Policy paper

Summary of the Solway Tweed River Basin Management Plan in England

Updated 1 January 2024

Applies to England and Scotland

1. Introduction

The Solway Tweed River Basin Management Plan consists of a number of documents (including this document), as detailed in the River Basin Management Plan for the Solway Tweed River Basin District: 2021 update.

This document provides an overview of the river basin management plan in the Solway Tweed River Basin District in England. It contains the summary river basin management plan data for the water environment in the English part of the Solway Tweed River Basin District.

The latest river basin planning data for England including summary statistics and detailed information for each river, lake, canal, coastal, estuarine and groundwater water body, can be accessed through catchment data explorer.

2. Why this plan matters

The aim of a river basin management plan is to enhance nature and the natural water assets that are the foundation of everyone’s wealth, health and wellbeing, and the things people value, including culture and wildlife. Rivers, lakes, canals, estuaries, coasts and groundwater, and the essential services they provide, are worth billions of pounds to the economy. All parts of society benefit from clean and plentiful water.

This plan describes the framework used to protect and improve the quality of waters in the Solway Tweed River Basin District. It is an update of the plan published in December 2015.

This plan considers climate change to be a critical challenge that requires urgent action and investment in order to limit future deterioration in the quality of the water environment.

For the waters in England the plan contains the following:

The local environmental objectives that government, the Environment Agency and other public bodies use to:

• make planning decisions
• decide on the conditions to include in environmental permits
• target action, including informing funding decisions

An assessment of the current condition of each water body and, if it is not in good condition, the reasons why.

Summaries of the programmes of measures, including:

• the government’s legal and administrative framework for protecting and improving waters in England
• current and planned programmes of improvement actions
• principles to be followed when choosing future actions

Summaries at a catchment scale, including the local catchment partnership’s vision and priorities for future action.

This plan has been produced under the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 (WFD Regulations) and Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (Solway Tweed River Basin District) Regulations 2004. Where there is no special Solway Tweed River Basin District arrangement in place or required, the Ministerial Guidance on river basin planning 2021 has been taken into account.

This plan does not have an end date. It will be reviewed and updated again by December 2027.

2.1 Implementing the plan

When carrying out activities that can affect this river basin district, public bodies have a legal duty to have due regard to the Solway Tweed River Basin Management Plan. However, to achieve the environmental objectives in the plan, the whole of society needs to play its part.

The plan contains a summary of the programmes of measures to protect and improve the water environment. In some cases, the detailed and specific on-the-ground actions (exactly what will happen, where and when) have already been identified and agreed. In other cases, the on-the-ground actions will be identified and agreed during the lifetime of the plans. Where flexibility exists, when implementing the programmes of measures and when choosing specific actions, the following principles should be followed:

• take a collaborative place-based approach – align initiatives on water, and pool resources to achieve more than partners can achieve alone

• make evidence led decisions – work with partners to build the evidence base and use it to make evidence led decisions that are explicit about the intended benefits of actions and transparent about the assumptions used

• take account of future and changing risks to delivery – in particular, the effects of climate change and population growth to make sure actions perform as intended over their lifetime

  • consider a range of possible futures (for example 2^oC and 4^oC temperature rise by 2100) and use flexible approaches that enable solutions to be modified in the light of changing circumstances or new information

• contribute to net zero – minimise greenhouse gas emissions and maximise carbon capture aiming for net zero

  • restoration of the natural environment offers the potential to deliver carbon sequestration as well as other benefits

  • many partners have already committed to ambitious net zero targets

• build catchments resilient to warmer water temperatures, more frequent floods and drought, and rising sea levels – choose measures that help natural assets cope with or recover from shock

• work with natural processes – where possible choose nature based solutions to protect and improve natural water assets and deliver multiple benefits

• promote restoration and recovery of freshwater, estuarine and coastal habitats and species – this will provide resilience to climate impacts

  • it may also sequester carbon and provide many other benefits for people and wildlife

Adopting these principles will help the water environment better prepare for climate impacts and deliver multiple benefits for people and nature.

Public bodies should ensure the environmental objectives of the plan are reflected in their processes and plans, for example the town and country planning system and statutory local development plans.

2.2 Benefits of the plan

Implementing the plan will enhance nature and the natural water assets of the river basin district that are the foundation of everyone’s wealth, health and wellbeing, and the things people value, including culture and wildlife. It will help the country mitigate and adapt to the changing climate that is aiming for net zero and building resilience to more frequent floods and drought. It will help reverse the significant decline in water-dependent biodiversity by restoring and reconnecting essential habitats.

Healthy water-dependent habitats are essential for wildlife and provide resilience to climate change and other pressures by regulating flooding, erosion, sedimentation, local climates and water quality. Marine habitats can help achieve net zero targets by acting as a carbon sink, regulating the global climate and protecting the coastline from sea level rise and storm surges. Freshwater habitats support water supplies for drinking, agriculture and other industries. Both marine and freshwaters support fisheries and renewable energy generation. Rivers, lakes, canals, estuaries, coasts, and wetlands also provide many opportunities for recreation and tourism, and help promote physical and mental wellbeing.

Many of the programmes of measures summarised in the plan deliver multiple benefits for people and nature. They will also enhance non-water natural assets including air and land. A healthy water environment is also essential to support economic growth, including much needed housing development.

2.3 Government’s 25 year environment plan

Implementing this river basin management plan will help achieve many of the targets in the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, in particular:

• clean and plentiful water – achieve clean and plentiful water by improving at least three quarters of our waters to be close to their natural state as soon as is practicable – this target is based on the 5000 water body status objectives in the current river basin management plans

• thriving plants and wildlife – restore three quarters of terrestrial and freshwater protected wildlife sites to favourable condition and achieve a growing and resilient network of land, water and sea that is richer in plants and wildlife

• reducing the risks of harm from environmental hazards – reduce the risk of harm to people, the environment and the economy from natural hazards including flooding, drought and coastal erosion

• enhancing beauty, heritage and engagement with the natural environment – conserve and enhance the beauty of our natural environment, and make sure it can be enjoyed, used by and cared for by everyone

• mitigating and adapting to climate change – take all possible action to mitigate climate change, while adapting to reduce its impact

• managing exposure to chemicals – make sure that chemicals are safely used and managed, and that the levels of harmful chemicals entering the environment (including through agriculture) are significantly reduced

• enhancing biosecurity – enhance biosecurity to protect our wildlife and livestock and boost the resilience of plants and trees

3. Challenges

Many rivers, streams, lakes, estuaries and coasts are degraded and damaged by development, industry, agriculture, and modifications to provide flood protection. Climate change and a growing population are adding to these pressures and without concerted action now will lead to irreversible impacts for future generations.

The challenges that affect waters in this river basin district are briefly described below. Further details are provided in the challenge section of the River basin planning process overview: Solway Tweed River Basin District in England document.

3.1 Climate emergency

Climate change is already affecting the water environment. It will continue to impact the river basin districts from catchment to coast through changes to weather patterns, sea level rise, and increased frequency of natural hazards, such as extreme rainfall, heat waves and drought.

Climate change intensifies the impact of other pressures acting on the water environment:

• raised temperatures, extreme weather, and lower summer river flows and drought, impact the viability and diversity of terrestrial and freshwater habitats and species

  • thresholds or tipping points may be crossed, with irreversible consequences for species decline

  • the spread of invasive non-native invasive species and plant and animal diseases will increase

• hotter, drier summers are increasing pressure on competing demands for water resources, that is between public water supply, agriculture, industry, development, recreation and the environment

  • lower summer river flows will mean less water is available for dilution and dispersion of pollutants such as nutrients, contaminated sediments and heavy metals

  • the longer nutrients stay in a water body, the greater the risks from eutrophication and algal blooms

• increased rainfall intensity and frequency of flooding can lead to increased runoff of pollutants from land and more storm overflows from combined sewerage systems.

• thermal pollution of rivers, for example from cooling water systems, in combination with warming from climate change, can result in the remobilisation and increased bioavailability of contaminants

• physical modifications to rivers and coasts over many years have altered the natural functioning of catchments – this has restricted the ability of rivers, estuaries and coasts to naturally adapt to the impacts of climate change

  • this increases flood risks, reduces groundwater recharge, and the risk of saline intrusion

  • physical modifications may increase in some areas as more flood defences are built to cope with changes in rainfall patterns, flows and erosion

3.2 Biodiversity crisis

The combination of climate change, how land, water and seas are used and managed, and how nature is valued have led to a major crisis for nature – a biodiversity crisis. In the UK, 90% of wetland habitats have been lost in the last 100 years, and over 10% of freshwater and wetland species are threatened with extinction. Rare and valuable habitats such as chalk streams are degraded. Urgent action is needed to reduce the pressures these habitats and species are facing and to increase their quantity, quality and connectedness so biodiversity can thrive. This will in turn improve resilience to climate impacts.

3.3 Changes to water levels and flows

In some places water companies, industry and agriculture are taking too much water from rivers and aquifers. This damages the water environment and the wildlife that lives there. If action is not taken, the problem will increase.

3.4 Chemicals in the water environment

Manufactured chemicals that find their way into water, air and soil can be harmful to people and the environment. Some build up in animals and may represent risks to top predators and people, if not properly controlled.

3.5 Invasive non-native species

The damage that invasive non-native species cause can have major and permanent results. They can erode and undermine riverbanks, introduce new diseases, and can make native wildlife extinct.

3.6 Physical modifications

For thousands of years the water environment has been physically modified to support farming, industry, transport, and by building places to live.

Some of these changes have damaged habitats for wildlife and changed the natural functioning of catchments. This damage continues and is increasing.

3.7 Plastics pollution

Many people are more aware than ever that plastic has an impact on seas and wildlife. Because of the way plastics are produced, used and disposed of, these plastics can also pollute rivers, streams, lakes, soil and air.

Micro-plastics are a growing concern but one which needs more research. These tiny particles are entering the environment in large quantities and the potential consequences of this on people’s health, the food chain and wildlife is not yet understood.

3.8 Pollution from abandoned mines

Pollution from coal mines smothers river beds and harms the local habitat. In some areas, groundwater used for drinking water supply is threatened due to the pollution from coalfields.

3.9 Pollution from agriculture and rural areas

Farming and rural land use is always changing. The way some land is currently managed, the use of fertilisers and pesticides, and impacts from livestock are major reasons why many rivers and groundwater are polluted. Pressure from spreading of farm manures, imported sewage sludge and organic wastes are contributing to the problem.

3.10 Pollution from towns, cities and transport

Most of the waters in urban areas are damaged by pollution from drainage, roads, transport, industries and housing. Historic pollution from factories and heavy industry has also left a legacy contaminating land, soils and water.

3.11 Pollution from water industry wastewater

Wastewater pollution has in the past damaged rivers, streams and coastal waters very badly. But the situation has improved a lot in the last 30 years.

Despite these improvements, water industry activities are still one of the main reasons why waters are not in a good enough state. Work is underway to address these problems, but more is needed.

Of particular concern are storm overflows from combined sewerage systems that damage wildlife and the recreation value of the water environment.

4. Current condition and environmental objectives

4.1 Current condition

The current health of the water environment is assessed in terms of its status. Surface waters are assessed for ecological status or potential and chemical status. Groundwaters are assessed for quantitative status and chemical status. These status classifications indicate whether the quality of the environment is good or may need improvement.

A range of quality elements are assessed in each water body. For a water body to achieve good, every element assessed must be at good status or better. If one element is below its threshold for good status, then the water body’s status is classed as less than good.

Ecological status can be classed as high, good, moderate, poor or bad:

High – near natural conditions

• no restriction on the beneficial uses of the water body

• no impacts on amenity, wildlife or fisheries

Good – slight change from natural conditions as a result of human activity

• no restriction on the beneficial uses of the water body

• no impact on amenity or fisheries

• protects all but the most sensitive wildlife

Moderate – moderate change from natural conditions as a result of human activity

• some restriction on the beneficial uses of the water body

• no impact on amenity

• some impact on wildlife and fisheries

Poor – major change from natural conditions as a result of human activity

• some restrictions on the beneficial uses of the water body

• some impact on amenity

• moderate impact on wildlife and fisheries

Bad – severe change from natural conditions as a result of human activity

• significant restriction on the beneficial uses of the water body

• major impact on amenity

• major impact on wildlife and fisheries with many species not present

Surface water chemical status can be classed as good or fail. Since the previous plan was published in 2016 the approach to chemical status classification has changed. A more advanced and sophisticated approach to classifying the chemical status of English water bodies is being used. This helps to more accurately reflect the accumulation of some of the more persistent substances which can be underestimated by monitoring water alone. The new approach means that for England the 2019 assessment of water body status shows that no surface water bodies meet the criteria for good chemical status.

Groundwater quantitative and chemical status can be classed as good or poor.

The current classification results for waters in the English part of the Solway Tweed River Basin District are available on the Water Environment Hub.

4.2 Environmental objectives

The environmental objectives in the plans are used by government, the Environment Agency and other public bodies to:

• make planning decisions

• decide on the conditions to include in environmental permits

• target action, including inform funding decisions

Many of the objectives are locally specific, applying to individual water bodies or parts of the water environment.

The environmental objectives in this plan are legally binding. All public bodies must have regard to these objectives when making decisions that could affect the quality of the water environment.

The environmental objectives covered by the plans are:

• preventing deterioration of the status of surface waters and groundwater

• achieving objectives and standards for protected areas

• aiming to achieve good status for all water bodies

• reversing any significant and sustained upward trends in pollutant concentrations in groundwater

• cessation of discharges, emissions and losses of priority hazardous substances into surface waters

• progressively reducing the pollution of groundwater and preventing or limiting the entry of pollutants

4.3 Preventing deterioration

To protect and maintain the many uses and benefits the water environment provides it is essential to prevent it deteriorating. Businesses, including the water industry, have invested billions of pounds in infrastructure that rely on secure supplies of clean water. Preventing deterioration also protects wildlife and people’s health and wellbeing.

The plans contain a summary of the programmes of measures to protect the water environment. Without these measures, the quality of the water environment would deteriorate with associated loss of benefits.

4.4 Protected area compliance and objectives

There are many areas where the water environment is especially valued. These areas include rare wildlife habitats, bathing waters and areas where drinking water is abstracted. These areas are known as protected areas and their uses are given particular legal protection. Protected areas are a priority for action to make sure they achieve their objectives and protect the benefits they provide.

The types of protected areas that can be designated are:

• areas identified for the abstraction of water for human consumption (drinking water protected areas)
• areas designated for the protection of economically significant aquatic species (shellfish water protected areas)
• bodies of water designated as recreational waters, including bathing waters
• nutrient-sensitive areas, including areas identified as nitrate vulnerable zones and sensitive areas for urban waste water treatment
• areas designated for the protection of habitats or species – these are water-dependent Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas (European sites) protected areas – Ramsar sites are not protected areas under the WFD Regulations, but are included in the plan as a matter of government policy

Information on the protected areas in English part of the Solway Tweed River Basin District can be accessed on the Water Environment Hub.

4.5 Water body status objectives

For surface waters, objectives are set for ecological and chemical status. For artificial or heavily modified water bodies, objectives are set for ecological potential and chemical status. Ecological potential is further explained in the River basin planning process overview: Solway Tweed River Basin District in England. For groundwater, objectives are set for quantitative and chemical status.

Status objectives consist of a target status (for example, good) and a target date by which that status is expected to be achieved (for example, by 2021).

The default objective for river basin planning was to aim to achieve good status or potential by 2015. In some cases, alternative objectives have been set. These either involve taking an extended time period to reach the target status (for example, good by 2027) or achieving a target status less than good.

Where the target date is 2027, confidence in achieving the target status by that date depends, in part, on having confidence that the necessary actions will be in place before then. Where this confidence is low, the target date is expressed as ‘by 2027 (low confidence)’.

For many programmes of measures, although there is confidence that they will be implemented by 2027, it is not yet known which actions will take place and where. The outcomes from these programmes of measures are therefore not reflected in the water body status objectives set for achievement by 2027.

In addition, by 2027 there will be many additional opportunities for further action and improvements which it is not yet possible to identify.

Some chemicals, known as ubiquitous persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (uPBT) substances, can remain in the water environment for decades after actions to reduce or eliminate emissions are in place. The target date for achieving good status for some of these chemicals, where required actions are already in place, reflects this extended recovery time.

The requirement to prevent deterioration was also considered when setting water body status objectives.

Irrespective of the current objective, the long-term objective remains ‘aim to achieve good status’. Therefore, even if the current target status for a water body is less than good, proposals for new developments and strategic long-term planning processes, such as water resources planning by the water industry, should be designed to achieve good status (subject to regulation 19 of the WFD Regulations).

In certain circumstances, and if specific conditions are met, a failure to achieve good status or prevent deterioration is allowed. For the Solway Tweed River Basin District there are currently no situations where this exemption (made under regulation 19 of the WFD Regulations) has been applied, or are being considered at time of publication.

More information on water body status objectives, including alternative objectives, can be found in the River basin planning process overview: Solway Tweed River Basin District in England document.

You can find the objectives for water bodies in the English part of the Solway Tweed River Basin District on the Water Environment Hub.

4.6 Reversal of trends in pollution of groundwater

Actions to reverse any significant and sustained upward trends in pollutant concentrations in groundwater must be implemented as soon as a trend has been identified. It is not possible to propose an alternative that is less stringent or extend the deadline for this objective.

4.7 Progressive reduction of pollution of groundwater

Hazardous substances must be prevented from entry into groundwater and the entry into groundwater of all other pollutants must be limited to prevent pollution. Hazardous substances are substances or groups of substances that are toxic, persistent and liable to bioaccumulate, and other substances or groups of substances which give rise to an equivalent level of concern.

4.8 Other biodiversity objectives

There are additional biodiversity objectives which should be taken into account when taking action which could affect the water environment. These include objectives for all water dependent sites of special scientific interest, specially protected species (priority species) such as freshwater pearl mussel, salmon and white-clawed crayfish, and important habitats such as Marine Conservation Zones.

Marine Conservation Zones are a type of marine protected area that protect a range of nationally important, rare or threatened habitats and species along the coastal and offshore areas of the English seas.

Rivers, lakes, ponds, wetland, coastal habitats and the sea form natural corridors and stepping stones for wildlife that intersect and connect many landscapes. Action to protect and improve the water environment will help restore connectivity across the landscape, allowing species to migrate and adapt, and increasing the resilience of wetland and water dependent habitats and species to pressures from climate change.

5. Programmes of measures

This section summarises the current and planned programmes of measures to control the main challenges faced by the water environment and achieve the environmental objectives of this river basin management plan.

All sectors of society have a role in implementing the programmes of measures. The programmes of measures therefore describe measures from all partners including government, its agencies, local authorities, water companies, land managers, other businesses, and third sector organisations.

Programmes of measures include the on-the-ground actions (for example improving a sewage treatment works) and the mechanisms (tools and approaches) to ensure the actions are delivered (for example regulatory permit conditions to discharge sewage effluent and the associated water industry price review process to fund the improvement).

The summary programmes of measures in the plans focus on the main mechanisms, programmes, and strategic initiatives to protect and improve the water environment in each river basin district. These mechanisms include ‘basic’ measures (for example action required by legislation) and ‘supplementary’ measures which can be regulatory or voluntary initiatives such as codes of practice.

The summary programmes of measures also describe the main types of on-the-ground action that are delivered through these various mechanisms, and signposts to where more detail for specific, local actions can be found. Where this detail is yet to be developed, it indicates when and how the implementation of the measures will happen, and how organisations and people can help.

Where flexibility exists, when implementing the programmes of measures and when choosing specific actions, the principles detailed in section 2.1 should be followed. This will ensure that the maximum benefit to society and the environment is achieved.

It is unlikely that existing funded measures will be sufficient to achieve all the objectives of this river basin management plan by 2027. Where new initiatives are subsequently developed, these will be reported in the interim report on the implementation of the programmes of measures or in the next draft update to this plan.

5.1 What the summary programmes of measures are

The measures to achieve the environmental objectives in this river basin management plan are summarised in several ways, reflecting their relevance to specific objectives, sectors or river basin districts, as described below. It is hoped this will allow the reader to access the summary programmes of measures for their river basin district from different perspectives.

The summary programmes of measures for the river basin district consists of:

• a summary of the measures to meet each of the main environmental objectives of the river basin management plan (section 5.4)

• a summary of the measures for each sector (section 5.5)

• details of the main mechanisms used to tackle significant water management issues (section 5.6)

• a summary of the measures currently planned for the river basin district (section 5.7)

• examples of catchment partnership measures (section 5.8)

Please note that individual measures may be included in more than one of the summaries listed above. For example, the same measure may be included in the summary of measures to achieve a particular environmental objective and the summary of measures for a sector.

5.2 How the summary programmes of measures were developed

The summary programmes of measures were developed in 4 main ways:

• by collating measures developed during routine water planning processes to achieve the environmental objectives of the river basin management plan for example, the Water Industry National Environment Programme determined in 2019 through the Water Industry Price Review process

• by collating measures developed primarily to achieve different outcomes (for instance increased flood resilience) but which also deliver multiple benefits, including helping to achieve the environmental objectives of river basin management plan

• by people’s involvement and input to river basin planning, in particular:

  • the views expressed on key challenges and measures through the Challenges and Choices public consultation and draft river basin management plan public consultations

  • the ideas proposed through catchment partnerships

• by collating initiatives developed (for instance by government) to deliver multiple outcomes, including those with measures to help achieve the environmental objectives of the river basin management plan

5.3 New government initiatives

Government is developing a series of interdependent initiatives which will play a critical role in achieving the environmental objectives of the river basin management plans. These include:

1. The Environment Act 2021 will deliver long term targets for water and biodiversity. The targets will be used to drive progress to address some of the challenges affecting the waters in the river basin districts. Water quality targets for four of the challenges are being considered:

(a) pollution from agriculture and rural areas, in particular agricultural sources of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment

(b) pollution from water industry wastewater, in particular phosphorus and storm overflows from combined sewerage systems

(c) changes to water levels and flows, in particular reducing water demand, including leakage, household and non-household water consumption

(d) pollution from abandoned metal mines

Biodiversity targets are also being considered which will help protect and improve aspects of the water environment. These include a target which will support the achievement of favourable conservation status for sites of special scientific interest (including water-dependent sites), and a wider habitat creation target which will include aquatic and water-dependent habitats.

2. Establishing a Nature Recovery Network to improve the landscape’s resilience to climate change, provide natural solutions to reduce carbon, manage flood risk, and sustain ecosystems such as clean water, clean air and improved soil.

3. Developing Local Nature Recovery Strategies under the Environment Act 2021 to support the Nature Recovery Network. The strategies are designed as tools to drive more coordinated, practical and focussed action to help nature. Each strategy will, for the area that it covers:

(a) map the most valuable existing habitat for nature

(b) map specific proposals for creating or improving habitat for nature and wider environmental goals

(c) agree priorities for nature’s recovery

They are intended to deliver nature based solutions and wider environmental benefits. Rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal habitat, and other water-dependent natural habitat, including wetlands, saltmarshes and peatland, are expected to feature strongly in these strategies.

4. Committing £640 million to England’s Nature for Climate Fund. This fund will help support the delivery of the England Tree Action Plan and the England Peat Action Plan. Both action plans will help create catchments more resilient to climate change and deliver nature based solutions that directly improve the quality of the water environment. Opportunities for estuarine and coastal habitat (saltmarsh and seagrass) creation to absorb carbon are also being explored.

5. Developing Environmental Land Management schemes to pay land managers for delivering public goods. Through these schemes, farmers and other land managers may enter into agreements to be paid for delivering outcomes including improved water quality, habitat protection and creation, species recovery, natural flood management and carbon capture.

5.4 Measures to achieve the environmental objectives

This section summarises the measures to achieve each of the main sets of environmental objectives of the plans. Please note that the summaries do not provide an exhaustive list of the measures relevant to each objective.

5.4.1 Measures to prevent deterioration

These measures play a significant role in protecting all the current uses of the water environment and the benefits that society gets from it. These ongoing measures represent substantial investment and all sectors with an interest in the water environment have a role to play. These measures apply across all river basin districts.

They tend to be regulatory in nature (for example, permitting, enforcement, development planning) although statutory and non-statutory measures such as those in codes of practice and agreements between partners have an important role.

Mechanisms to prevent and respond to pollution incidents and prevent major accidents are also extremely important.

Each year, about 90% of the money to protect and improve the water environment and associated public health is spent on measures to prevent deterioration. The remaining 10% funds improvement measures.

5.4.2 Measures to achieve protected area objectives

Measures for European sites protected areas are expressed through a range of actions required to restore the water-dependent aspects of the habitats and species at the individual site level.

For the sites of special scientific interest underlying each European site, Natural England records remedies on its site management database. Remedies describe the actions needed to restore the site to, and maintain it in, favourable condition. Remedies represent the recognised plan of action that forms the basis of the programme of measures for European sites. Major stakeholders responsible for delivering the actions have access to the database. Information about remedies for individual sites are available on request from [email protected].

In addition, site improvement plans provide an overview of the longer-term issues that need to be addressed on European sites. They are available on Natural England’s Access to Evidence database under the Improvement Programme for England’s Natura 2000 Sites project.

Where Natural England advise that nutrients are causing failure of European site objectives, new development, such as housing, must be at least nutrient neutral. Developers, water companies and others need to work together to implement sustainable measures such as constructed wetlands. This will enable development to take place until longer-term measures to restore the European site are possible.

National level measures for European sites protected areas are identified in the programmes of measures summarised in the plans. They are also described in more detail in the European site protected areas: challenges for the water environment document.

One of the main tools for delivering drinking water protected areas objectives are safeguard zones. Safeguard zones are catchment areas that influence the water quality for those drinking water protected areas which are at risk of failing their objectives. Further details are provided in the Drinking water protected areas (DrWPAs): challenges for the water environment document.

Environmental permits are used to ensure all relevant discharges from waste water treatment works affecting a nutrient sensitive areas (urban waste water treatment) have appropriate phosphorus or nitrogen standards.

Land managers in nutrient sensitive areas (nitrate vulnerable zones) must implement measures to comply with rules on the use nitrogen fertiliser and the store of organic manure.

A range of locally tailored measures are used to address the diffuse and point sources of pollution that effect economically significant species (shellfish waters) and recreational waters (bathing waters) protected areas.

5.4.3 Measures to achieve water body status objectives

The programmes of measures to achieve water body status objectives in each river basin district include:

• water company investment programme
• water resources sustainability measures
• Rural Development Programme for England agriculture, environment schemes
• Highways England’s environment fund
• Coal Authority and abandoned mine water programmes
• flood risk management investment programme
• catchment level government funded improvements
• other local measures

5.5 Programmes of measures for each sector

This section summarises the measures for each of the main sectors. Please note that the summaries do not provide an exhaustive list of the measures relevant to each sector.

5.5.1 Water industry

Across England, water companies are investing £4.6 billion in environmental improvements in the five-year period of 2020 to 2024. These improvements were developed and agreed with government and the water industry through Ofwat’s 2019 Periodic Price Review process. Individual schemes are presented in the Water Industry National Environment Programme.

Measures for the water industry are broadly divided into those related to the collection and treatment of sewage and those related to the supply of drinking water.

Measures include:

• improving sewerage systems and sewage treatment works to reduce the amount of pollution (ammonia, organic material, phosphate, nitrogen, faecal organisms, metals, and other toxic chemicals) discharged to the water environment

• reducing the number of sewerage misconnections

• working with farmers to reduce agricultural pollution from nutrients and pesticides

• reducing the amount of water abstracted from sensitive locations by taking water from alternative locations or by reducing demand for water, or both

• enhancing habitats to compensate for damage caused by abstraction

• installing fish passes around water company structures such as abstraction weirs and reservoirs

• controlling invasive non-native species on water company land and water transfers

Climate change adaptation and mitigation is an integral part of water company planning and is an essential part of assessing scheme options.

This is particularly important for water resources planning, where water companies must plan a minimum of 25 years in advance to make sure that there is enough water to meet future demands. It is also important for decisions in the first regional water resource plans, which will improve water supply security through strategic and local planning and the Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development programme for strategic water resources options. The long-term environmental goals through the Environmental Destination adopted by regional planning will also see ambitious improvements in environmental resilience and protection.

It is also important that close links are made between water resource planning and Drainage and Sewerage Management Plans, which are currently being prepared by the water industry.

Environmental improvements for the period 2025 to 2029 are now being planned. Water companies must improve their performance which has stagnated in recent years. Some companies have not achieved their statutory obligations, such as reducing leakage and reducing pollution from combined sewer overflows. Water companies need to be more ambitious and make a greater contribution to wider outcomes: climate change adaptation and mitigation, and more engagement and partnership working, while supporting a natural environment where plants and wildlife will thrive.

5.5.2 Rural land management

Farmers must not pollute the water environment. They must comply with regulations such as the Farming Rules for Water. These apply to manufactured fertiliser and all organic manures, including farm manure and slurry, sewage sludge (biosolids) and imported waste organic materials spread to land.

If they go beyond these basic requirements, the government will fund additional environmental outcomes through schemes such as Countryside Stewardship and the government’s new environment land management schemes. They also help the environment through voluntary approaches and partnership projects. Ensuring effective enforcement of farming rules will be particularly important to deliver the objectives of this plan, as will effective advice through schemes such as Catchment Sensitive Farming.

Measures include:

• improving soil management to reduce the loss of soil, phosphate and nitrogen

• improving management of animal slurry and manure to reduce pollution from phosphate, nitrogen and faecal organisms

• preventing pollution from other farm infrastructure such as silage clamps, milking parlours and livestock yards and tracks

• improving use of pesticides to reduce pollution of the water environment, particularly in catchments used to supply drinking water

• reducing the amount of water abstracted from sensitive locations by using water more efficiently and greater use of on-farm storage

• a stronger catchment focus for water resources working collaboratively with stakeholders to find innovative integrated solutions that give greater access to water and sustainable water use that promotes catchments resilient to climate change

• preventing livestock from freely accessing watercourses, where they may cause poaching of soil and release of sediment and pollutants, particularly where there is a risk of polluting bathing waters

• changing land use, including woodland and wetland creation or converting arable land to grassland which requires less fertiliser

• re-naturalising rivers and coast defences, including making space for water and coastal realignment

Rural land management measures will support climate change resilience, for example, by planting trees next to rivers and streams, which can reduce river temperature and the risk to salmonid fisheries. Protecting soil, peat and moorlands also help store carbon. They will also reduce sedimentation of rivers, making rivers better able to store more flood water. In the appropriate locations the growth of energy crops can provide a sustainable energy source for hydrogen and electricity production, as well as wider benefits to flooding, water and soil quality.

Implementation of the government’s new environment land management schemes will play a major part in delivering the environmental objectives of this plan. Increasing the amount of funding from the private sector (for example food and retail supply chain through farm assurance schemes) will also be important to help farmers reduce their impacts and make a positive contribution towards a healthier water environment.

5.5.3 Government (public sector)

Measures for the government sector include those to mitigate and reverse the environmental impacts of the country’s infrastructure, for example, roads, and flood and coastal erosion risk management structures. Measures are delivered by various government-funded agencies (for example, Highways England), local authorities or non-governmental organisations including catchment based approach partnerships. Many of these initiatives involve mobilising communities to implement action to protect and improve water.

Measures include:

• improving landscapes and habitat, including removing redundant physical modifications (such as weirs associated with historic abstractions)

• treating contaminated minewater from abandoned coal and metal mines

• regional water resources planning delivering long term sustainable solutions

• reducing the spread and impact of invasive non-native species

• protecting bathing waters by implementing seasonal dog exclusion zones along the coast

• installing passive treatment systems to treat highways run-off

• installing fish passes around road or flood defence structures

• using natural flood management measures to slow, store and filter floodwater, with consequent wider environmental benefits

During the coming years it is likely securing government funding will remain a challenge. This funding needs to be target carefully to deliver maximum benefits for people and wildlife. There will also be opportunities to make environmental improvements through good design as existing infrastructure is renewed or updated. This will put a greater focus on nature based solutions to deliver multiple outcomes for people and wildlife including adaptation to a changing climate.

5.5.4 Industry, services, housing and infrastructure

This sector group covers a wide range of activities, requiring a similarly large range of measures to mitigate their impacts and provide positive environmental improvements. The measures are implemented through a variety of regulatory and voluntary programmes, including the spatial planning system and building regulations.

Measures delivered by these sector groups are often improved by working with the catchment based approach partnerships to bring sectors and communities together to deliver more for the local environment.

Measures include:

• reducing the number of sewerage misconnections

• improving septic tanks, private sewage treatment plants and effluent treatment plants

• using sustainable drainage systems to reduce pollution from urban areas, including roads

• drainage mapping (including road drains), stencilling and planning to minimise the risk of contamination to surface and groundwater

• increasing blue and green infrastructure such as green roofs and walls, rainwater harvesting, green corridors, vegetated sustainable drainage systems and drought resistant parks and gardens

• planting trees to cool local environments and capture atmospheric pollutants that could end up in the water environment

• legislation for mandatory biodiversity net gain, to ensure that new developments, including housing, benefit biodiversity by creating and improving habitats and local green spaces

• improving the efficiency of water use

• improving leachate management at problem waste sites by improving collection and treatment systems or off-site disposal

• improving environmental accountability to reduce contamination of surface water drains

• reviewing and, if necessary, improving dredging plans

• installing fish passes around physical modifications (for example, locks on navigable rivers)

• mitigating environmental impacts of physical modifications, where this does not compromise legitimate use

5.5.5 Cross-sector working

Many of the measures listed above are common to all sectors and cover from source to sea, catchment to coast. For instance, all sectors can help implement nature based solutions, or put in place action to reduce water use.

The catchment based approach has been a key mechanism to help facilitate better join up between sector groups and communities, so the sum of their collective action is more effective than their individual contributions.

One of the key comments many people made on the Challenges and Choices consultation was the need for more effective collaborative working.

During this next cycle the Environment Agency wants to continue working with partners to build on the great contributions made by the catchment based approach, and to deepen and strengthen place based working. In particular linking more effectively with coastal partnerships and the developing nature recovery network groups.

Looking further forward, government bodies, local authorities, developers, other businesses, and the third sector may need to review and radically reform ways of working, including governance structures if we are to achieve the environmental objectives of the plans.

5.5.6 Climate change mitigation and adaptation measures

Climate change is much higher on the political agenda than it has been for previous river basin management plans. It is starting to impact on ecological communities. The River basin planning process overview: Solway Tweed River Basin District in England document includes a summary of how climate change has been factored into the programmes of measures.

It is crucial the programmes of measures help mitigate and adapt to climate change if the environmental objectives of the plans are to be achieved.

It is also essential in the transition to net zero low carbon technologies and fuels, such as ground source heating and cooling, biomass crops, low carbon hydrogen and carbon capture and storage, are compatible with the environmental objectives of the plans.

In practice many mechanisms and on-the-ground actions simultaneously deliver multiple outcomes including helping to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Nature based solutions are particularly effective in this regard. For instance, restoring a wetland habitat within the landscape can help improve water quality, flows, and habitat. It will build resilience against deterioration through reducing risks of floods and droughts.

Here are some examples of how sector-focussed measures will reduce the impact of climate change on the water environment.

Central government measures

The central government measures include the following.

Environment Agency Environment Programme focuses on delivery of measures that help water bodies achieve the environmental objectives of this plan – the scope has recently expanded to include projects that will increase natural carbon storage and enable the water environment and water-dependent wildlife to adapt and become more resilient to climate change. For example, removal of physical structures such as weirs to help species such as migratory fish extend their migration routes to potentially cooler reaches.

Actions under the government Policy Statement and National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy will prepare for flooding and coastal erosion in the face of more frequent extreme weather as a result of climate change – Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management programmes deliver wider outcomes for water whilst strengthening coastal resilience to the impacts of sea level rise and coastal erosion for example nature based solutions such as natural flood management and restoring priority water-dependent habitats. Some of these programmes also focus on adaptive management to meet different climate scenarios.

Abandoned Mine Water Programme includes opportunities for utilising geothermal heat from abandoned coal mines to heat new homes; constructing wetlands that can capture carbon as well as improve water quality and vegetating mine waste heaps to capture carbon.

The government’s 10 point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution commits funding to the development of low carbon technologies such as ground source heating and cooling systems to decarbonise heating, hydrogen fuel and carbon capture and storage to mitigate climate change with wider benefits to the natural environment.

Highways England Environment Programme aims to tackle things such as road water run-off that contains persistent chemicals that leech into the environment and control of invasive non-native species – both of which will reduce the pressure on wildlife and help it to adapt to climate change.

Nature Recovery Network to improve the landscape’s resilience to climate change, provide natural solutions to reduce carbon, manage flood risk, and sustain ecosystems such clean water, clean air and improved soil.

Local Nature Recovery Strategies to support the Nature Recovery Network – the strategies are designed as tools to drive more coordinated, practical and focussed action to help nature and they are intended to deliver nature based solutions and wider environmental benefits such as climate change mitigation and natural flood management through tree planting. Each strategy will, for the area that it covers:

• map the most valuable existing habitat for nature
• map specific proposals for creating or improving habitat for nature and wider environmental goals
• agree priorities for nature’s recovery

Urban land-use planning measures

For example:

• biodiversity net gain – the Environment Act 2021 contains a new biodiversity net gain condition for planning permissions

  • developers will be expected to deliver habitat creation or enhancement as part of delivering mandatory biodiversity net gain, to be maintained for at least 30 years

  • this should lead to delivery of actions that restore and enhance priority habitats, benefit priority species, tackle invasive non-native species and improve resilience to climate change

• work with partners involved in development and development reform to improve local delivery through better alignment and integration of planning programmes to deliver multiple benefits for communities including tackling the climate emergency

Industry and business (including waste and ports) measures

For example:

• partnership projects that are part-funded by industry

• The Courtauld Commitment 2025 aims to reduce food waste, cut carbon and protect critical water resources – it brings together organisations across the food system to make food and drink production and consumption more sustainable

Rural land management measures

For example:

• environmental land management schemes – the climate emergency is an integral consideration of the government’s plan for transitioning to more sustainable agriculture and environmental land managements

  • net zero and climate change adaptation will be supported through schemes

  • examples of how this will be achieved are through increasing afforestation and peat restoration

• during the environmental land management national pilot and in ‘tests and trials’, schemes will be tested and developed that deliver outcomes for climate change

Water industry measures

For example:

• the programmes of measures includes measures that will benefit the water environment that will be delivered through Price Review 19 and Price Review 24 – this includes measures such as net zero (for example reduced power use, less concrete use), habitat restoration to sequester carbon, asset resilience, adaptive pathways approaches to help us adapt to a range of climate change scenarios

• all English water companies have signed up to a public interest commitment with specific 2030 commitments on carbon and leakage reduction, as well as plastics, social mobility and water poverty – it is expected that regional water resource groups will build on this to stretch their ambitions

Cross-cutting measures

For example:

• integrated delivery including local delivery (for example catchment based approach) which improve planning through better risk assessments and evidence to underpin decision making

• Nature for Climate Fund which funds tree planting and peatland restoration to sequester carbon

This is not an exhaustive list of the measures that will help tackle climate change. For example, there are actions in the programme of measures that explore green financing options and greater flexibility in catchment permitting, aiming to maximise the balance between regulatory investment and voluntary investment.

5.6 Mechanisms

The Solway Tweed river basin district in England programmes of measures: mechanisms summary summary document gives details of the main mechanisms used to tackle significant water management issues. It includes details of the government’s legal and administrative framework for protecting and improving England’s waters. The challenges for the water environment series of documents provide further context.

5.7 River basin district summaries

The summary of measures for the Solway Tweed River Basin District spreadsheet, available to download from the Water Environment Hub, presents the measures currently planned for each river basin district. They include:

• planned measures where funding has been committed or there is an established funding mechanism, and there is confidence about where and when the outcomes will be achieved

  • this confidence is reflected in some of the water body objectives set in the plans

  • these measures are a small subset of the programmes of measures

  • the outcomes they deliver represent a conservative view of what will be achieved by 2027

• planned measures where funding has been committed or there is an established funding mechanism, but where there is currently uncertainty about the specific locations that will benefit from the measures

  • this uncertainty is reflected in some of the water body objectives set in the plans

  • these measures include the new government initiatives described in section 5.3, Water Industry Price Review 2024, and new Environment Agency funded projects that will take place during 2022 to 2027

5.8 Measures in catchment pages

The Catchment Based Approach promotes collaborative working at a catchment scale for environmental, social and economic benefits. Catchment partnerships have produced catchment pages, which for this plan can be found on the Water Environment Hub, summarising some of the measures the partnerships hope to take forward, improving and enhancing actions and the environment through collaboration with multiple sectors and communities.

6. Progress and changes

6.1 Introduction

This section summarises what has happened and what has been achieved in the English part of the Solway Tweed River Basin District since the 2015 river basin management plan was published.

It includes an overview of the changes in the state of the water environment, a summary of the measures implemented since 2015, and some of the main changes in the evidence used in river basin planning.

6.2 Changes in the state of the water environment since 2015

6.2.1 Surface water ecological status or potential

The most recent assessment of water body status was made in 2019. The proportion of surface waters at good ecological status or potential in the English part of the Solway Tweed River Basin District in 2019 (46% of water bodies) shows an improvement since 2015 (41% of water bodies). More information can be found on individual water bodies for the 2019 assessment in the Water Environment Hub, or to see the latest river basin planning data in England for the Solway Tweed River Basin District, visit the catchment data explorer.

6.2.2 Surface water chemical status

There has been little underlying change in status for most substances assessed as part of chemical status for surface waters. However, the overall picture presented for chemical status has changed considerably due to new substances and changes to techniques and methods. These are summarised in the ‘changes in evidence’ section in this document.

6.2.3 Groundwater status

Groundwater classification results are based on the quantity, quality and retention of water in aquifers. Each of the 5 groundwater bodies in England for the Solway Tweed River Basin District is classified for quantitative and chemical status.

There has been no change in the number of groundwater bodies meeting good quantitative status (80% of water bodies).

There has been a decrease in the number of groundwater bodies meeting good chemical status, with 20% at good in 2019 compared to 40% in 2015.

6.2.4 Kilometres enhanced and protected

Achieving water body status objectives and outcomes for protected areas, species and habitats, is the ultimate aim of river basin planning. However, the lag time between actions being taken and responses in the environment being detected via water body classification results means that the results have not always reflected the work being undertaken to enhance the water environment.

Kilometres enhanced is a simple and useful indicator of the extent of progress in enhancing and protecting the water environment. It was established by the Environment Agency in 2016 as a new approach to reporting work undertaken to enhance the water environment. It was expanded in 2018 to include work to prevent or reverse deterioration. It captures work done to support the objectives for water body status and protected areas and species.

Kilometres enhanced captures contributions from a range of people and organisations who play their part in resolving complex environmental problems and preventing or reversing worsening conditions.

It covers actions in all types of water body. Enhancements in lakes, coastal and estuarine waters and groundwater are reported as linear kilometres to allow them to be incorporated into the overall ‘kilometres enhanced and kilometres protected’ measure.

In the English part of the Solway Tweed River Basin District, 229km were enhanced (in the period January 2016 and March 2021), and 18km were protected (between April 2018 and March 2021).

6.3 Measures implemented since 2015

The 2015 river basin management plan contained summary programmes of measures. Whilst it has not been practicable to track progress with all of those measures, many of them have been recorded as part of kilometres enhanced reporting.

A total of 208 actions contributed to kilometres enhanced in the English part of the Solway Tweed between January 2016 and March 2021.

Actions include those delivered through Environment Agency programmes, such as the environment programme and flood and coastal risk management programme, and by catchment partnerships. Examples of partners include the Forestry Commission, Natural England, water companies, the Coal Authority, businesses, communities, and many environmental charitable trusts.

Actions were also undertaken through countryside stewardship to reduce pollution from agricultural working practices. Implementation of the Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution (England) Regulations 2018 started in this period.

The majority of investment came from the Water Industry National Environment Programme and the Environment Agency’s environment programme, where enhancements directly improve parts of the water environment which aren’t meeting required standards and make a greater contribution to achieving good status.

6.4 Changes in evidence since 2015

6.4.1 Climate change

The UK is starting to experience more frequent extreme weather, rising sea levels and sustained increases in temperature. Freshwater species are being impacted by climate change. Hot dry summers are a particular problem for salmonids, where long-term declines are likely to be related to climate change. In certain key salmonid rivers, poor recruitment has been observed during some recent hot, dry summers. This may result in water bodies failing to meet ecological objectives.

There is evidence of shifts in macroinvertebrate community structure related to climate change, however more evidence is required to demonstrate causality and mechanisms. High temperatures can cause algal blooms and weed choking during summer months. Warmer winters can also increase risks from some invasive species such as floating pennywort.

Global temperature increases have the potential to impact the viability and distribution of species. For terrestrial species there is evidence of northerly migrations to overcome temperature increases. Truly aquatic species may be unable to move between catchments, resulting in more species being threatened with either local or national extinction.

You can find more information in the climate emergency challenges for the water environment document.

6.4.2 Assessing chemical status

Since the 2015 plan was published there have been a number of changes in the assessment of chemical status of surface water bodies. These include new substances, new standards, and improved analytical techniques and methods. Biota sampling is now used to assess more persistent, toxic and potentially bioaccumulative chemicals and give a more accurate reflection of these chemicals in the environment. Whilst these changes have led to a significant change in the headline figures for chemical status, there is little underlying change in chemical status for other chemicals. These changes are predominantly due to 3 groups of substances: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, mercury and perfluorooctane-sulfonate. More details are provided in the River basin planning process overview: Solway Tweed River Basin District in England document.

6.4.3 Catchment economic appraisals

Catchment economic appraisals are undertaken to assess the benefits, cost and any negative impacts of implementing measures to improve the water environment. The results of the economic appraisals help ensure that wider benefits and the value of the water environment are taken into account in decision making. The results are used to indicate where achieving good status would be disproportionately expensive.

The catchment economic appraisals undertaken in preparing the 2015 river basin management plans were subject to a proportionate review as part of the development of the water industry national environment programme for the 2019 water industry price review. 2 out of 10 catchment economic appraisals in the Solway Tweed River Basin District were reviewed. The results have been reflected in the objectives set in this plan.

Water industry funded measures form the majority of expected investment in realising the environmental objectives. Therefore, the review and update of economic appraisals, completed to support the water industry price review in 2019, has optimised water body status objectives sufficiently for this 2021 update to the plan.

Since January 2016, through the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction Programme the Environment Agency has worked with abstractors to maintain and /or increase water levels in certain rivers, streams, lakes and other natural wetland habitats, for example in the Haweswater abstraction system. This has been achieved by reducing the amount of water that is taken from the environment or by removing the risk of licence holders abstracting more water through the removal of headroom or unused quantities from abstraction licences.

Activities delivered under countryside stewardship also made a significant contribution, for example, by farmers changing rural land management practices to reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphate entering water bodies.

Some of the greatest lengths of enhancements came from the removal of barriers in rivers, including the installation of eel and fish passes. These interventions can help improve fish populations for many kilometres by allowing fish and eel to migrate upstream.

6.5 Changes to protected areas and water bodies since 2015

6.5.1 Drinking water protected areas

Water bodies are identified as drinking water protected areas where they meet the criteria set out in the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 (WFD Regulations). 

The Environment Agency has reviewed the register of surface water drinking water protected areas for the updated plans to ensure the correct water bodies are identified.

In England for the Solway Tweed River Basin District there are 4 water bodies newly identified as surface water drinking water protected areas containing an abstraction that meets the criteria of the WFD Regulations. These are Ullswater, Wet Sleddale, New Water and Old Water.

6.5.2 Water bodies

There have been some minor changes in the water body network to correct errors:

• where a water body is named incorrectly or associated with the wrong operational catchment
• an improvement in the definition of the coastal edge of water bodies

These changes do not substantially alter the number or characteristics of the reported water bodies, although, one new lake waterbody (Wet Sleddale) has been added as it has been identified as a drinking water protected area.

6.6 Changes in England to legislative, policy and economic landscapes since 2015

The UK left the European Union (EU) on 29 March 2019. The requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive, which were transposed into domestic law, were retained as domestic law at the end of the transition period. This plan has been produced under the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 and the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (Solway Tweed River Basin District) Regulations 2004. Where there is no special Solway Tweed River Basin District arrangement in place or required, the Ministerial Guidance on river basin planning 2021 has been taken into account.

Leaving the EU has led to policy and legislative changes that will impact on the environment. Many of these new policies are still in development, and while these new measures have been designed with environmental improvement as a key objective, it is not yet possible to quantify the exact impact they will have during implementation of the updated plans.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected implementation of the previous plan during 2020 and 2021, including delaying the delivery of some measures due to practical constraints related to lockdowns and safe ways of working.

Tackling the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has also had a significant impact on the UK’s economy. The longer term effects of the economy on delivery of river basin management plans will become clearer in the next few years.