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Characterising catchments
A shared approach
J. Deakin, M. Archbold and D. Daly Catchment Science and Management Unit
With assistance from EPA colleagues and RPS consultants
Overview
1. Characterisation refresher 2. Preliminary risk screening results 3. Initial characterisation - Process, data sources, outcomes - 2 case studies 4. Outcomes of the Suir pilot assessment - subcatchment scale - catchment scale 4. National progress, looking forward
Characterisation?
1. Understanding water bodies Physical, chemical and biological aspects Functioning, ‘Source-pathway-receptor’ Linkages with other water bodies Impacts of human activities
2. Assigning the level of risk (of not meeting WFD objectives), for the purposes of prioritising and targeting measures
Steps in the Integrated Catchment Management Process 1 1. Build Partnerships
• Identify key stakeholders • Identify issues of concern • Conduct public outreach
2. Create and communicate a vision of ICM • For example: A healthy, resilient, productive and valued water
resource, that supports vibrant communities. 3. Characterise the Catchment
• Gather existing data and create a catchment inventory • Identify data gaps & collect additional data, if needed • Analyse data • Identify causes and sources of pollution • Estimate pollutant loads • Evaluate hydromorphological pressures • Undertake risk assessments
4. Undertake Further Characterisation • Collect and evaluate local information • Locate critical source areas (CSAs) • Undertake investigative monitoring • Undertake catchment walks • Estimate load reductions needed
5. Identify & Evaluate Possible Management Strategies • Evaluate existing measures • Get stakeholder input • Take account of ecosystem and geosystem services, water value,
pollution sources and CSAs • Develop possible management options • Undertake SEA and Habitats Directive Assessment, as appropriate • Undertake economic analysis • Rank the measures
6. Design an Implementation Programme • Set environmental objectives • Select appropriate mitigation measures • Develop an implementation schedule with milestones • Develop the monitoring component • Develop an engagement strategy • Identify technical & financial assistance needed • Prepare RBMP
7. Implement the River Basin Management Plan
• Prepare a work plan with short- and long-term outcomes • Implement the measures • Use metrics to track progress • Integrate with planning process • Conduct engagement, including awareness raising, consultation &
collaboration 8. Measure Progress and Make Adjustments
• Analyse trends and outcomes • Give feedback to stakeholders • Make adjustments, if necessary
Characterisation & Analysis Tools
GIS Databases Statistical
packages Numerical
models Flow estimations Load estimations Monitoring
Catchment Information
Tool
River Basin
Management Plan
Step 4: Further Characterisation
Step 3: Characterise the catchment
ICM Steps in the Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) Process (adapted from USEPA (2008)
Characterise catchments
Identify measures, plan
Implement measures
Monitor and evaluate
Report
WFD cycle
WFD 6-year cycle
What? Where? Why? How?
Characterisation Approach
Three TIERS of
risk characterisation so that the level of assessment is
appropriate for the risk posed
1: Preliminary risk screening 2: Initial characterisation 3: Further characterisation
WFD Characterisation Tiers
Objectives met
Not At RiskAd
ditio
nal m
easu
res
d/or
Increasing cost, resources, detail, confidence
1st : Preliminary Screening 2nd : Initial characterisation
3rd : Further characterisation
4933 Water bodies
590 Subcatchments 46 Catchments
1 National River Basin
District 2 International
RBDs
Monitor Report status
Assess risk
Prioritise measures
Plan Report to EU
Water management unit scales
Preliminary risk screening
Status Trend + Distance
to threshold Risk
GW SW
At Risk Review Not at Risk
1. Subcatchment delineation
• 590 subcatchments • 100-200 km2 • 3-15 WBs in each • Reviewed with LAs
Initial characterisation
2. Subcatchment stories • Work has commenced • Trialled the approach in
the Suir catchment
DRISH subcatchment 13 waterbodies • 5 At Risk • 5 Review • 2 Not at Risk • 1 Unassigned
CASE STUDY EXAMPLE
IE_SE_16D020100 Drish_040
(07-09) (10-12) T1 Pressures
Bio & Eco Poor Poor At risk Lisheen Moyne WWTP S4 Maher Quarry
Chem Status Trend Value T1
Ortho-P High D (N/N) 0.013 (F) H Not at risk
TON (N) Mod D (N/N) 2.764 (F) M
T Am (N) Good D (N/N) 0.187 (F) M
Tier 1 outcome At risk Change? No
Action Follow up on Peat and Lisheen Measures
Waterbody storyboard
Subcatchment storyboard
P concentrations low
Ammonia concentrations high
Biological Status Poor 2007-09 Poor 2010-12 (Poor 2013-15)
Information from the WFD App
Subsoils and risk Peat extraction
Preliminary load apportionment modelling Southern tributary
N load
P load
Pollution Impact Potential Maps (CSAs) GW SW
DRISH Actions
Ammonia from the peat Likely to be Less Stringent Objectives necessary
Further characterisation in the Breagagh (P) WWTP scheduled for upgrade Nov 2015 Investigative assessment: river channel; to look for key
pollution impacts and likely pressures Investigative assessment: High PIP P areas; to look for
agricultural pressures
Load reduction calculations for WWTP improvements Will the improvement in the plant achieve Good Status? What is needed upstream of the plant?
CLASHAWLEY subcatchment 7 waterbodies • 1 At Risk • 5 Review • 1 Not at Risk
CASE STUDY 2
Waterbody storyboard
16K050200 Killenaule_010
(07-09) (10-12) T1 Pressures
Bio Poor Poor At Risk WWTP Eco Poor Poor Chem Status Trend Value T1
Ortho-P (P) Poor Mod
D (N/N) D (N/N)
0.082 (F) 0.045 (F)
At Risk
TON (N) Mod Mod
D (N/N) D (N/N)
3.318 (F) 1.878 (F)
Tot Am (N) Good High
U (N/N) U (N/N)
0.042 (F) 0.02 (F)
T1 Risk At Risk Change No – At Risk Actions Review with LAs (focus on WWTP)
CLASHAWLEY High Pollution Impact Potential (PIP) for P being delivered via surface water pathways to the stream.
Pollution Impact Potential Map
(CSAs for P to SW)
CLASHAWLEY Summary/actions
LA had upstream and downstream monitoring which showed impacts upstream
High PIP P to SW in the area Tertiary treatment at the WWTP plant since 2002 Need to focus investigative assessment on
agricultural / small point source pressures.
Outcomes of the Suir assessment
Key actions: • 5 (of 29) main subcatchments need action • 39 (of 196) WBs flagged for investigative
assessments (many in the same subcatchments) • Specific issues highlighted, all related to P • Some measures already underway (e.g. WWTP
upgrades, liaising with farmers, etc) Key pressures implicated: • Not distinguishable (15), agriculture (11), forestry
(10), WWTPs (9), small point sources (7), industry (3) and diffuse urban (2)
Old RWB Risk Preliminary Risk Screening
Total 196 SW bodies Not at risk 17 (9%) Review 80 (41%) At risk 68 (34%) Unassigned 31 (16%)
New RWB Risk Updated Risk (following initial characterisation)
Total 196 SW bodies Not at risk 78 (40%) Review 44 (22%) At risk 58 (30%) Unassigned 16 (8%)
Repeat at catchment scale for groundwaters, transitional/coastal, protected areas
Transitional and Coastal WB story
• Eutrophication in the upper Suir estuary, impacting on Suir middle estuary. Others ok.
• P the limiting factor, but already < EQS • Significant P load reduction in the catchment in the
last 20 years • Further modelling work being undertaken at present
to quantify further load reductions needed, and identify possible source reduction options to target.
• 2027 objective likely
Groundwater and Protected Areas assessments still underway
Role of LAs (and other public bodies)
• Critical part of the process (the shared approach) • Contribute expertise, additional data and local knowledge • Provide the ‘boots on the ground’ for investigative
assessments • Liaise with local communities • Contribute the planning and enforcement frameworks
needed where necessary to achieve improvements • Have achieved, and are achieving, successes which
need to be counted as part of the wider WFD objectives
Therefore its important that we work together
National scale progress
110 subcatchments have been assessed Processes have been refined Meetings with 3 LAs to discuss Suir subcatchments Abstractions and discharges project underway Improved version of the PIP maps almost complete Improved version of the LAM in January Phase II WFD App development end Nov Turning our attention in the new year to objectives
and measures
Looking forward…
Building for the long term Targeted, weight of evidence approach The right measure in the right place Cooperation amongst public bodies, joint decisions Further development of models and tools Sharing information publically New community water engagement officers to
encourage community initiatives
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