Water Framework Directive – Coastal issues

2. Water Framework Directive – Coastal issues Will Akast Catchment Delivery Manager-Suffolk

3. XXX The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) came into force in December 2000 and became part of UK law in December 2003. It is an ecology-led directive and the most substantial piece of European water legislation to date. It introduces an integrated approach to all aspects of water management The WFD will help to protect and enhance the quality of all waters: Surface freshwater (including lakes, streams and rivers) Groundwater Groundwater dependent ecosystems Estuaries Coastal waters out to 1 mile from low water

4. XXX • Objectives • The Water Framework Directive (WFD) introduces river basin planning as a means to: • Prevent deterioration and enhance / restore the status of all water bodies • Promote sustainable water use • Reduce pollution • Contribute to mitigating the effects of floods and droughts • Comply with standards and objectives of other Directives

5. River Basin Planning: • Prevent deterioration and enhance the status of the water environment, including ground water • Promote sustainable water use • Reduce pollution • Contribute to mitigating the effects of floods and droughts • Create better habitats for people and wildlife • We are at start of river basin planning process to improve the environment over the next 25 years (3 cycles 2015, 2021, 2027)

6. Water Framework Directive – based on ecology • Protects and improves the natural health of the water environment • Water bodies are classified as achieving high, good, moderate, poor or bad ecological status with biology being the main driver. • Requires achievement of ‘good ecological status’ by the implementation of actions • Good status is based on four key aspects: • Biology • Chemical water quality (surface & ground waters) • Physical structure - morphology • Quantity (surface & ground waters) • Not about re-naturalising – human ‘uses’ recognised

7. High Good Moderate Poor Bad Water Framework Directive – New Classification System • Brings together status of different aspects: • Individual Biological elements e.g. fish, invertebrates • Supporting Physico-chemical elements e.g. phosphate, ammonia • Compliance with standards for ‘Specific Pollutants’ e.g. zinc • Water quantity (for ‘High’ status only) • Morphology (whether mitigation required or not) • Recorded as: Status/ Potential (if ‘Artificial or Heavily Modified’) Important rule: ‘One out, All out’

8. XXX • We want to have healthy water environments as soon as possible before 2027. This will be achieved by: • Improving rural land management • Reducing the impact of the built environment and man-made changes • Addressing point and diffuse sources of pollution • Securing sustainable amounts of water • Improving wildlife habitats

9. Improving the water environment - mechanisms for action A range of mechanisms – policy, legal and financial tools - can be used. Together they can be very successful in achieving the outcomes needed for protecting and improving the water environment. Education & Awareness Partnerships & Codes of Practice Incentives Data & Information Plans & Rules Permits Bans Softer approaches……………………………………….Regulatory approaches ( less enforceable ) ( more enforceable )

10. Transitional and Coastal (TRaC) Water Bodies There are 228 TRaC water bodies in England & Wales: Coastal = 93 Estuarine = 135 Water bodies in England & Wales: 7409

11. TRaC waters by River Basin Estuarine Coastal

12. Heavily modified waterbodies • Many of our coasts and estuaries have been modified by man – to defend land from inundation or erosion; dredging etc. These are designated Heavily Modified Water Bodies. • Heavily Modified Water Bodies must achieve Good Ecologial Potential (GEP). • GEP is the best ecology that the water body can achieve without compromising the use for which it has been designated. • GEP is achieved when relevant Mitigation Measures are in place. • There are 29 TRaC water bodies in Anglian Region – 79% of these are heavily modified for flood and coast protection.

13. What does WFD mean for the Suffolk Coast and Estuaries? • For each estuary and stretch of coast we will be looking at a range of mitigation measures • For example : a) Managed realignment of flood defence b) Preserve and where possible enhance ecological value of marginal aquatic habitat, banks and riparian zone c) Removal of hard bank reinforcement / revetment with soft engineering solution WFD assessments to tie in closely with the SMP and estuary strategy / plan process

14. Water Framework DirectiveCompliance Assessment

15. Screening No WFD assessment needed if: • Temporary – impact only lasts a short period of time with rapid, natural recovery • Low impact works – list of low impact works available from the Environment Agency

16. Example Appendix A of Excel screening proforma

17. WFD compliance assessment processPreliminary assessment • Step 1 – collect information on the waterbody • Step 2 – collect information on the activity • Step 3 – preliminary assessment of impact

18. WFD compliance assessment processDetailed assessment • Step 4 – design and options appraisal • Step 5 – detailed impact assessment • Step 6 – Application of Article 4.7 tests • Step 7 – Reporting

19. New schemes or works • Applicant • Undertaking or commissioning an assessment and submitting it as part of an application • Environment Agency • Advice on requirement for and scope of WFD assessment • Providing general advice to explain how the assessment ties in with the consent application

20. The WFD is an important agent for change We have a real opportunity to improve the water environment………….