Tuesday 25 Jun 2013 @ 10:22
Environment Agency
Environment Agency
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South West water environment - Environment Agency seeks views
The Environment Agency is asking for people’s views on what they think the main issues are that affect the South West’s water environment and what should be done to improve and protect it.
The ‘Challenges and Choices’ consultation starts on June 22 and runs for six months until December 22. Views are being sought for the second South West River Basin Management plan that will run from 2015 until 2021, which will outline what everyone needs to do to protect and improve the water environment.
The current River Basin Management Plan for the South West was prepared in consultation with a wide range of organisations and individuals. The Environment Agency would like as many people as possible to contribute to the consultation.
This consultation document has specific information about the issues affecting the district as a whole and each catchment. People will be able to give their feedback on the consultation via our website, by email or letters, or by attending events.
‘The quality of our waters has improved significantly but there is still much more to do and we can’t do this alone. The water environment provides many different services that benefit people and wildlife, from providing us with drinking water and supporting fisheries to providing transport routes and a source of many recreation activities that promote wellbeing.’ said Jeremy Bailey for the Environment Agency.
People can see the consultation information on the Environment Agency website at the following link
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/140090.aspx
or e-mail southwestRBD@environment-agency.gov.uk.
The Agency will produce a summary report by the end of January 2014, and a response report by the end of March 2014 and these will summarise the views and comments received and what will happen as a result.
The Environment Agency and its partners have already had some notable successes with improving water quality in a number of rivers.
‘The quality of our waters has improved significantly but there is still much more to do and we can’t do this alone. The water environment provides many different services that benefit people and wildlife, from providing us with drinking water and supporting fisheries to providing transport routes and a source of many recreation activities that promote wellbeing.’ said Jeremy Bailey for the Environment Agency.
People can see the consultation information on the Environment Agency website at the following link
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/140090.aspx
or e-mail southwestRBD@environment-agency.gov.uk.
The Agency will produce a summary report by the end of January 2014, and a response report by the end of March 2014 and these will summarise the views and comments received and what will happen as a result.
The Environment Agency and its partners have already had some notable successes with improving water quality in a number of rivers.
Restoration work was completed on the River Frome at Lower Bockhampton in partnership with Dorchester Fishing Club this year. The fishing club were keen to support this project and this provided an ideal opportunity for the Environment Agency to work in partnership with the club, utilising their valuable land owner knowledge, reputation and volunteer workforce. Works included creating a greater diversity of habitats and providing fish with refuge and flow variety.
On the River Mole in North Devon, a large weir was removed to allow the migration of a wide range of fish. This was done in partnership with Taw Fisheries Association and Westcountry Rivers Trust. Over 40km of spawning habitat will become more accessible, which could result in production of up to 2,000 additional salmon smolts each year. Pictures of the work carried out at River Mole weir can be viewed on the Environment Agency flickr page on the following link: http://ow.ly/mdgID.
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