Outreach & Policy

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The Environment Agency are consulting about the future of river basin planning and management. This document summarises the key areas of the consultation on which we are seeking geoscientific input. Comments from individuals and organisations representing the geoscience community will help the Society formulate its sector-wide response.

There are short films that accompany each of the ‘challenges’ outlined this consultation which can be viewed via the Environment Agency’s YouTube channel. The table below outlines the challenges highlighted within the consultation where comments from the geoscience community will be most appropriate.

Why are the Environment Agency consulting? 

At the current rate of progress it will take over 200 years to reach the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan target of at least 75% of waters to be close to their natural state. We urgently need to find better, faster ways to get more investment in our water environment.

The Environment Agency are updating the river basin management plans and have identified the need to find different and more ambitious ways of protecting water assets and the natural world. Many of the topics in this consultation, as highlighted in the table above, could benefit from input from the geoscience community. We have summarised the key consultation questions which are of relevance below.

You can comment on any number of these questions using our online form, or email us at [email protected] to share your views. These will be used to formulate a response to the consultation which represents the views of our Fellows, and the geoscience community as a whole.

Climate and biodiversity

1. What more can we do to tackle the impacts of climate change on the water environment and what additional resources (including evidence, targets, tools and additional mechanisms/measures) do we need to do this?
2. Environmental targets can generate action and provide a strong signal of intent. Could additional statutory targets contribute to improving the water environment? If so, what types of targets should be considered?

Changes to water levels and flows

3. What can be done to address the challenge of changing water levels and flows?
4. The abstraction plan, referenced in the changes to water levels and flows narrative, explains our current and future approach for managing water abstraction. What else do we need to do to meet the challenges of climate change and growth while balancing the needs of abstractors and the environment?
5. What kind of a water flow environment do we want? Should we maintain statutory minimum water flow and level standards universally across England as we do now, or go further in some places based on environmental risk?

Chemicals in the water environment

6. What can be done to address the challenge of chemicals in the water environment?
7. Do you support the Environment Agency's proposed strategic approach to managing chemicals as referenced in the Chemicals in the Water Environment challenge document? If not, what changes would you make?
8. What balance do you think is needed between current chemical use, investing in end-of-pipe wastewater treatment options and modifying consumer use and behaviour?

Physical modifications

9. What can be done to address the physical modification of our rivers and coasts?
10. Giving more space for rivers and coasts to move and adjust naturally will regenerate habitat, improve wildlife and help us adapt to climate change. What can you and others do to support these changes?

Plastics pollution

11. What can be done to address plastics pollution in the water environment?

Pollution from abandoned mines

12. What can be done to address pollution from abandoned mines?

Pollution from agriculture and rural areas

13. What can be done to address pollution from agriculture and rural areas?
14. How can we support the farming sector to excel at innovative solutions which benefit both productivity and the environment? What should these solutions look like?

Pollution from towns, cities and transport

15. What can be done to address pollution from towns, cities and transport?
16. How can sustainable drainage systems and green infrastructure be most effectively used to tackle pollution from urban areas? What challenges are there to using them?

Pollution from water industry wastewater

17. What can be done to address pollution from water industry wastewater?

Other

18. How can local partnerships become more inclusive and representative of all of the stakeholders within their catchments?
19. How can local partnerships achieve a better balance of public and private funding to support and sustain their environmental work?

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