ENVIRONMENT AGENCY FLYLIFE ACTION PLAN Ian Johnson, Fisheries - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY FLYLIFE ACTION PLAN

Ian Johnson, Fisheries Policy and Process Manager Dr Graham Lightfoot, Fisheries Senior Technical Specialist

REPORTED DECLINE

AMESBURY HYDROGRAPH

5 10 15 20 25 01/02/1965 01/02/1967 01/02/1969 01/02/1971 01/02/1973 01/02/1975 01/02/1977 01/02/1979 01/02/1981 01/02/1983 01/02/1985 01/02/1987 01/02/1989 01/02/1991 01/02/1993 01/02/1995 01/02/1997 01/02/1999 01/02/2001 01/02/2003 01/02/2005 Daily Mean Flow (m3/s) Amesbury (Avon)

Amesbury (River Avon) August Mean Monthly Flow

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Mean Monthly Flow (m3/s) August MMF LTA 1965 - 1990 LTA 1965 - 2005

AVON LOW FLOWS

AIR TEMPERATURE

AT 2004 CONFERENCE

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EA also drew attention to evidence in the literature for flow impacts on riverfly nymph abundance in chalk rivers and the importance of Ranunculus abundance.

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Ranunculus recovered with better average flows 98- 2002

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We also gave a “national overview” highlighting sheep dip effects ,pesticide impacts associated with

• rchards (Kent), climatic effects, siltation and other

diffuse pollution

STATUS OF RIVERFLY GROUPS?

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AN ANNUAL “OVERVIEW” OF RIVERFLIES

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Informed by angler and stakeholder reports

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Incorporates Agency invertebrate survey assessments

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Collated to National scale

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Published on Agency Website

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Informs our Riverfly Action Planning

2005 Assessment:-

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Common patterns were reported across southern chalk rivers

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(Lack of BWO ,only classic “Mayfly” and “Pale Watery” at reasonable or good levels)

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Sheep dip impacts notable in some areas

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A number of human influences implicated in declines across the country including:-

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Siltation

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Pollution events

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Abstraction

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Climatic effects also

KEY FLY GROUPS FOR ANGLERS

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Evaluated the riverfly groups of most importance to anglers (by questionnaire survey)

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Used to guide specific analyses of Agency datasets for species specific trends

Table 3 Monthly ‘top three’ key flies. Month First Second Third April Large dark olive Hawthorn Grannom (Brachycentrus subnubilis) May Mayfly Medium olive Hawthorn June Mayfly Pale wateries Blue-winged olive & sedges. July Blue-winged olive Sedges Pale wateries August Blue-winged olive Sedges Pale wateries September Sedges Pale wateries Olives October Large dark olive Sedges Chironomid Midges

KEY FLIES FOR ANGLERS (Chalk/limestone)

KEY FLIES FOR ANGLERS (Mesotrophic)

Table 5 M onthly to p three key flies M onth First S econd Third A pril Large dark olive Large B rook D un E cdyonurus torrentis M arch B rown R hithrogena germ anica M ay O live upright M ayfly Yellow M ay D un June M ayfly B lue-winged olive S edges. July B lue-w inged olive S edges S m all dark olive A ugust B lue-w inged olive S edges C hironom id M idges S eptem ber A utum n D un Spurw ing C entroptilum sp B lue-w inged olive O ctober Large dark olive Stoneflies P lecoptera C hironom id M idges

MAKING MORE USE OF EXISTING DATASETS

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Developed statistical methods to interrogate Agency Invertebrate data for Riverfly trends:-

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3 aims were:-

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To provide a graphical representation of data

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Assess 5, 10, and 15 year linear trends

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Assess how unusual any year is

MAKING MORE USE OF EXISTING DATASETS Cont….

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Currently testing in 5 Areas with a history of riverfly issues and comparing with outputs from current analytical systems

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Operates on either Family level or species level data.

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Initial results using S Wessex data encouraging.

OUTPUTS - R. Avon Baetids “Olives”

• inc. “Pale watery” - Spring

Avon Baetid Spring

1 2 3 4 5 6 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 Year Log (Nos/3min)

• R. Avon Baetids - Autumn

Avon Baetid Autumn

1 2 3 4 5 6 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 Year Log (Nos/3m in)

Ephemerellids “BW Olives” - Spring

Avon Ephemerellid Spring

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0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 Year Log (Nos/3 min)

Ephemerellids - Autumn

Avon Ephemerellid Autumn

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1 2 3 4 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 Year Log (Nos/3min)

Ephemerids “Classic Mayfly”- Spring

Avon Ephemerid Spring

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1 2 3 4 5 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 Year Log (Nos/3min)

Ephemerids - Autumn

Avon Ephemerid Autumn

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1 2 3 4 5 6 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 Year Log (Nos/3 min)

HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO WHAT ANGLERS ARE REPORTING ?

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2005 OVERVIEW:-

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“Common patterns occur across southern chalk rivers (Lack of BWO ,only classic “Mayfly” and “Pale Watery” at reasonable or good levels)”

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Observations match the analysis closely

ANGLER INVERTEBRATE MONITORING SCHEME

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EA Policy approved for Operational support

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Approach uses same sampling method and aquatic invertebrate classification as EA.

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Hence data compatible with EA data and EA staff can use historic data to help in setting “trigger” conditions.

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EA funding development of guidance material and H+S training of course tutors

ANGLER INVERTEBRATE MONITORING SCHEME

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Support and liaison with local Agency staff built in.

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Means for more rapid detection of abnormal conditions

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Increased scrutiny of the environment

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To date schemes in 7 EA Areas.

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8 Further Areas in 2007/8

MONITORING PROGRAMME

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Analysis of long term datasets from 70’s and 80’s

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This work will be carried out in 2007

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Report on how riverfly abundance has changed since then.

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Network of Riverfly Monitoring sites established within current sampling

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Long-term data sites flagged for Riverfly purpose

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Angler Invertebrate Monitoring Scheme data

PHYSICAL HABITAT IMPROVEMENT UPPER AVON (CHISENBURY)

CONTROLLING RUNOFF

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40 Catchments now have a Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer (in partnership with Natural England)

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Working with farmers to reduce diffuse pollution

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Sediment

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P and N

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Organic pollution - slurries etc.

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Pesticides

R.WYLYE

R.PIDDLE

R.PIDDLE

SERIOUS GULLYING

CONTROLLING RUNOFF

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£24 million to be spent by 2008

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These actions will form part of WFD delivery

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Particular focus around soil nutrient and manure planning

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Also specialist technical advice

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Avoiding soil compaction

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Dealing with run-off pathways

FLOW REQUIREMENTS

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Case Studies shaping Policy:-

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Eg.River Itchen - A significant relationship was found between invertebrate community variation and summer Q95 flow across all R. Itchen sites.

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Flow thresholds set, based on multivariate ordination techniques, to prevent significant community change (Exley 2006)

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These targets have now been used to develop a licensing policy option for the Habitats Directive Review of Consents.

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Methodology disseminated within EA

SHEEP DIP

SHEEP DIP

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We raised sheep dip-related effects on riverflies as a significant issue at the 2004 conference

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Cypermethrin product marketing suspended by Defra 21 Feb 2006, following submission of Agency evidence

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Defra/EA Pollution Reduction Plan

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Monitoring - risk based targeted environmental monitoring in place

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Significant report in April 2007

PESTICIDES

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Defra Research - Avermectins (ivermectin and doramectin ) were found in sediments but insufficient data to assess risk to sediment organisms

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Aquatic impacts study 2004-06 EA Report spring 2007 - Problems with passive pesticide monitoring devices and detection.

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National level risk mapping showed crop type as the major risk to aquatic environment.Orchards carried highest potential risk . More widely grown crops (cereals etc ) an order of magnitude less risk.

ENDOCRINE DISRUPTION

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Effects on Invertebrates Reviewed 1999

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Latest EA Review published Spring 2007

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Some effects identified earlier as “ED” turning out to be more generally toxic effects.

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Still a lot to learn about insect endocrine systems , how they may be disrupted and the ultimate impacts.

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Evidence of population level effects still sparse.

WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE

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Standards for morphology, hydrology and chemistry supporting ecological standards.

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At least ‘good ecological status’ the objective

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Fish, invertebrate and algae/ macrophyte monitoring.

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Family level classification of invertebrates

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New scoring (ASPT) under development which will take account of abundance.

NEW ANALYTICAL TOOLS

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“River Pollution Diagnostic System”(RPDS)

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Will assign any aquatic invertebrate sample to the nearest “stress” group with a probability that the stress is present.

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Another less developed system - will predict biology from a known chemistry

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Still a prototype.

CLIMATIC EFFECTS

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There is clear evidence of climatic effects on Riverfly populations - R&D outputs.

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Temperature effects due to climate change appear likely to be greater than discharge effects as climate change progresses.

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Shallow cool habitats appear most at risk

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Mitigation to some extent may be possible via controls on abstraction and riparian zone management.

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R&D Projects - THERES Project - Steve Ormerod

• Jointly funded by EA and WW plc

FUTURE:

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Work with the Riverfly Partnership and angling interests to protect riverflies

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Actively support and promote the Anglers Riverfly Monitoring Scheme and its Workshops

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Investigate and seek to resolve riverfly declines both locally and Nationally

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Fully utilise EA aquatic invertebrate monitoring to inform on Riverfly trends

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Support research to understand the mechanisms which determine riverfly abundance including climatic effects

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Make a difference for Riverfly populations