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Presentation at the Launch of the Avon DTC Project 18 th January 2011 Tom Davis

Presentation at the Launch of the Avon DTC Project 18 th January 2011 Tom Davis. Why are we here? Who are we? What do we do? Why are we interested in the Avon DTC project?. Why we are here. The rivers of region are: unique high conservation value important recreational value

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Presentation at the Launch of the Avon DTC Project 18 th January 2011 Tom Davis

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  1. Presentation at the Launch of the Avon DTC Project 18th January 2011 Tom Davis

  2. Why are we here? Who are we? What do we do? Why are we interested in the Avon DTC project?

  3. Why we are here The rivers of region are: • unique • high conservation value • important recreational value ..but they face important threats

  4. Current threats Low flows Diffuse pollution Rising water temperatures Fragmentation of habitat Loss of fly life Demise of salmon runs Loss of Ranunculus Loss of crayfish Nutrient inputs – eutrophication Pesticides Endocrine disrupting substances Future threats Climate change Increasing temperature 2-3°C up in winter (2080) 4°C up in summer (2080) Changes in rainfall patterns 40% less in summer (2050) 10-30% more in winter (2050) Changes in flow regime Low flow periods extend into November Population growth Up 30% by 2030 Greater housing independence Consequent pressure on development and resources Why we are here

  5. Why we are here In recognition • Of similarities between rivers of the region • That many of the issues faced are common across the region and might be better handled by a larger group with influence Group established to form a rivers trust

  6. Who we are Wessex Chalk Stream and Rivers Trust ‘a charity dedicated to the guardianship, protection, enhancement and maintenance of healthy functioning ecosystems within the river catchments and corridors of the Wessex region’

  7. Trust evolution • Incorporated February 2009 • Registered Charity June 2009 • Formally launched 30th June 2010 A new charity but a long history of conserving rivers, going back more than 100 years

  8. Who we are Our spectrum of rivers interest includes • Conservation and wildlife interests • Fishery interests • Farmers • Landowners Provides the opportunity to • Share understanding • Develop common interest • Address potential areas of conflict

  9. Who we are 13 Trustees and 3 other officers including: • Directors of 2 wildlife trusts • Three important riparian land owners • An estate manager and agricultural expert • A land agent • Several company directors • An educationalist • Two environmental scientists • A freshwater ecologist • A river manager • A banker Skills, experience, contacts

  10. Action for the River Kennet Ballindary Fish Hatchery Calder & Colne Rivers Trust Carmarthenshire Rivers Trust Clwyd & Elwy Rivers Trust East Yorkshire Chalk Rivers Trust Eden Rivers Trust Lune Rivers Trust Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust Ribble Catchment Conservation Trust River Adur Conservation Society Severn Rivers Trust Slaney Rivers Trust South Cumbria Rivers Trust South East Wales Rivers Trust Sussex Ouse Conservation Society Teifi Rivers Trust Thames 21 Thames Explorer Trust Thames Rivers Restoration Trust Clwyd and Conwy Rivers Trust Welsh River Dee Trust Wandle Trust Wear Rivers Trust Trent Rivers Trust Tweed Foundation Westcountry Rivers Trust Wye & Usk Foundation Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust Who we are……..part of a national movement

  11. what we do: Advocacy • Influence development of government policy and regulation • Informing and influencing decisions on development which may impact the rivers industrial & housing development, transport, minerals, agriculture and land use, water abstraction, hydro-power etc Emphasis on constructive engagement

  12. what we do: Inspire and inform Engage local communities to: • Inform and stimulate interest in the natural habitat and wildlife of the river corridors • Inspire a sense of value and a culture of nurturing • Promote responsibility for future protection Develop and expand existing work across the region Targeting: • Schools • Broader community through project work

  13. what we do: Scientific Research • Belief in sound science • Promote support and bring together research – vulnerabilities, threats, approaches to mitigation • Focus on practical application • Participate in funding, scoping and direction of work by universities and research organisations • Strategic partnerships with government agencies other charities and foundations

  14. what we do:our research priorities The factors influencing Ranunculus success • Provides vital structure and habitat • Plays a critical role in maintaining flow velocity and (indirectly) clean water • Its periodic failure and the need to know why • Much work done but little translated into practical recommendation Sources and pathways of nutrients • P and N • Role in eutophication • Mass balance

  15. what we do: Delivery of action Priorities: • Linking reaches of good habitat – wildlife corridors • Enhance salmonid spawning and nursery habitat • Improve management of agricultural run-off and aquaculture effluents • Linkage with educational programme

  16. what we do: Delivery of action We want to help with delivery of: • Strategic restoration of SSSIs • Catchment Sensitive Farming • Living Landscapes initiative • Priority actions under Water Framework Directive

  17. Why are we interested in the Avon DTC Project?

  18. Threats to the chalkstreams:EXCESS NUTRIENTS • Symptoms of eutrophication seem to be widespread in the chalkstreams of our region • Benthic and epiphytic algae • Smothering of Ranunculus • Planktonic algal blooms • Deoxygenation • Restricted light penetration • Extent underestimated • Symptoms occur where P is within target environmental quality criteria (40ug/l, 60ug/l) • Meanwhile (2006 EA) for chalkstreams • 37% less than 60ug/l (SAC std) • 47% more than 60ug/l • 4% more than 100ug/l

  19. Threats to the chalkstreams:EXCESS NUTRIENTS • Relative contribution from different sources • Arable farming • Livestock farming • Cress farming • Fish farming • Septic tanks • STWs and leaky sewers • On-line lakes • In-river sediment • Mass balance and dynamics • What can be done

  20. Threats to the chalkstreams:FINE SEDIMENT INPUTS Impacts • Blinding spawning gravels (flow, oxygen supply, waste removal) • Transfer of pollutants on particles (P, metals, sheep-dip products) • Increased BOD where organics present • Changes in macrophyte assemblage • Reduced clarity and primary productivity • Impacts on invertebrates Photos Bass

  21. Threats to the chalkstreams:FINE SEDIMENT INPUTS • Relative contribution from different sources • Poaching of banks • Run-off from roads and tracks • Intensification of stocking • Arable cultivation • Outdoor pig farming • What can be done Photo Kozak

  22. …..to sum up • Dedicated to guardianship, protection, enhancement of healthy functioning rivers in the Wessex region • A broad river interest group • Focus on channels, corridors and catchments • We look forward to working with you

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