Wetland

Ponds, Lakes and Canals

Objectives

To maintain the nature conservation value of existing ponds, lakes and their catchment areas through favourable management.
Increase the number of open water bodies with nature conservation potential within the county.

Targets

Aim to establish favourable conservation management on all good examples by 2010.
Create 200 new non-recreational (not stocked with fish) ponds on land of low conservation value by 2010.
Restore 200 non-recreational ponds on land of low conservation value by 2010.
Create 80 hectares of shallow, sinuous pools in four blocks of c.20ha in gravel pits. These should also include numerous small islands for breeding and wintering wildfowl.
Restore one farm pond per Parish by 2010.
Seek to achieve all appropriate biodiversity targets in the British Waterways Action Plan within the County.

Total achievements to date (November 1998 - March 2001)

Five lakes have been created (various sources).
Over eighty ponds have been created in the County by various organisations.
Ten balancing pools of unknown quality to wildlife have been created throughout the County (data from the Environment Agency).
Seventeen ponds have been restored through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

Current Action

Protection and Policy

A number of canals, lakes and pools have been notified as SSSIs.
A number of sites have been classified as grade 1 SBIs.
Law protects species such as great crested newts. This protection includes their surrounding habitat.
Pond and lake creation / restoration is targeted in various LEAPS which operate within the County.
Standing Eutrophic Water has been listed as a costed, key habitat in the UK Steering Group Report.

Management, Research and Survey

A number of SSSIs, Local Nature Reserves and other nature reserves are actively managed.
DEFRA’s Countryside Stewardship Scheme includes an option for pond management.
The County Council have produced a pond pack to help creation and management of ponds and FWAG produces an advisory booklet for landowners that include a section on ponds.
British Waterways has completed a full survey of all canals in the county with a management plan produced.
Inventory of ponds for Staffordshire Moorlands completed by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.
A 'Restoring Power to the Wetlands' project (managed by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and funded by Powergen) operates in the east of Staffordshire.

Action Plan

UK Lead Organisation:

Environment Agency [Eutrophic Standing Waters]

County Lead Organisation:

N/A

Policy

Ensure any examples of standing water bodies that meet the required criteria are given SBI status. (SBI Grading Committee)
Ensure appropriate standing water bodies meeting the SSSI criteria are designated. (EN)
Promote the use of Sustainable Drainage Systems in all new development from 2001. (SBAP Partnership)

Management

Seek to restore and create further lakes and ponds in appropriate areas. (Mineral Companies, EA, Developers, FoM, TNF and Landowners)
Promote best practices in farming and encourage the implementation of Farm Waste Management Plans. (DEFRA)
Prepare water level management plans in respect of key sites. (EA)
Encourage landowners to construct and sympathetically manage new pools by using agri-environment schemes such as Countryside Stewardship. (DEFRA, FWAG, TNF)
Development of integrated catchment management plans. (EA)
Reduce sheet piling of canals to a minimum. Incorporate mitigation works where necessary and research best mitigation techniques. (BWB)
Ensure abstraction procedures do not affect key sites. (EA)
Ensure the restoration of gravel pits incorporates priority nature conservation interests. (CRP, Minerals Companies)

Monitoring and Research

Identify all key sites and create an inventory of all key standing water sites within the county by 2005. (SBAP Partnership)
Seek to monitor the creation, restoration and management of this habitat throughout the County. (SWT)

Advisory

Promote the biodiversity and landscape value of canals, lakes and pools to the public and landowners. (SBAP Partnership, BWB)

Complementary Plans