 14
Habitat restoration ...................................................................................................... 14
The Sea Trout to Stamford Project .............................................................................. 14
Drayton Habitat Enhancement Project........................................................................ 15
Working through the Welland Valley Partnership................................................................... 15
The future ................................................................................................................................ 16
Improving water resources.................................................................................... 18
Current activities...................................................................................................................... 19
Working through the Welland Valley Partnership................................................................... 19
The future ................................................................................................................................ 19
Improving the River for people and wildlife .......................................................... 20
Current activity ........................................................................................................................ 20
Working through the Welland Valley Partnership................................................................... 20
Stamford Millstream Restoration Project.................................................................... 20
Fish and angling ....................................................................................................................... 21
The role of angling clubs and promoting awareness ............................................................... 21
The future ................................................................................................................................ 21
Appendix 1 ‐ reasons for failure map..................................................................... 23
Appendix 2 ‐ water quality .................................................................................... 24
Appendix 3 ‐ habitat.............................................................................................. 29
Appendix 4 ‐ fish ................................................................................................... 32
Appendix 5 ‐ demand management at Anglian Water ........................................... 34
2 Map of the Welland Valley Rivers 3 Our vision The Welland Valley Partnership Vision is that the River Welland, from its source at Sibbertoft near Leicester, to the tidal limit at Spalding in Lincolnshire, including all its tributaries, will: • be cleaner and healthier; • support more fish, birds, and other wildlife; • meet the needs of drinking‐water suppliers and business; • provide a more attractive amenity for people to enjoy; • be sensitively managed by everyone whose activities affect it; • continue to provide drainage and manage flood risk. We will work with everyone who wants to help realise this vision. This includes individuals, land managers, local communities, businesses, voluntary bodies, local authorities and government agencies. Do you share our ambition? Please share your ideas and aspirations with us. How can you help improve the Welland for everyone? We want everyone to value and enjoy the Welland, its brooks and streams and to understand their importance as a resource to people, wildlife, farmers and business in the Welland Valley. Our Project Officer will be visiting communities and groups in the Welland Valley. We want you to tell us what you know about the river and what we should do for the Welland. To see what we are already doing to help improve the Welland, visit the Welland Rivers Trust website at www.wellandriverstrust.org.uk Do you have ideas or aspirations for your section of the Welland or its tributaries? Would you like to learn more about the wildlife that lives in and around the River? Do you want to try fishing? Have you painted pictures or written poetry about our Welland streams? Do you have any stories to tell or photographs to show us? Are you part of an organisation that could help us with our projects? Please contact our Project Officer, Amanda Jenkins, at ajenkins@wellandriverstrust.org.uk or phone her on 01476 550427 and pass on your suggestions. Or you can leave a message for Amanda on the website at www.wellandriverstrust.org.uk Welland in the snow, December 2009 Photo by: Nisha Keshav 4 Our starting points Background The River Welland, and the streams and brooks that flow into it, collect water from an area of approximately 600 square miles, with a total length of more than 300 miles of waterway. It has several major tributaries including Langton Brook, Eye Brook, the River Chater and the River Gwash, which flow through the same rural landscape, often passing through smaller settlements along their course. The Welland provides many resources which we don’t often consider but need to safeguard for ourselves and future generations, including: • our drinking water; • water for livestock and our food crops that grow beside it; • enjoyment through activities like fishing, boating and walking; • a home for the wildlife which lives within and around it. The health of the river is indicated by the species which live within it and the quality and volume of its water. An unhealthy river is a less useful resource for people and wildlife. Welland High Bank, Deeping St Nicholas. The Water Framework Directive The Environment Agency has assessed all rivers in England and Wales for fish, plants, insects, algae and other indicators, including phosphate and oxygen levels, to support the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. This characterises our rivers in terms of ecology and water quality. There are five gradings for a river’s ecological status: High, Good, Moderate, Poor or Bad. Only rivers reaching 'Good' status or above are said to be meeting the required Water Framework Directive standards. The current status of Welland and its tributaries is: • Good ‐ 9% or 47 km of river ‐ 2 water bodies • Moderate ‐ 64% or 162 km of river ‐ 14 water bodies • Poor ‐ 27% or 116 km of river ‐ 6 water bodies 5 From this assessment, it is evident most stretches of the River Welland system are failing to meet the required standard. Only two out of 22 river sections achieved 'Good' status. A 'reasons for failure' map is included in the appendix. There are potentially many reasons for these failures. Inputs to the Welland river system come from many sources, including sewage treatment works, agriculture, industry, business, roads, developments and misconnection of drainage systems. Following the first assessment of rivers, the Government has asked organisations to work in partnership to investigate concerns and work out local actions to improve our failing rivers and to tackle wider issues within their catchments. This led to the launch of a Pilot Catchment approach in 2011, incorporating wider environmental and social benefit within the river network and its landscape. The River Welland was chosen as one of the Pilot Catchments. On World Water Day, 22 March 2011, Richard Benyon, Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries, announced that these pilots should: ‘… provide a clear understanding of the issues in the catchment, involve local communities in decision‐
making by sharing evidence, listening to their ideas, working out priorities for action and seeking to deliver integrated actions that address local issues in a cost effective way and protect local resources’. The Welland Valley Partnership We think the best way to improve the health and resource of the Welland is to work at a local level to identify problems and tackle them together. DEFRA has provided funding until the end of 2012 to help form a steering group and appoint a project officer to co‐ordinate activities through the Welland Rivers Trust Our steering group, know as the Welland Valley Partnership, formed in August 2011. Our partnership includes local authorities, organisations, charities and interest groups and is growing in numbers and commitment. The partnership is chaired by the Welland Rivers Trust. All partners are equally committed to help restore the Welland and consider other aspirations and concerns relating to water management, community and environment. The initial steering group has grown and now includes; • Anglian Water • Angling Trust • Environment Agency • Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GCWT) • National Farmers Union (NFU) • Natural England • Rutland County Council • Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board • Welland Rivers Trust We aspire to keep up our commitment to a better River Welland into the future, beyond the end of 2012. This draft improvement plan, written by the partnership, will highlight the projects that are currently being carried out by Welland Valley partners and the work planned for the future to improve the health of the rivers in the Valley. It will grow to capture people's ideas an aspirations for the River and show how we can help to realise them. 6 A list of evidence, projects and other information about the work that the Welland Valley partners are undertaking or planning is illustrated by a map of all our projects. You can find this and more detailed information on individual schemes at www.wellandriverstrust.org.uk or by contacting Amanda Jenkins at ajenkins@wellandriverstrust.org.uk Purpose The purpose of our partnership is to: • provide a clear understanding of the issues that affect the Welland; • enthuse local communities, groups, businesses and organisations and involve them in decision‐making and activities to help them improve, enjoy and understand their river and environment; • work out priorities for improvement – what needs doing, where and in what order; • deliver these improvements in a joined‐up and cost‐effective way; • monitor the things we do to make sure they keep working effectively to improve the river and local resources; • share information, evidence and ideas; • demonstrate and, where necessary, test new innovative ways to resolve issues. The partnership will also seek to maintain the things we have delivered into the future and provide a national blueprint for other pilot catchment schemes. To deliver this we will: • seek involvement from as wide a range of people and interests as possible to develop and agree mutually‐beneficial plans to improve the river; • promote greater awareness of the vast network of interlinked watercourses within the Welland Valley and how actions upstream have impacts downstream; • encourage everyone whose actions affect water to think about how they can change their practices to minimise damage and maximise benefits; • provide information and advice, harnessing and promoting good practice from within the Welland Valley and elsewhere; • identify priority actions and help target them to those parts of the Valley where they will bring the greatest benefit most quickly; • record actions taken to improve the river valley and monitor how these help to protect and enhance it; • seek funds from all possible sources to help ensure good ideas can be implemented; • help organisations to work together to make best use of scarce funds and to ensure no opportunities are missed; • seek regular feedback on how we are doing, share these assessments, and review and adjust our work as necessary, in pursuit of the vision. Working with others We recognise we will only achieve our vision by working in partnership with local communities, groups, businesses, organisations, authorities and individuals. By working together we can achieve more cost‐effective improvements for the Welland, encourage others to do the same and help people to understand, enjoy and engage with their local environment. We need your help to: • build‐up information about the River Welland, its tributaries, brooks and streams; • build a picture of existing or planned water related projects and events on the Welland; • develop and share good practice and consistent advice; • capture ideas and aspirations for the Welland Valley; • engage, enthuse and work with local communities, groups, businesses and organisations. 7 Since our partnership was formed, we have identified many relevant issues, initiatives and ideas, and have started to prioritise these and take them forward through working groups on: • water quality ‐ Resource Protection Group • habitats and fish ‐ Habitats Group As the partnership progresses and further issues and pressures are recognised and prioritised, we are planning to set up other groups to tackle and begin to fix these problems. For example: • a water resources group to look at the issues of water quantity and flow ‐ very relevant in 2012 as the consequences of the drought are already being felt by our farmers, businesses and the people of the Welland Valley. • a community group to ensure that people are involved in decision making and can help us to consider and plan the work that we do. We want to encourage you to help us to improve and enhance the Welland and its brooks and streams. Please contact our Partnership Officer, Amanda Jenkins, at the Welland Rivers Trust if you would like to be involved in one of our groups, or if you have any ideas or comments about our work. Amanda is the key contact for anyone wanting to support the Partnership or get actively involved. We will set up terms of reference for each group and work programmes to ensure that our work is well planned and maintained so that our improvements are sustained and that the River Welland is well managed into the future and beyond the timeframe set out for the Pilot Catchment initiative. The River Welland is vitally important in helping to reduce flood risk to people, property and infrastructure; this will always be a primary consideration for our work. All work carried out within the Welland Valley Partnership work programme will consider and conform to our obligations under national and international legislation. 8 Improving water quality The Environment Agency has carried out monitoring work and investigations which suggests the main impacts on water quality in the Valley arise from sediment, nutrients and pesticides. These enter watercourses from many different sources (e.g. run‐off from fields, roads, developed land and septic tanks). Taken together, the collective impact of these sources of diffuse pollution is significant. It is exacerbated by pollutants from point sources such as sewage treatment works and industrial sites, which are usually controlled through formal discharge consents. River Welland, May 2010. Photo by Nisha Keshav. Phosphate The nutrient phosphate is essential to plant growth, but the levels of phosphate in the Welland are a cause for concern. Elevated phosphate levels can cause excessive plant growth leading to rivers being choked by weed and algae, reducing flows, removing oxygen from the water and reducing the capacity of the river to support animals, such as fish. A great deal has already been done to reduce phosphate inputs into the river by treating water at sewage treatment works and changing farming activities, However, improvements to water quality are now slowing and the levels of phosphate are still too high. Sediments We are particularly concerned about the sediment which enters ditches and streams. It causes damage by clogging up river gravels, preventing fish from spawning and reducing the viability of their eggs. Nutrients and pesticides can also adhere to soil particles and then be released into the water, reducing water quality. Once in the water, fine sediments are very hard to remove. They settle on the bed slowly, releasing any chemicals they hold over many years. Sediment can be released into rivers as a result of some cultivation practices on arable land and allowing livestock to trample river banks. Sediment is also washed off roads into highway drains and into the river. 9 Pesticides Drinking water standards have very low tolerance limits for pesticides. At certain times of year, the Welland experiences raised concentrations of metaldehyde, a pesticide found in slug pellets. Current water treatment processes are inefficient at removing this particular pesticide and as such, compliance with drinking water standards is at risk. Cypermethrin is an insecticide, widely used in a number of products including sheep dip and arable crop insecticides. It is highly toxic to aquatic insects, including freshwater shrimp, an abundant species found in most UK rivers. Recent Environment Agency sampling has identified a disturbing lack of this species on the Welland between Market Harborough and Stamford. Freshwater shrimp is a main food source for fish. Although no link has been proven, there is concern that lack of freshwater shrimp could be a factor affecting fish numbers on sections of the Welland. Protecting drinking water The River Welland is an important source of drinking water and industrial water supply. Water from the Welland is pumped from Tinwell near Stamford to Rutland Water. Rutland Water, the largest of Anglian Water’s reservoirs, was constructed and filled in the 1970s and provides our drinking water. The Water Framework Directive requires us to identify drinking water protected areas where there is a risk of failing drinking water standards or areas requiring water company investment in expensive treatment to ensure compliance. One of the risk areas is the Welland catchment above Stamford and Rutland Water. Several partner initiatives have already taken place to improve water quality in the Welland Valley. These are summarised in the table below. Project Description Issues addressed Partners Water‐friendly farming Working with farmers on the Eye Brook and Stonton Brook in the upper Welland, this Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust project investigates ways of reducing diffuse pollution in a practical farming environment. Phosphate, pesticide (metaldehyde) and sediment. Drayton habitat enhancement project A multi benefit project improving water quality and habitats on the Welland. Source apportionment work Sediment, phosphate, benefits plants fish and insects. Phosphate This investigation work involves modelling the Welland rivers system for phosphate contribution from point and diffuse sources. It can model different scenarios of phosphate reduction and will provide information on how best to resolve phosphate input to the environment. Sediment During and after heavy rainfall, volunteers trained by Welland Rivers Trust have been walking river banks recording areas where soil and sediment is running from the surrounding land Walkovers to look for issues and areas of concern 10 Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Anglian Water, Pond Conservation, Local farmers, Environment Agency, Syngenta, York University. Environment Agency, Local farmer, Welland Rivers Trust, Wild Trout Trust. Anglian Water Welland Rivers Trust, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, local volunteers, local farmers, Environment Tackling pollution from sheep dip Promotion and delivery of Environmental Stewardship Schemes 'Sediment Matters' and entering the Welland and its tributaries. This can then be used to target areas to carry out work to help prevent or reduce problems. This is an excellent way of informing and involving local people about issues on the Welland. Research and sampling into the potential link between sheep dip and the lack of freshwater shrimp within the Welland Valley is ongoing. Improvements in technology allows Cypermethrin to be detected at low concentrations in the river. Using this sampling technology, a source of Cypermethrin was found at a farm on the main Welland where shrimp were absent. When the source was removed, freshwater shrimp returned. Results from this research will be used to inform actions to prevent or reduce any negative effects from Cypermethrin. Working with farmers and landowners across the catchment, Natural England has been promoting the benefits of both Entry Level Stewardship and Higher Level Stewardship schemes to reduce diffuse pollution. A project undertaken by Environment Agency freshwater biologists investigates the issues of sediments, specifically in the Welland Valley but its findings have national implications. The results have been used to help target priority areas of work and will be used in future to inform further research within the Welland Valley. Agency Pesticide (Cypermethrin) Environment Agency, local farmer Phosphate, pesticide and sediment. Natural England Sediment Environment Agency Working through the Welland Valley Partnership We have already launched several initiatives which build on the excellent work undertaken to date and are designed to realise medium‐term benefits by 2015. This includes forming a Resource Protection Group in December 2011 to: • identify the main sources and causes of diffuse pollution on the River Welland and its tributaries; • determine priorities for resource protection; • propose and implement actions to tackle the main issues using a phased approach. Members of the group include: • Anglian Water • Country Land and Business Association • Campaign for the Farmed Environment • Environment Agency 11 •
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Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust Independent farm advisors National Farmers Union Welland Rivers Trust We have already made good progress including establishing some clear priorities, starting to provide information and advice, publishing a promotional leaflet, and developing proposals for a capital grant scheme through the Welland Rivers Trust. We divided watercourses into three priority areas. Details of these can be found on our website. We have secured the services of an independent farm advisor and a Campaign for Farmed Environment Officer who will contact farmers with fields adjacent to the Welland. They will begin with Medbourne Brook and work through the priority list of rivers. They will offer: • a walkover to assess and identify any resource protection issues; • advisory visits to discuss resource protection measures; • potential funding for sections where resource protection measures could improve the Welland. We have secured limited funds to support investment in simple resource protection measures (e.g. fencing and cattle drinkers), building on works already completed on the main Welland upstream of Stamford. Farmers in this area have already contacted us for further information. The Welland Rivers Trust will administer the grant. A simple and effective leaflet, designed and printed for us by the NFU, is being sent to farmers and landowners with fields adjacent to the River Welland and its tributaries, offering advice and support. The future We want to ensure that consistent and clear advice is given to the Welland farming community. We have put in an expression of interest for DEFRA Catchment Restoration funding for a part‐time Farm Advisor to carry out walkover assessments and advisory visits in the Welland catchment. Most of our work on water quality to date has been targeted around diffuse pollution associated with agriculture. Other areas of work associated with diffuse pollution are being developed. Other important areas to investigate include point source pollution from sewage treatment works and industrial sites. We will prioritise these as the partnership progresses. We need to raise awareness on how everybody's actions affect water quality and encourage others to work with us to help tackle some of the problems. As the Partnership moves forward, we will promote the resource protection message to our Welland Valley communities and to other groups. We will seek commitment from a variety of new partners and local communities to deliver further improvements to our river and increase active membership of the Welland Valley Partnership. There are gaps in our knowledge and understanding relating to water quality issues in the Welland. As the partnership builds its understanding of the river, we will identify these areas and investigate ways to address them. 12 Improving habitat quality As a result of heavy dredging and straightening programmes over many decades, the Welland above Stamford is in many places too wide, too straight and too deep. In some areas, the riverbed is up to three‐metres below its natural level. To the east of Stamford, the Welland flows in manmade embanked channels, often at a significantly higher level than the surrounding land which has sunk due to drainage and the shrinkage of the peat. The engineering work that has changed the river so much was done to carry water away from the land more quickly. During periods of high rainfall, this can mean the river is fuller and flows will be more erratic, while during low flows the river can be starved of water, with damaging impacts on wildlife and agriculture. Modifications can lead to changes in natural processes in the river. Increased amounts of water running over land and into the river can affect water quality through higher phosphate, sediment and chemical pollution levels within the Welland and its tributaries. This leads to increased weed growth which suppresses the natural variety of plants which insects and other wildlife rely on. Changes to river habitat can have a negative effect on the amenity value of rivers and streams. They may support less fish reducing their value for anglers. We are more likely to enjoy a meandering river in its natural form than one that has been altered by human intervention, reducing its value for walking, nature watching and boating. Flood defences in the centre of Market Harborough and Stamford consist of lengths of flood walls and embankments. Between these towns, the Welland Valley is characterised by a broad flood plain. The Crowland and Cowbit Washes form a significant flood storage area upstream of Spalding. Flood defences are supplemented in certain areas by flood relief channels, such as the Coronation Channel in Spalding and the Maxey Cut around Market Deeping. Significant in‐channel structures, both in size and number, exist on the Welland. These include flood defences, sluices and weirs, which can segregate channel lengths, preventing the natural migration of fish up and down the Welland and its tributaries. Weir on the River Welland at Market Harborough. 13 Independent ecologists have carried out river habitat surveys on the Welland. Biologists have also carried our surveys of aquatic insects prior to carrying out habitat improvement schemes. These provide baseline information to help monitor and assess the effectiveness of the improvement work being carried out on the river. In 2010, a fish population survey was carried out on the main Welland at Ashley. Only two wild brown trout were caught along with some minor species. This is considered a poor result. Habitat and the availability of suitable spawning habitat was identified as the limiting factor for trout. There are two large reservoirs in the Welland catchment. Rutland Water is a 1,260ha man‐made water supply reservoir owned by Anglian Water and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Ramsar site and Special Protection Area (SPA) primarily for its waterfowl. The establishment of this large modern reservoir has created a major wetland area and the exceptional number of waders using the site on passage is outstanding for an inland site, while the diversity of the population of breeding waterfowl is of international significance. The site is also internationally recognised for its recreational fishery and its nature reserve, which is managed in partnership with the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. The nearby 240ha Eyebrook reservoir SSSI is also an important recreational fishery and is a significant wintering wildfowl site in the East Midlands. Seaton Meadows SSSI is another important site within the Welland catchment, as it is one of the few remaining examples of unimproved alluvial flood meadows in Leicestershire. This habitat has become scarce as a result of river improvement schemes and changes in land management. We will consider Rutland Water, Eyebrook reservoir, Seaton Meadows and other nature conservation areas and sites in our plans and any effects our activities may have on these important areas. Current activity Habitat restoration From habitat walkovers and other surveys, the Environment Agency, working with the Welland Rivers Trust and the Wild Trout Trust, came up with a prioritised approach to small habitat works to help provide more natural features in the river. These works will lead to improved fish stocks and alleviate the affects of diffuse pollution. Projects were carried out on the main Welland in 2011 at Drayton, Slawston, South Luffenham and Sutton Basset. The Sea Trout to Stamford Project The Environment Agency, Welland Rivers Trust and Wild Trout Trust are working on the Sea Trout to Stamford Project. The primary objective is to restore a route for fish migration on the Welland from its tidal outfall at Spalding up to Stamford and to improve river habitat. Sea trout are the focus of the project, but a range of fish species will benefit. 14 Drayton Habitat Enhancement Project Welland Valley partners, working with the landowner, have delivered a demonstration project on the main River Welland at Drayton. The work includes fencing off the river to prevent livestock damaging the banks while providing cattle drinkers to allow them access to drinking water. This will help to improve water quality by reducing sediments and nutrients entering the river. Various in channel enhancement works will create a greater diversity of in‐stream habitats and flows and provide areas for fish to spawn. Read more about the Drayton Project on the Welland Rivers Trust Website. Cattle drinker at Drayton. Working through the Welland Valley Partnership We have formed a habitats group to investigate issues relating to degraded habitats and fish stocks and what can be done to address them. This group comprises representatives from: • Environment Agency • Welland Rivers Trust • Angling Trust • Woodland Trust • Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust • Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire • Leicester and Rutland Wildlife Trust has been invited to join the group. Members of the Habitats Group met for the first time at the end of February 2012 and have provided ideas and thoughts on the way forward. The main priorities for the Group are: • carrying out a feasibility study for large scale habitat restoration works with a wider remit than the river channel; • implementing further in‐channel works for habitat improvement and fish passage to link other habitat works on the Welland. 15 The future The Habitats Group will draw‐up a work programme to prioritise effort, schemes and geographical areas of the Welland for habitat improvement. Current plans are outlined on the next page. Project Description Issues addressed Partners Welland Rivers Trust; The Welland Rivers Trust, working with a habitats; fish, Cummins Generators variety of partners and supported and plants and (Stamford); Leicester funded by local businesses, is working to insects; University; Anglian restore a degraded section of the community Water; Burghley Welland near Stamford town centre and engagement. Estate; Tesco; around Stamford Meadows. This includes Wilkinsons; Stamford clearance of overgrown sections of the Mercury; Stamford stream bed and banks, improving water Living Magazine; flow, opening up existing footpaths and Stamford Town creating educational access points. This will create a functioning section of the Council and the River Welland. people of Stamford. Environment Agency Simple habitat Through the Welland Valley Partnership, works further simple habitats works will be carried out by the Environment Agency on the main Welland at Gretton; Seaton and Wakerley. Welland Rivers Trust; Weir removal Borderville weir removal and Environment Agency enhancement work will be undertaken by Welland Rivers Trust and the Environment Agency. The Welland Rivers Trust, through the algae, plants, fish, Welland Rivers Trust; Habitat Leicester University; insects and restoration at Welland Valley Partnership, has put in a Game and Wildlife bid to the DEFRA Catchment Restoration phosphate; Market Conservation Trust; fund for £640,000 to restore the Welland community Harborough The Rivers Trust; and its tributary the River Jordan, flowing engagement. Environment Agency. through Market Harborough. The scheme will make improvements to the channel and remove eight concrete weirs, which were installed to impound water in low flow conditions. The weirs no longer have a proper function and have low ecological value. The project hopes to give the river back to the residents of Market Harborough by undertaking river‐based community awareness projects in the town. Students from Leicester University will be involved in the project. Welland Rivers Trust; habitat; fish, Further We are seeking funding to the value of Leicester University; habitat work £94,000 for habitat works to be delivered plants and Rivers Trusts. insects; through the Welland Valley Partnership community work programme throughout the engagement. catchment. It is important to note that flood defences on the river and its tributaries provide a vital role in reducing the risk to people, property and infrastructure. When planning and delivering habitat Stamford Mill Stream restoration project 16 improvements to the Welland, the partnership will ensure the River’s flood defence and land drainage functions are maintained and that we comply with national and international legislation. We will work with local communities to raise awareness of their river environment and its wildlife, and to encourage people to take on active role in looking after their river: • angling clubs: engaging and coordinating fisheries and angling interests; collecting information and working to develop, agree, implement and monitor actions to improve Welland fish stocks; • farmers and businesses: developing and promoting our habitat schemes; • communities, including schools, colleges, youth groups, organisations, businesses: to enthuse others and promote understanding and encourage 'ownership' of the Welland and our water environment. There are gaps in our knowledge and understanding relating to habitat issues in the Welland Valley. As the partnership builds its understanding of the river, we will identify these areas and investigate ways to address them. 17 Improving water resources Water is a key element for life and both surface water and groundwater provide a crucial resource for humans and the natural environment. The quantity and dynamics of flow and water levels are also important to support species within and around our rivers. The Environment Agency is responsible for managing water resources to ensure there is water available for people and businesses while protecting the needs of the natural environment. The Environment Agency knows where water is available in the Welland and also where we need to reduce current rates of abstraction. Monitoring in‐river ecology, especially at times of low river flow, allows the Environment Agency to work with licence holders to reduce their potential impact on the environment. Three stretches of the Welland and its tributaries have been assessed as receiving insufficient flow to support their in‐river ecology, including the Gwash, Eye Brook and the main Welland upstream of Market Harborough. Annual average rainfall varies across the Welland Valley between 525mm to 750mm. The wettest areas are to the west around Market Harborough and Oakham. The driest areas are around Market Deeping. Rivers often respond to rainfall by an increase in water levels and flow. Rivers that respond quickly are termed 'flashy'. Flashy rivers have more ability to erode, transport and deliver sediment from land to the river. In summer with low flows and dry soils, sudden heavy rainfall can increase the short‐term flow in the river. The majority of rivers, streams and brooks in the Welland Valley are moderately flashy. The River Gwash and North Brook are classified as not flashy; their flow regime is regulated by Rutland Water. There are many factors that affect the volume of water in the Welland Valley rivers: • water is abstracted from the main Welland near Stamford and pumped to Rutland Water Reservoir to provide our drinking water; • sewage treatment works put treated water back into the river; • livestock may access the river to drink. Below Stamford, farmers irrigate their potato and vegetable crops using water from the Welland; • businesses and industry abstract water for industrial purposes including mineral extraction. Water quantity and flows are an issue for the Welland and, more especially, its associated brooks and streams in many ways: • distribution of rainfall throughout the year can influence sediment transported into the river. Throughout the year, rainfall contributes to sediment running into the river. Even in summer months, heavy rain can cause sediment to run from hard, dry land into the Welland; • sections of the Welland have been known to cause flooding to property and surrounding land. The Maxey Cut, a large flood relief channel at Maxey on the lower Welland, protects Market Deeping from flooding. Similarly the Coronation Channel protects Spalding. These relief channels, while providing flood protection, can exacerbate low flow conditions and sedimentation in the main river channels; • water resources during dry months can be scarce. Ponding of water in the main lower Welland as it flows across the fenland sometimes corresponds with high water temperatures and low oxygen levels, threatening the survival of fish; • upstream of Market Harborough, abstraction may be impacting in‐river ecology at times of low flow; • Fish are particularly affected by declining flow and water levels, especially in summer months when oxygen levels in the water can become very low; 18 •
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in severe cases, low flows and water levels can affect water supply causing restrictions to people and business. Provision of water for livestock from rivers may also be compromised; as water levels drop, rivers are often less attractive and can become stagnant and unsightly; treated water from sewage treatment works flows back into our rivers. This is generally of a good standard and can often be beneficial in increasing river flows downstream of the works. However, it can also be detrimental to the river environment, causing an increase in phosphate in the river. Current activities Information on Welland river levels can be found on the Environment Agency website at: http://www.environment‐agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/riverlevels/120733.aspx This shows the points where river levels are monitored. It gives information on typical river levels, current river levels and most recent flood event. Working through the Welland Valley Partnership We recognise the need to manage our water and use it appropriately and sensitively to provide long‐
term protection for the environment, while encouraging sustainable growth of our communities and businesses. Anglian Water has been proactively raising the awareness of domestic and business customers of the need to save water for many years and works hard to maintain leakage from its pipes at a low level. Anglian Water launched ‘Love Every Drop’ in 2010 to bring about an ethos of putting water at the heart of a new way of sustainable living to help preserve water supplies now and in the future. It has also launched its ‘Drop20’ initiative which aims to deliver a reduction in average personal water use from 145 litres to 125 litres per day. Anglian Water is also actively promoting household water metering and around 70% of households in the region have metered supplies. The future We aim to deliver improvements in water resources for the Welland, local people and its wildlife. We need to not only draw on the knowledge that already exists within the partnership but also to look for other partners who can help develop greater awareness of these. We will: • investigate the role of a working group to tackle water resource and flow issues; • write a structured and prioritised work programme; • investigate collecting better flow data; • implement projects to improve water resources; • use campaign and education initiatives to help promote our message with and through others; • promote good practice and advice from other organisations; • collect ideas and aspirations from others and look to deliver them. We will work with others to show how our actions can affect river levels, particularly in this time of drought, demonstrating how small changes in behaviour can make a real difference to the river and its tributaries. 19 Improving the River for people and wildlife The River Welland and its brooks and streams flow through our countryside and towns and out to the sea beyond Spalding, yet the river provides us with many resources. So many things we enjoy are provided or supported by the water we get from our rivers and aquifers. Rivers and lakes provide us with activities and adventures, fishing, boating, walking and nature watching. Current activity As a partnership, we have already initiated projects to improve the River Welland in terms of water quality, improved habitat and water quantity. The schemes will benefit fish, plants, insects and other wildlife and will help to meet our obligations under the Water Framework Directive (see www.wellandriverstrust.org.uk). Social media including Facebook and Twitter are being developed with our website as a base. We will use online maps to provide a visual representation of our work. Maps illustrating our current activities can also be found on the website. Working through the Welland Valley Partnership Farmers in the Valley are working with us through our Resource Protection Group to help solve some of the water quality issues. A Group has also been formed to look at fish and habitats on the Welland. Ongoing community projects are also helping to improve parts of the River. Stamford Millstream Restoration Project Welland Rivers Trust and Cummins Generators Stamford, working with local residents and businesses to restore a degraded section of the Welland near Stamford town centre and around Stamford Meadows. Read more about the Stamford Millstream Restoration project on the Welland Rivers Trust website. Volunteers at the Millstream Restoration Day in 2010. 20 The pressures on the River Welland and the brooks and streams that flow into it have impacts on the people and wildlife living in the Welland Valley. If water quality, water flows and habitats are healthy, the river will be a much more valuable resource for people. The fish and wildlife that live within the river will be healthier and more resilient, better able to withstand any pressures they are put under. 2012 has already started in drought, with predicted restrictions on householders and business, as well as affecting the fish and other wildlife that depend on our rivers. Fish and angling There has been a great deal of concern from anglers, the public and fisheries staff about the condition of fish stocks in the Welland. This has been backed up by evidence from fisheries surveys carried out by the Environment Agency over a number of years. Under the Water Framework Directive, the Welland is failing for fish in 11 out of the 22 stretches assessed. Fish need good water quality and river flows, as well as suitable habitats in the channel and on the river bank. All the pressures on the Welland are having an effect on fish, reducing their numbers. We are investigating barriers to fish movement caused by flood defences and weirs within the channel. High levels of sediment in the river and high and low flow conditions are also of concern. We will continue to investigate the lack of freshwater shrimp (an abundant species in most rivers) in the Welland Valley rivers, as these creatures are a staple food source for fish. This issue has been linked to water quality problems and could be connected to sheep dip. During hot weather and low flow conditions, high water temperatures can be a factor in fish survival. Tree planting schemes provide shade and help to reduce water temperature. Riverside wetland creation work and wetland storage and soakage areas have been suggested as ways to help maintain flows during dry summers. During times of high flow, fish can be washed downstream. Off line ponds on the main Welland near Crowland have been excavated to provide refuge and resting areas for fish. The margins of these ponds also support a variety of plant species providing good habitat for insects. If you see fish in distress, such as gasping at the surface, then contact the Environment Agency's incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60. The role of angling clubs and promoting awareness The Welland Valley Partnership Project Officer will engage with angling clubs and build on work carried out with the Environment Agency to deliver benefits for fisheries on the Welland. We want to encourage: • anglers to report any concerns and provide catch data; • angling clubs to align management actions with Water Framework Directive objectives; • increased understanding of fisheries issues by anglers, angling clubs and the general public. The future So much has already been achieved for the Welland but there is still more to do. We will consider and investigate other issues as the Partnership progresses and we work towards realising our vision. We will formulate a work programme and set up new groups as necessary (e.g. to focus on communities and water resources). We want to expand our partnership to involve communities, 21 businesses and local organisations to that we get as many people as possible working to improve their river. We will also consider: • investigating and carrying out appropriate projects beneficial to other wildlife on the river; • the amenity value of the Welland, looking at enabling appropriate managed access to a more attractive river; • as the Welland Valley provides areas of beautiful landscape which are important for our enjoyment and to our sense of place and wellbeing, we will be working with a landscape historian to us help us understand more about the Welland Valley; • the River Welland is defined as a navigable water from downstream of Stamford to The Wash and must be maintained and managed to the 1975 standard for navigation. There are already proposals for developing the navigation in Lincolnshire and we will consider this as the project progresses; • our work will cost money. It is essential for us to identify and tap into funding streams to ensure that valuable projects are supported effectively. 22 Appendix 1 ‐ reasons for failure map 23 Appendix 2 ‐ water quality Water quality projects in the Welland Valley Area Project Partners Action / objective Outcome WFD target Cost Catchment WFD assessment EA Assess phosphate levels in the main Welland and all its tributaries. Provides understanding of where phosphate is an issue. Enables prioritisation of work. Catchment Phosphate report EA Identified areas in catchment failing for phosphate and apportions phosphate coming from sewage treatment works or other sources known as diffuse pollution. Provides understanding of where phosphate is an issue. Enables prioritisation of work Phosphate Catchment River water sampling (phosphorus) AWS Samples are collected and analysed on a weekly Improved understanding & trends for raw water Phosphate basis on the river network upstream and quality upstream & downstream of STW discharges. downstream of STW discharges. Inform source apportionment modelling programme. Catchment STW effluent sampling (phosphorus) AWS Samples of STW effluent are collected & Compliance with discharge consent conditions. analysed in accordance with discharge consents. Informs the source apportionment modelling programme Phosphate Raw water sampling (pesticides and nitrate) AWS Samples are collected and analysed on South Gwash and Rutland Water reservoir. Particular emphasis on metaldehyde. Improved understanding and trends for the raw water quality upstream of the Wing and Morcott WTWs. Data is shared with the EA and forwarded to the DWI. Pesticide Article 7 compliance Freshwater shrimp and cypermethrin EA Lack of freshwater shrimp has been linked to cypermethrin in the river. Particularly affects the Welland from Rockingham to Stamford. 40 samples to identify problems. More sampling work is required Fish £10,000 Evidence for sediment Walkover surveys EA; WRT; Local farmers Walkover surveys. Demonstrated where sediments entering Welland and tributaries. Catchment Sediment matters data EA Investigation into sediments in the Welland catchment. Identified that majority of the sediment inputs into these watercourses are from agricultural run‐off. Catchment Quick wins EA Walkovers identified habitat improvements ‐ie. Identifies areas of concern and enables prioritisation de‐silting old channels, fencing & cattle troughs. of work. Funded (FCRM) Eye Brook Sediment loads in Eye Brook tributaries project GWCT Two streams identified in Eye Brook catchments as Looking at sediment loads in storm events. Identifies high sediment tributaries and speak to contributing to high sediment and action taken to address issues. / advise farmers in affected areas Phosphate EA paid for wetlands on farms Evidence Phosphate Metaldehyde Evidence of metaldehyde ‐ Guash and whole catchment Cypermethrin Welland ‐ Rockingham to d/st of Stamford Sediment 24 Pinpoint Welland ‐ Uffington to Thorpe by Water. GWCT, WRT, NE; Rivers Trust; EA Walkover surveys to locate diffuse pollution by volunteers trained by GWCT and WRT. Identifies areas of concern and enables prioritisation of work. Phosphate; fish Gwash & Welland Data collection catchment AWS Acquisition of relevant datasets and GIS data for The range of datasets to help AWS understand the Gwash and Welland catchment. Gwash and Welland catchment. Gwash and whole Catchment catchment modelling AWS Modelling key aspects of catchment hydrology; land‐use; pesticide; nitrate application data. Construction, calibration and validation of a soil and water assessment tool scenario modelling to assess success of potential risk mitigation and water quality remediation measures. Helps understand how processes influence raw water quality. Indicates high risk areas and where to target mitigation measures. Informs AMP6 business plan. Supports the EA Safeguard Zone Action Plan. Catchment implications Investigations AWS; GWCT Better understanding of actual usage trends and how Gather data and information on metaldehyde usage and run‐off in monitored sub‐catchments metaldehyde migrates from fields following rainfall. around Loddington Farm. Whole Welland catchment AMP5 NEP phosphorus investigations AWS Phosphorous investigations for STWs within the catchment where AWS might be a significant contributor to P in the river. Model being developed to include river monitoring data and phosphate inputs. This will be used to show what impact reduced levels of phosphate would be on the catchment. Investigations will be completed autumn 2012. Model used to establish relative P contribution from our assets and other sources. Will enable modelling of different scenarios of P reduction. Gwash and Welland catchment Drinking Water Safeguard Zone EA; AWS Welland catchment upstream of Tinwell, Gwash Target voluntary measures with the emphasis on and other tributaries to Rutland Water metaldehyde use and preventing it going into water designated as a Safeguard Zone. supply. Educate users about application of metaldehyde to land. Eye Brook and catchment PARIS project ‐ completed 2006 ‐ provides valuable information and baseline data GWCT; Leicester University; ADAS; CEH Wallingford Compares two Welland catchment areas with similar Avon and Wye areas. Headwaters Tilton v Loddington = low input grass v arable; plus seasonal changes; nutrient inputs; macro‐
insects and diatoms. Biological response to P. Apportionment of P to agricultural and domestic sources (rural STWs and septic tanks). Threes years baseline data for demonstration catchment at Loddington. Phosphate Check Defra website for cost if needed. Eye Brook Loddington Diffuse pollution control demonstration GWCT; EA; Leicester University Demonstration with national application to measure the impact of mitigation measures on diffuse pollution in a 1.4km2 catchment and organise farm visits to see this. Advice delivered to farmers in practical context alongside range of other compatible objectives. Feedback from visiting farmers, agronomists, etc. Phosphate £10,000 from EA; main costs by GWCT. Eye Brook and catchment Tramline management project GWCT; ADAS; Lancaster University; Defra; industrial sponsors Tests methods of tramline management to improve infiltration, reduce runoff and impact on watercourses without impacting on crop performance. Recommendations to farmers for improved tramline management to reduce impacts on water. Phosphate Check Defra website Evidence being developed Projects 25 Eye Brook and catchment MOPS2 (Mitigation GWCT; of Phosphorus and Lancaster University Sediment) Drayton ‐ Welland Langton Brook to Stamford Demonstration project Recommendations to DEFRA and farmers for simple Testing field corner wetland design to reduce field corner wetlands to reduce diffuse pollution. sediment and P transport from arable land (especially field drains) to water. Additional sites in Eden DTC. Phosphate Check Defra website EA; WRT; local Fencing off river to prevent cattle poaching and Less sediment and associated nutrients and farmers installing cattle drinkers and habitats pollutants entering the river. improvements. Phosphate; fish; plants; insects £70,000 Enhancement Great Bowden; South Luffenham; projects Gretton to Harringworth; Welham to Ashley EA; farmers Fencing off river to prevent cattle poaching and Less sediment and associated nutrients and installing cattle drinkers. pollutants entering water course. Phosphate; fish; plants; insects Water Friendly Catchment: Eye Farming Brook and Stonton Brook (Welland). Barkby Brook (Soar) GWCT; AWS; Pond Conservation, local farmers; EA; Syngenta; York University Diffuse water pollution mitigation measures used in a practical farming context. Farmers participating. Biological baseline data collected. Assessment of pesticides and nutrients. Demonstration of water quality and ecological outcome following landscape scale implementation of appropriate measures. Will provide guidance for similar action in region and nationally. Catchment implications Pinpoint GWCT; WRT; Rivers Trust; NE; EA Walkover surveys to locate diffuse pollution by volunteers trained by GWCT and WRT. Riffle surveys. Advice to farmers. Farmer workshops at Loddington January and autumn 2012. Encourage voluntary action to achieve WFD and SSSI Phosphates; £28,300 objectives; Encourage farmers and land managers to fish; plants; (NE CSF) plus take voluntary action to mitigate DWP; Integrate with insects £23,200 related programmes and mechanisms to tackle (WRT). DWPA; Ensure CSF is embedded within water management and the framework for diffuse pollution measures; Work with others to develop partnerships and encourage action to address DWPA. Catchment Resource protection leaflet for farmers WVP Inform farmers about resource protection Improved understanding of water resource issues in issues, how to address them and what help they the Welland catchment. Potential to engage farmers can get. and carry out projects. Phosphate; fish; plants; insects Medbourne brook Advisory visits WVP Targeted advisory visits following walkovers of Advice given; Projects identified and carried out; the Medbourne Brook catchment carried out by Improved understanding of water resource issues. a professional farm advisor. Phosphate; fish; plants; insects WVP Areas identified as priority catchments to deliver resource protection measures. Phosphate; fish; plants; insects Phosphates; EA £120k; fish; plants; Syngenta 2 yr post; insects AWS £15k continuing funding being sought. Projects planned Eye Brook; Guash; Targeted investigations and Stonton Brook; advisory visits. Stoke Albany Brook; Welland u/s Stamford 26 Deliver works within priority catchments where problems are identified to gain maximum improvement for the Welland. Gwash and Welland catchment EA; AWS Drinking Water Protected Areas (DrWPAs) (water bodies in which there is a source of raw water). The WFD requires us to identify ‘at risk’ DrWPAs. Where there is evidence of a possible failure of drinking water standards or evidence of repeated failure of the standard in locations where companies would need to invest in additional treatment. EA to develop safeguard zone action plans & implement actions to reduce the pollutants identified. Phosphate; pesticides National, regional and catchment liaison with various stakeholders. Highlight drinking water quality issues, understand stakeholder roles and viewpoints and work towards practical and acceptable solutions. Community, partnership and campaigns Catchment implications Stakeholder liaison AWS; GWCT Catchment implications EA/water company EA; AWS and other water Pesticide Liaison companies Group Meet quarterly to share data and exchange updates on pesticide trends. To improve knowledge of water quality in Welland catchment. Catchment implications Love Every Drop campaign AWS Campaign to encourage everyone to put water at the heart of a whole new way of sustainable living. Protect drinking water quality; Move AWS to low CO2 footprint; Deliver sustainable water treatment; Work with others who influence water use; Help people to appreciate water as a precious resource. Catchment implications EA/AW Working Together initiative EA; AWS A working together initiative; A Catchment Management Group who work together to achieve common objectives in line with the AMP5 NEP Book of Obligations. Identify opportunities to avoid duplication of effort and expenditure. Provides a basis to cultivate strong collaborative links between EA and AWS. Develop understanding of each others needs. Catchment implications Pelletwise campaign MSG Formed in response to analysis showing traces of metaldehyde, an ingredient of certain slug pellets, being found in catchments used for water abstraction. Working with the farming industry to address the problem and promote best practice. Catchment implications Metaldehyde Stewardship Group/ Water industry sub group AWS Education on issues related to metaldehyde. Working with agro chemical companies and Resource protection advice to prevent or minimise Pelletwise Campaign to decrease active metaldehyde ingredients in slug pellets and look amount entering water. for alternatives. Stalls at Cereals events; leaflets and other educational material. Catchment implications Metaldehyde applications ‐ best practice. MTF Metaldehyde Task Force has suggested the following measures: Reduce max individual dose rate to 160g a.s/ha or less for any combination of metaldehyde products. Reduce total max dose applied to autumn drilled crops during the period 1/8 to 31/12 to 160g a.s./ha. Withdraw older products (5% & 6%) from supply chain. Dose rates described will be ‘recommendations’ and we assume voluntary best practice. WVP may consider encouraging adoption of these ‘recommendations’. Plus follow‐up monitoring and investigating the potential for further interventions. Catchment Meet with farmers in the Welland Valley WVP; NFU; GWCT Presentations, demonstrations, conferences, events with farmers about resource protection in the Welland Valley. Farmers informed about resource protection issues. Ideas and aspirations 27 Welland Farm advisor to carry out visits in priority areas WVP; Resource Protection group Advisor would carry out visits to identify areas requiring improvements and managing the prioritisation and delivery of these within the Welland catchment. Better resource protection within the Welland Valley. £30,000pa ‐ applied for. Welland Attend Rutland and WVP; Blaston Shows Resource Protection group Attend shows on the NFU stand; Rutland Show on 3/6/12 and 24/06/12 Promote Welland resource protection message. Welland Promote resource protection message to agronomists, advisors and contractors WVP; Resource Protection group A conference for advisors and agronomists is to be held on 27th March 2012. Promote Welland resource protection message. Welland Potential training May/ June 2012 WVP; Resource Protection group Slug Pellet (PA4) application training assessment and calibration of fertiliser spinner discs. Promote Welland resource protection message. Welland Farm walks Farm advisors Farm advisors will promote resource protection Promote Welland resource protection message. message and give out leaflets ‐ summer 2012. Gaps in evidence, information and projects ‐ to be completed as project progresses. 28 Appendix 3 ‐ habitat Improvements for habitat Area Project opportunity Information Lower Welland Welland corridor survey for local wildlife site designation Evidence Welland u/s of Walkovers of Upper Stamford Welland & tributaries Projects Welland at Stamford Mill Stamford Stream Restoration Partners Action / objective Lincs Wildlife Trust River Welland from Crowland to Spalding was designated Encourage better management of Welland as a local wildlife site in October 2011. banks. EA Identify areas to provide simple habitat works installing fencing, cattle drinkers and in channel improvements. Reduce sediment inputs and improve areas of habitat degradation. Various Restoring a degraded section of the Welland near Stamford town centre and around Stamford Meadows. Clearance of overgrown sections of the stream bed and banks; improve water flow; open up existing footpath; creation of educational access points. Partners ‐ Welland Rivers Trust; Cummins Generators; Burghley Estate; Tesco; Wilkinsons; Stamford Mercury; Stamford Living Magazine; Leicester University; Anglian Water; Stamford Town Council; Stamford Rivercare; people of Stamford. Tree planting, installation of riffles, side bars, flow defectors, reconnection of meanders and back channels, off line fish refuges. Fencing & cattle drinkers provided. In channel improvements to increase channel diversity include flow deflectors, planted coir roll, rock revetment, gravel riffles. Fencing and animal drinkers installed. Functioning section of the Welland with Fish, plants, £21,000 + HLF bid benefits for fish, plants insects and wildlife. insects, 15 year maintenance plan. Monitoring phosphate programme by Leicester University. Increased public awareness and knowledge of the river. Community involvement in caring for their river. An educational resource. Catchment wide delivery Simple habitat improvements EA Welland u/s of Stamford Habitat works at Drayton EA; WRT and landowners Chater; South Luffenham Habitat EA improvements & resource protection River Care Projects Anglian Water sponsor and community volunteers Catchment Outcome Improved habitat for wildlife. Reduced sediment. Improved habitat for wildlife. Reduced sediment. Improved habitat for wildlife. Stamford River Care Group aims to raise the profile of the Improvements to the Welland at a local Welland and its natural value, cultural heritage & as a level and greater community awareness of public amenity. Encourage people to appreciate the River the river in Stamford. and surrounding flood plain. Support the maintenance & scientific study of the river and meadows wherever possible. Promote & practice sustainability at all times. 29 WFD target Cost Plants Fish, plants, insects, phosphate Fish, plants, insects, phosphate Fish, plants, insects, phosphate £75,000 Projects planned Welland ‐ Great Enhancement projects. Habitat Bowden; improvements and Gretton to Harringworth; resource protection. Welham to Ashley Welland at Channel restoration at Market Market Harborough Harborough EA; WRT; Farmers Fencing off river to prevent cattle poaching and installing cattle drinkers. Less sediment and associated nutrients and Phosphate; pollutants entering water course. fish; plants; insects WRT; WVP; Leicester University Aim to restore the Welland & River Jordan flowing through Market Harborough. Project will improve the channel & remove 8 concrete weirs. Students from University will monitor the work. To replace fords known to contribute to sediment and possibly sheep dip chemicals. Create a natural Welland &improve ecological status for invertebrates and fish. Hope the project will raise community awareness of the river. To be confirmed. Welland Install bridges Welland u/s of Stamford Barrowden channel EA improvements Guash (Belmesthorpe Newstead) Welland at Barrowden Borderville weir ‐ removal Barrowden Mill pond restoration Projects planned Whole Landscape scale catchment improvements Welland at Market Harborough Medbourne Brook Welland u/s of Stamford Catchment Welland Manage invasive species EA Install riffles and deflectors at Barrowden. Fish, plants, £640,000 insects, phosphate Fish; plants; insects; phosphate Improved habitat for wildlife. Reduced Fish, plants, sediment. insects, phosphate Return river to a more natural environment Fish, plants, and help restore fish passage to Stamford. insects. WRT; Wild Trout Remove weir on the Guash as part of the Sea Trout Trust; EA Project & restore two meanders upstream that had been cut off by flood prevention straightening many years ago. To restore the water quality of the old Mill Pond in Reduce unsightly algal growth that builds in WRT; Barrowden village. the summer & improve the environment for Barrowden fauna & flora in that part of the village. Parish Council WVP Habitats Group Look into feasibility of landscape scale improvements. A more naturally functioning river/ landscape system. EA Appropriate techniques to manage invasive species e.g. Japanese Knotweed in Market Harborough. Management invasive species. Investigations into EA habitat improvements Channel EA improvements Keeping Rivers Cool EA Habitat WRT; WVP; improvement works Rivers Trust £40,000 Not funded £50,000 Fish, plants, insects, phosphate Excessively expensive Concrete sections in the village. May be opportunity to do To be confirmed. some in‐channel engineering to improve this. No info Potential scope for channel meandering upstream of Rockingham. 4 year climate change adaptation project focused on using trees to keep rivers cool. Trout and salmon populations may be under stress from climate change due to increased water temperature. River restoration. Deliver simple in stream habitats works. Empower local residents to take ownership of the river. To be confirmed. Not funded Reduce stream temperatures. &explore modified abstraction regimes & water meadow management. Provide riparian shade to benefit river ecology. Improve riparian habitat. Provide new angling opportunities for local fishing groups. Fish habitat £94,000 30 Good practice and advise Lower Welland Four Spotted Moth(Tyta luctuosa) at Crowland Lower Welland Management and near Crowland maintenance of Cross Drain SSSI; designated for its beetle population Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust; EA Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board (W&DIDB) Catchment Management of banks and drains W&DIDB Catchment Management of banks and drains W&DIDB Catchment General maintenance operations W&DIDB Catchment Barn owl nest boxes W&DIDB and bat boxes Planned ‐ bat boxes W&DIDB Catchment Catchment Good practice and advice for channel maintenance W&DIDB Catchment Good practice & advice for channel maintenance Good practice & advice ‐ invasive species W&DIDB Catchment W&DIDB Management plan for Four Spotted Moth (Biodiversity Action Plan species) found on lower Welland near Crowland. Board own land either side of the channel & buffer agricultural impact. Banks & waterway cut July & Nov. Buffer strips flailed in July for thistles management. De‐
silting work done in 500m lengths & similar buffer length between to enable re‐colonisation. Weirs along the drain allow Board to maintain water levels to benefit environment & abstractors in the area. The Boards watercourses provide valuable habitat for fauna & flora. Board use environmental consultants to survey channels before major maintenance operations or improvement works. The consultant used depends on the need for a particular specialism. Staff regularly complete checklists to record water voles, owls, frogs & other easily identified species. Staff carry identification cards to help them recognise invasive species. The Board have planted over 6.5 km of native hedges and a number of small tree sites. Reed fringes left on one side of larger channels. Board identified & managed dyke sites used by breeding meadow pipits and reed warblers. Machine operators leave a fringe at the waters edge to benefit water voles. Berms built in to improvement schemes to provide variation in water depth & habitats. Board have a programme of installing barn owl nest boxes. Aspiration to install bat boxes at certain sites. Good practice management of a BAP species on the Welland. Appropriate management and environmental enhancement of a SSSI. Working with their own staff, environmental specialists and partners, IDB protect existing habitat and seek to understand their water courses and ensure appropriate management to protect and enhance them. They work closely with the Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership and Natural England. Hedges provide wildlife corridors along lengths of fenland drain in an otherwise intensive agricultural area. Appropriate management and environmental enhancement of water bodies. In total 28 barn owl chicks and seven kestrel chicks have been ringed. Appropriate management & environmental enhancement of water bodies. Appropriate management & environmental Carry out early channel maintenance to aid drainage & flood protection. Works start in March before bird nesting enhancement of water bodies. to minimise impact. Cut every 4 to 6 wks. Vegetation left untouched on one bank & channel base for habitat. The Board have produced their own annually updated Understanding & monitoring environment Biodiversity Action Plan. allows appropriate management & enhancement of water bodies. Board have floating pennywort, Japanese knotweed and Treated with chemicals, using specialist parrots feather in some watercourses. contractors. Machines cleaned down after cutting to reduce risk of spreading. 31 No info No info No info No info No info No info No info Appendix 4 ‐ fish Improvements for fish Area Project opportunity Partners Evidence and investigation Welland at Spalding, Investigation ‐ fish pass Peakirk, Stamford, Market Harborough Welland u/s of Weir replacement & Stamford fish pass Gwash Fish pass investigations Gwash Gwash flows Chater Investigation ‐ fish pass Stonton Brook Investigation fish pass Langton Brook Investigation fish pass Welland and Sea Trout To tributaries Stamford Projects Welland ‐ Crowland Two off line fish refuges Morcott Brook Walkover surveys February 2012 Action / objective Outcome WFD target Cost EA Feasibility study to install fish passes at various locations. Potential improvements for fish passage. Fish Defra funded EA Defra funded Fish Defra funded EA EA Flow investigations. Investigation at Foster's Bridge. Potential improvements for fish passage. Potential improvements for fish passage. Potential improvements for fish. Potential improvements for fish. Fish EA Project to replace sluice gate and weir at Duddington Mill Investigations at Newstead Mill and Belmesthorpe. Fish Fish No info Defra funded EA At closed gauging station. Potential improvements for fish. Fish Defra funded EA At closed gauging station. Potential improvements for fish. Fish Defra funded EA; WRT; Wild Trout Trust Restore route for fish migration on the Welland from tidal outfall at Spalding to Stamford & improve habitat. Provide improvements to benefit fish on the Welland. Fish WRT; EA Provide refuges for fish on a straight section of the main Provide improvements to fish and Fish; plants; Welland. wildlife. insects Looking for fish barriers and sediment sources. Provide location of fish barriers. Fish; plants; Information on sediments phosphate; entering the river. insects Looking for fish barriers and sediment sources. Provide location of fish barriers. Fish; plants; Information on sediments phosphate; insects entering the river. Including tree planting, riffles, flow defectors, off line Improve habitat for fish and Fish; plants; fish refuges, reconnecting meanders & back channels. wildlife. phosphate; insects Drayton working with WRT & landowner, fencing & Reduce sediment entering river. Fish; plants; cattle drinkers provided, plus in channel improvements Benefit fish improving their ability phosphate; to spawn and viability of eggs. insects to increase channel diversity. Lack of freshwater shrimp has been linked to sheep dip 40 samplers to identify problems. Fish in the river. Particularly affects Welland from More sampling work is required. Rockingham to Stamford. EA; APEM Chater Walkover surveys February 2012 EA; APEM Upper Welland and tributaries Simple habitat improvements EA Welland u/s of Stamford Habitat works at Drayton EA; WRT; landowners Welland u/s of Stamford Freshwater shrimp and cypermethrin EA 32 £3,663 £3,663 £75,000 Projects planned Welland at Ashley (u/s of Stamford) Guash (Belmesthorpe Newstead) Welland and Medbourne Brook Welland at Peakirk Habitat improvements Borderville weir removal Bridge refurbishment Slawston & Medbourne Rock ramp EA Working with the landowner, areas have been identified for enhancement and restoration. WRT; Wild Remove a weir at Borderville on the Guash. Restore Trout Trust; EA meanders upstream. To remove apron on road bridge and improve fish EA; Leicester County Council passage. Highways EA; Wild Trout To enable passage of sea trout up the Maxey cut. Trust Key: AWS EA GWCT MTF NFU MSG WRT WVP ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ Anglian Water Services (water company for Welland area) Environment Agency Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust Metaldehyde Task Force National Farmers Union Metaldehyde Stewardship Group Welland Rivers Trust Welland Valley Partnership 33 Improvements for fish and habitat. Improve fish passage and habitat. Fish £70,000 Improve fish passage. Fish, plants, insects Fish Improve fish passage. Fish Appendix 5 ‐ demand management at Anglian Water Metering For many years we have been proactively encouraging water efficiency both for Domestic and business customers and we have always promoted metering and currently have around 70% of households measured. Around 20,000 customers ask for a meter annually and throughout 2011/2012 we will have installed around 50,000 meters as part of our enhanced metering programme across the region including Corby, Wellingborough and Milton Keynes. Love Every Drop In 2010 we launched Love Every Drop to bring about an ethos across our business of putting water at the heart of a new way of sustainable living. We have set ourselves 10 goals, backed up by over 100 commitments and measures to help us get it right. Working as a team to champion a new way of living. Securing water supply for our region now and in the future and working with nature to preserve our precious resource ‐ water. Drop 20 – The challenge For everyone across the region to understand that his is our community wide campaign to all work together to save water and beat the drought. A water efficiency campaign that will aim to deliver a reduction in average personal water use from 145 litres to 125 litres per day. The Potting Shed We’ve recently launched the Potting Shed an online garden club offering advice and free water saving garden kits for customers to help them have a lovely garden whilst using water efficiently www.anglianwater.co.uk/thepottingshed Water Efficiency Measures Programme We are carrying out our first major Water Efficiency Measures programme ‘Bits and Bobs’ for households in selected areas of our region including Peterborough, Kettering, Corby, Bedford, Wellingborough and Milton Keynes. Customers receive a free plumber visit, an audit and the installation of water saving devices to reduce both hot and cold water resulting in savings of water, energy and the environment ‐ we have completed nearly 30,000 and are on target to achieve 87,500 by 2015 ‐ water savings of around 40 litres per property per day. 34 35