Defra updates priorities for River Basin Management Plans

Water minister, Rebecca Pow, told the Environment Agency to pay particular attention to four domestic priorities as it embarks on the next River Basin Management Planning (RBMP) period, for 2021-21: biodiversity loss, chalk stream protection, growth and jobs, and resilient water supply.

Biodiversity loss

Restoring the health of currently protected aquatic sites is a key goal given the government’s commitment to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030. This includes meeting all water related objectives for sites designated under the Habitats Regulations 2017.

Chalk stream protection

The Environment Agency should explore options through the plans to enhance the management and protection of chalk streams to ensure the achievement of targets.

Growth and jobs

Actions that support growth in the economy should be pursued through the plans, said Pow, in keeping with the economy/environment links set out in the Dasgupta Review.

Resilient water supply

More crucial than ever in light of the impacts of climate change, Pow said “these plans must put this at their heart”.

The minister made these observations in a foreword to updated RBMP guidance for the Environment Agency, superseding 2014 guidance, and the first issued since Brexit. The guidance also takes in 25 Year Environment Plan and Environment Bill priorities, including the goal that at least 75% of waters are close to their natural condition; the targets being developed for water and biodiversity; controls on storm overflows; and the health of chalk streams.

Moreover, the guidance noted water intersects with other sectors such as food and farming, transport, housing and energy, and that “these linkages also mean that we can deliver a wider range of benefits through an integrated approach”. Pow said this must be manifest in two ways: work across different relevant scales and proactive engagement by the Environment Agency with water stakeholders.

Work across different relevant scales

Catchments are the focus to understand and act on local needs and issues. However, river systems are large and we need a "source to sea" river basin based view, as well as an overview of the whole system, to understand the pressures on the natural water environment as a whole and to develop actions as a national response where that is needed.

Proactive engagement

The agency, Pow said, should engage with a wide range of stakeholders with interests in water to ensure that actions that deliver the widest benefit are identified and pursued. Pow noted: "This holistic approach must increasingly be the normal way of working across all areas linked to the water landscape. For example, phosphate pollution and nutrient management, water supply and water quality and managing flood risk.”

The river basin planning process involves setting environmental objectives for all groundwater and surface waters within the river basin district (an area made up of one or more neighbouring river basins) and devising programmes of measures to meet those objectives. The agency must submit updated RBMPs to the secretary of state for consideration and approval next year.