Risk Assessment Refinement Use field data to refine Article 5 risk assessment pressure thresholds

1. Programmes of Measures and StandardsFreshwater Morphology Outcomes Workshop4th April 2008Objectives and Programmes of MeasuresMaking Decisions on Measures Grace Glasgow, Shannon IRBD

2. Fieldwork Contracts 2006 and 2007 Morphology and Biology Field Data Risk Assessment Refinement Use field data to refine Article 5 risk assessment pressure thresholds Aerial Imagery Capture and Processing PoMS STUDY Develop Remote Sensing Methods Derive Channel Typologies RISK ASSESSMENT Populate a morphology database CLASSIFICATION & MONITORING Decision Support Tool Programmes of Measures

3. Contents • RBMP process • Morphology Decisions • How morphology links to status • Supplementing status with risk assessment • Default objectives • Alternative objectives - HWMB process / derogations • Measures requirements - basic and supplementary • How WFD links to other processes - Floods Directive • How measures need to be prioritised • What does this all mean? - examples

4. Monitor water bodies Classify their “status” This is a complex process ! What objectives apply ? Which pressures ? What are key risk factors ? What are technical options ? What are the most cost effective measures ? What is a realistic timeframe for implementation ? Default Objectives Set Objectives Programmes of Measures Implement Review performance River Basin Management Process Prevent deterioration Maintain high status Protected area objectives Most stringent applies ! Restoration to at least good status by 2015 Source: Dr C Byrne DEHLG

5. Status & Morphology

6. Status & Morphology Classification only tells us what quality elements have been failed. Risk assessment is critical to identifying the cause & potential solutions.

7. Status & Risk – UK TAG Guidance "To ensure the first classifications reflect the agencies' best understanding of status, risk assessment results, for example informed by assessments against hydromorphological standards and condition limits, will need to be used alongside data from the application of relevant biological classification tools. The extent of the reliance on such risk assessments will vary between different parts of the UK depending on the availability of suitable biological data from previous monitoring programmes or targeted studies. The confidence in the results of risk-based assessments will depend on the degree to which the environmental standards and conditions are failed, and whether or not there is corroborating biological information of damage. For example, in the absence of relevant information from biological monitoring and assessment results, the greater the degree by which a hydromorphological standard or condition limit for good is failed, the greater will be the confidence that the ecological status of the water body is truly worse than good. In contrast, where there is corroborating evidence of impact from biological monitoring and assessment, there may be high confidence that the status is truly worse than good even if the margin of failure of a hydromorphological standard or condition limit is relatively small."

8. Ecological Status Objectives Supporting Elements Specific Pollutants Plants RAT Inverts Fish A B C X Y Z High Good Mod. Poor Bad = current status (classification)

9. Environmental Objectives The default objectives for surface waterbodies are: • achieve the objectives of protected areas where they are more stringent, • prevent deterioration, • maintain high and good status where they exist, and • restore waters, where necessary, to at least good status by 2015.

10. A B C Default Objectives Supporting Elements Specific Pollutants Plants RAT Inverts Fish X Y Z High Good Mod. Poor Bad = target status by 2015 (default objective)

11. Where exemptions may be necessary • There may be certain circumstances where it is technically infeasible, disproportionately expensive to achieve the default objectives by 2015. • The WFD allows for such technical, socio-economic and natural factors to be considered when setting objectives by way of specified exemptions in certain prescribed circumstances (considered on a case-by-case basis). • Three plan cycles – derogations, LSOs • Temporary deterioration • New sustainable developments • Alternative objectives for heavily modified waterbodies

12. A B C By 2015 By 2015 Alternative Objectives Supporting Elements Specific Pollutants Inverts Plants RAT Fish X Y Z By 2027 By 2027 High By 2021 Good Mod. Poor Bad = alternative objective

13. Focussed supplementary measures where basic measures not enough Other prescribed basic measures e.g. New controls on dangerous substance discharges, abstractions and physical modifications Measures Source: Dr C Byrne DEHLG

14. Measures Provision for strategic plans and programmes is already in place for the 11 WFD directives (eg Water Services Investment Programme, Nitrates Action Programme): • The Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC); • The Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) ; • The Drinking Water Directive (80/778/EEC) as amended by Directive (98/83/EC); • The Major Accidents (Seveso) Directive (96/82/EC); • The Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (85/337/EEC); • The Sewage Sludge Directive (86/278/EEC); • The Urban Waste-water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC); • The Plant Protection Products Directive (91/414/EEC); • The Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC); • The Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) ; • The Integrated Pollution Prevention Control Directive (96/61/EC). These plans are to be reviewed/realigned to ensure default objectives are delivered • Section 4 & 16 discharge licences – to reflect Surface Water Classification Regs • IPPC licensing – to reflect Surface Water Classification Regs • Forestry Regulations and Forestry Action Plans • County Development Plans – modified to address issue of one-off housing and septic tanks. The planning code will be critical to safeguarding protecting areas and preventing deterioration. Potential use of safeguard zones for DWPAs

15. Measures • The WFD prescribes a number of additional new regulations such as controls on dangerous substances, abstractions and physical modifications, which will contribute further towards full achievement of objectives. • Supplementary measures will be used where the basic measures do not go far enough to achieve the WFD objectives – these can be more stringent versions of national programmes • Provision is also made for additional voluntary supplementary measures (eg fiscal instrument, rehabilitation projects). • Such measures will be limited and will likely be focused on sensitive/protected areas (where confidence is high that additional measures will deliver objectives).

16. Measures Decision Support Tool Programmes of Measures Prescribed basic measures – national regulation system Protected areas measures – favourable condition requirements Supplementary measures – Apply morphology measures toolkit to prioritised waterbodies Awareness programmes Voluntary initiatives eg wetlands / riparian areas Actions – Morphology monitoring programme Who will regulate? At what level? LAs notification of activities – registration scheme EPA significant activities (above RA thresholds) – authorisation

17. Integrating Plans and Programmes Integration is critical - The WFD objectives can only be achieved if plans and programmes in other relevant policy areas are coordinated and integrated. This includes; • River Basin Management Plans • Habitat Protection Plans • Nitrates Action Plan • Water Services Strategic Plans • Regional Planning guidance, County Development Plans and related Local Area Plans • Flood Plans • Forestry Action Plan • Groundwater Protection Plans etc…… A schedule of linked plans and programmes will be included in the River Basin Management Plan. The timing and objectives of plans and programmes are being assessed with a view to coordination. SEA and RIA will also be undertaken alongside the river basin management plan’s development.

18. Integrating Plans and Programmes WFD & FD/FRM (1) WFD 2000/60/EC Floods Directive 2007/60/EC WG F 2008-9 “Promoting early action” 2009 2015 EU Commission, Manchester 2008

19. WFD & FD (2) • Administrative arrangements– competent authorities and units of management – river basin districts • Coordination and synchronisation of flood risk maps (characterisation of river basins) & flood risk management plans (river basin management plans) • Synchronisation with review cycles (6 years) • Similar arrangements for international cooperation • Coordination ofpublic participation • Use of same Committee • Reporting - WISE • General purpose – mitigate the effects of floods • Designation of water bodies at risk from heavy modifications • Exemptions • temporary deterioration, extreme or exceptional floods, force majeur • new modifications to water bodies • Cost recovery of impoundments • Programme of measures • Controls of impoundments • Measures to prevent and/or reduce impacts of accidental pollution as a result of floods • Supplementary measures • wetland restoration • River Basin Management Plans 2009-2015 From 2015… EU Commission, Manchester 2008

20. Prioritisation of Measures Status of water body – RAT score Biology & overall status Morphological Risk Assessment Prioritisation Technical feasibility Estimate of costs RAT surveys & Biology surveys Focus morphology measures

21. Prioritisation of Measures - studies • Policy gaps • Fisheries datasets and findings • Wider environmental impacts • Best Practice measures • Cost effectiveness of measures • Prioritisation process • Barriers to migration

22. Prioritisation of Measures • Protected area waterbodies • Achieving favourable conditions e.g. freshwater pearl mussel areas and siltation impacts • Preservation of existing high status • Preservation of existing good status • Prevention of deterioration • Licensing, land use management and morphology mitigation toolkit measures – new activities • Restoration of good status • Improvement programmes (application of morphology mitigation toolkit measures) in waterbodies where these measures will be effective – not polluted and suitable for enhancement

23. Programmes of Measures and StandardsFreshwater Morphology Outcomes Workshop4th April 2008Objectives and Programmes of MeasuresWhat does this all mean? Grace Glasgow, Shannon IRBD

24. Examples

25. Examples

26. Examples Risk Assessment • The morphology risk assessment will identify waterbodies at risk – expert judgement can also be incorporated. Monitoring • RAT and biological surveys will be undertaken to confirm morphology impact and establish pollution status on the ground. The survey will also provide information to aid design of the measures. Improvement programme • A catchment specific improvement programme will be developed using the morphology measures toolkit.

27. Examples Channelisation & flood embankments At risk waterbodies (morphological pressures refined) Status (morphological & overall) Proximity to a protected area Costs of measures Effectiveness of measures RBMP 1 undertake monitoring to confirm status and pressures identify authority responsible for restoration – OPW & fishery boards implement improvement measures to restore good status licensing of new activities – LAs / EPA

28. Examples Intensive land use At risk waterbodies (morphological pressures refined) Status (morphological & overall) Proximity to a protected area Costs of measures Effectiveness of measures RBMP 1 undertake monitoring to confirm status and pressures identify authority responsible for restoration overgrazing implement improvement measures - DAFF new development - implement land use control measures - LAs (planning control, SUDS, encourage REPS, siltation ponds, forest best practice guidelines)

29. Examples Impoundments, water regulation / barriers to migration At risk waterbodies (morphological pressures refined) Status (morphological & overall) Proximity to a protected area Costs of measures Effectiveness of measures RBMP 1 apply barriers risk assessment undertake monitoring to confirm status and pressures identify improvement measures to restore good status licensing of all activities – LAs / EPA linked to abstraction controls implement priority barriers measures – expert judgement

30. Discussion • Should risk assessment impact on status? • Registration and regulation of new activities – LAs / EPA? • Have we got the right principles and priorities? • Restoration roles and responsibilities • Channelisation & flood embankments - OPW & fishery boards & LAs / EPA • Intensive land use – DAFF & LAs • Impoundments, water regulation / barriers to migration - expert judgement barrier removal and LAs / EPA linked to abstraction controls