Wetland

Rivers and Streams

Objectives

Maintain and improve the quality of water in Staffordshire's rivers and streams so that they can support a higher biodiversity.
Maintain existing important natural river features.
Restore and create further 'natural' river features in key areas.

Targets

Restore 30km of river corridor by 2010.
Restore the Trent and Tame river corridors between Burton-upon-Trent and Tamworth (through the Central Rivers Project) to achieve multi-purpose use by 2018. Include provisions to increase the level of habitats in the area - in particular, lowland wet grassland, reedbeds and associated woodlands to specifically meet the regional habitat / species action plan targets.
Ensure that all rivers reach their appropriate Statutory Water Quality Objectives (SWQOs) by 2010.
Install 50km of riverside fencing by 2010.
Create 50 off-channel and in-channel features by 2010.
50km of river with bank side re-profiling by 2010.

Total achievements to date (November 1998 - March 2001)

Hanson Aggregates, Environment Agency, BTCV and National Forest Tender Schemes have restored 7.65km of river corridor at various locations.

Current Action

Protection and Policy

Some key stretches of rivers have been notified as SSSIs.
Certain riverine species such as otters, water voles and white-clawed crayfish plus their occupied habitat are legally protected under The Wildlife & Countryside Act, 1981 and The Conservation (Natural Habitats & Countryside) Regulations, 1994.
River Trent Action Plan has been produced for the City of Stoke-on-Trent.
River improvements are targeted in various LEAPS that operate within the County.

Management, Research and Survey

EA departments manage rivers to balance interests of conservation, water resources, flood defence, pollution control fisheries and sustainable development. LEAPs provide a framework for public consultation regarding management work based on major river catchment areas.
Statutory Water Quality Objectives (SWQOs) are set for all river stretches.
Agri-environmental grant schemes e.g. Countryside Stewardship (DEFRA) provide incentives for conservation based management of river corridors. FWAG, SWT (Otter & Water Vole Project) and RSPB also provide recommendations for landowner management options.
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:

N/A

County Lead Organisation:

N/A

Policy

Ensure that SWQOs will support ecosystems and species of that river type and geographic and topographic location, with no deterioration in quality. (EA)
Review consents that allow excessive abstraction. (EA)
Ensure that Drought Orders and Permits do not compromise the wildlife and ecology of affected watercourses. (EA)
Develop and implement strategies to protect headwaters. (EA)
Promote the use of Sustainable Drainage Systems in all new development from 2001. (SBAP Partnership)
Ensure any examples of rivers or streams that meet the required criteria are given SBI status. (SBI Grading Committee)
Ensure appropriate rivers or streams meeting the SSSI criteria are designated. (EN)

Management

Seek to restore river courses and create further 'natural' river features in key areas. (Mineral Companies, Developers, Water Companies)
Promote the sympathetic management of rivers and their corridors through existing projects, including buffer zones and wildlife corridors. (EA, SWT)

Monitoring and Research

Reassess the potential damage to groundwater fed wetland features due to groundwater abstractions in exempt areas. (EA)
Identify and survey headwater streams. (EA)
Seek to survey rivers and streams with a view to incorporating good stretches into the SBI site system. (SBAP Partnership)
Seek to carry out invertebrate surveys of key stretches or river supporting exposed riverine sediment. (EA, SWT)
Seek to monitor the creation, restoration and management of this habitat throughout the County. (SWT)

Advisory

Promote the biodiversity and landscape value of rivers and streams to the public and landowners. (SBAP Partnership)
Promote good advice on best approaches to river corridor, catchment management and agricultural practices. (EA, SWT)

Complementary Plans