Mammals

Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris)

Objectives

Targets

Restore 50 targeted sites within the county (particularly where recent local extinctions have occurred) to encourage natural re-colonisation by 2003.

Total achievements to date (November 1998 - March 2001)

Management agreements currently exist with landowners on fifteen key sites.
106 Key sites have been identified in Staffordshire (1996-1999). Monitoring of these sites confirmed 32 extinctions and a complete cessation of breeding at a further 38 sites of the 106.
29 Key breeding sites remain in the county (73% decline since 1996).

Current Action

Protection and Policy

Water vole is a protected species under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Section (a).
Environment Agency and SWT are Lead Organisations for the Water Vole in Staffordshire.
Water Vole has been listed as a costed, key species in the UK Steering Group Report.

Management, Research and Survey

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust has recruited a Water Vole Project Officer, with help from funds from English Nature Species Recovery Programme.
An SBAP Species Recording Card has been produced and circulated for the Water Vole.
Advice on habitat management is available from SWT and EA.
EA and EN have produced a Water Vole habitat management and conservation handbook.
Water Vole conservation measures are now included on some of the latest LEAPs (e.g. Staffordshire Trent Valley).
The EA is funding research into Water Vole ecology led by the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, University of Oxford.

Action Plan

UK Lead Organisation:

Environment Agency

County Lead Organisation:

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and Environment Agency

Policy

To ensure policy makers are aware of the need to retain the integrity of river corridors for the movement of species such as the Water Vole. (EA, SWT, EN)
Seek to include actions to promote water vole conservation in catchment management and LEAPs for catchments with suitable habitat. (EA)
Seek to enforce speed limits on navigable waterways. (BW)
Ensure any examples of sites containing populations of this species and that meet the required criteria are given SBI status. (SBI Grading Committee)
Ensure appropriate sites containing populations of this species meeting the SSSI criteria are designated. (EN)

Management

Where bank side and bed works are planned, seek to undertake a full survey for water voles. (EA, IDB, BW)
To include Water Vole conservation in management plans for post-mineral extraction areas and initiatives. (Mineral Companies, CRP)
To inform fisheries managers of water vole colonies to ensure their protection during fisheries management works, and to ensure beneficial enhancements are incorporated into fisheries and flood defence schemes and projects. (EA, SWT)
Seek to restore suitable water vole habitat on watercourses at identified sites where there is a possibility of natural re-colonisation from existing colonies. (EA, DEFRA, FWAG, BW)
Seek to provide riparian buffer strips adjacent to intensive agricultural land. (EA, DEFRA, FWAG, BW)

Monitoring and Research

To survey and monitor all known sites to define the Staffordshire water vole distribution. (SWT, EA)
To set up 'Key Sites’ for Water Voles with an appropriate ongoing management and monitoring programme. (SWT)
To monitor the distribution of mink in the target areas. (SWT, EA)
To recruit, train and co-ordinate a network of voluntary surveyors to monitor water vole colonies and identify new populations. Target voluntary survey work for areas outside catchment surveys where knowledge is limited e.g. canals, farm ponds, marl pits, gravel pits etc. (SWT)
To coordinate university based research projects into water vole ecology and the effects of potential limiting factors in a local context. (SWT, EA, BW, Universities)
Monitor all water vole key sites in Staffordshire every 12 months (during the breeding season March-October). (SWT)

Advisory

To advise riparian landowners and managers about the vulnerability of water voles to inappropriate riparian management, and give advice on suitable management. (EA, SWT)
Increase species awareness of water vole for the public and landowners through education, promotion and events. (EA, SWT)

Complementary Plans