Post by Hoppy on Sept 10, 2007 20:44:20 GMT -1
Environment Agency Wales is inviting people to have their say about the best ways to tackle major water environment issues across Wales to protect and improve rivers, lakes, ground and coastal waters.
Everyone is invited to give their opinion on the best ways to tackle issues such as pollution from urban and rural areas. Each River Basin District in Wales - the Dee, the Severn and Western Wales - has its own issues and can be commented upon individually.
The documents - titled River Basin Planning: Summary of Significant Water Management Issues - are an important step in creating better ways to achieve the standards of the European Water Framework Directive by 2015. Each consultation was put together by our Liaison Panels, groups of interested parties from sectors involved in the water environment.
The consultation reports set out the key issues that need to be addressed in each district - and we want to know if there is anything else we should consider. Your responses will help us develop management plans for each district that will shape how we create a healthier water environment by 2015.
"These issues may affect your environmental interests or your business, and your comments will help us prioritise work and identify where environmental improvements are needed", Damian Crilly, River Basin Manager in Wales, said.
The documents are now available at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfd and we welcome people's views on the proposals. The web-based system is quick and easy to use and has the advantage of allowing people to view other responses and to copy their responses to other River Basin Districts if they wish.
For those unable to access the internet and respond online, representations can be made via email to either severnRBD@environment-agency.gov.uk, deeRBD@environment-agency.gov.uk or westernwalesRBD@environment-agency.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can write to Environment Agency Wales (Water Framework Directive Programme), 29 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0TP. Paper copies of the consultation are also available from this address.
The River Basin Planning: Summary of Significant Water Management Issues consultation ends on 24 January 2008.
What is the Water Framework Directive (WFD)?
The WFD is a complex directive that applies to all surface freshwater bodies (including rivers, streams, canals and some lakes), groundwaters, estuaries and coastal waters out to one mile from low water.
It gives us a new opportunity to plan for and deliver, through working with other interested parties, a better water environment. It is the most important new European water legislation to emerge for decades and will help us to:
· improve inland and coastal waters and protect them, especially from diffuse pollution in urban and rural areas, through better land management;
· drive wiser, sustainable use of water as a natural resource;
· create better habitats for wildlife that lives in and around water;
· create a better quality of life for everyone.
What are River Basin Districts (RBD)?
There are ten River Basin Districts in England and Wales. Wales into three districts, the Severn River Basin District, the Dee River Basin District and Western Wales River Basin District. See the PDF map that accompanied this press release for details of how Wales is split.
Why is the consultation important?
Water is essential for our life and our livelihoods. We want to protect and improve our water environment in the three Welsh RBDs. The new river basin planning approach offers us a great opportunity to do this, in partnership with many other people and organisations. Holding the consultation is an opportunity to seek your views and confirmation that we have identified the significant issues for each River Basin District and that we are on the right track to meeting our objectives.
Why do I need to know about this?
It is likely that you will know someone who will be affected by one or more of the significant issues chosen for each River Basin District. For example, you may know an angler who has been affected by himalayan balsam invading their local river. By responding to the significant issues consultation, it is possible for them to air their views on anything that concerns them about their local water bodies.
Is flooding covered?
The Water Framework Directive does not cover flooding directly. Flooding is dealt with in more detail as part of the Catchment Flood Management Planning process (www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/1217883/1217968/907676/). However, The recent across the UK shows that managing flooding is important for many River Basin Districts. If you would like to speak to us about flooding please email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk or call 08708 506506.
What about climate change?
The WFD provides an opportunity for introducing climate change impacts into water management and river basin planning. The growth in housing and associated infrastructure, industry, and the effects of climate change has been taken into account in identifying these significant issues. We will build on this work as we prepare the draft River Basin Management Plan.
When will the River Basin Management Plans be produced?
The River Basin Management Plan is the final document which will set out environmental objectives for each of our water bodies, and what we and other stakeholders will do to achieve them. The draft River Basin Management Plans will be produced in December 2008 for a six-month consultation. The final plans will be published in December 2009. The main stages of the first river basin management cycle are shown on our Water Framework Directive timescale.
Anyone who sees pollution, illegal tipping of waste, poaching, fish in distress or danger to the natural environment can contact the Agency's emergency hotline on 0800 80 70 60. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, calls are free and will be treated in the strictest confidence.
More information about the Agency is available on the world wide web - www.environment-agency.wales.gov.uk