Farmers to help improve 9,500 miles of river

Defra, the Environment Agency and Welsh Assembly Government today (Tuesday, December 22) published River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) for ten river basin districts in England and Wales. 

The plans set out how good water status will be achieved for each lake, stretch of a river, estuary or coastline.  

Dr Paul Leinster, Environment Agency chief executive, said he hoped to work closely with farmers to help wildlife such as otters, eels and salmon to return to rivers.

“The plans set out actions to tackle sources of pollution and to help reach challenging new EU standards on water quality. We will be working hard locally to deliver the plans alongside farmers, water companies and groups such as the Rivers Trusts and RSPB,” he said.

Defra has pumped £7.5 million (an increase of 50 per cent) into a fund to help farmers in priority catchments to pay for farm infrastructure improvements to tackle agricultural water pollution.

Hilary Benn, the Environment Secretary, announced a further £1m to lead research to give a better understanding of what causes water quality problems and how to deal with them.

He said it was ‘an opportunity to build on 20 years of improvements in water quality’ of rivers, lakes and coastlines.

The river basement plans are an obligation under the EU Water Framework Directive which aims to improve water quality across Europe.

Because one of the most common causes of water pollution is run off from rural land, farmers are on the frontline of action.

Jane Davidson, Welsh Assembly Government Environment Minister said: “It is our duty to ensure the quality of our rivers are maintained and protected for future generations.”

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