(SCAMP NI) a more environmentally sustainable approach to improving - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Climate NI Infrastructure Conference 6 March 2014

Sustainable Catchment Area Management Planning

(SCAMP NI)

“a more environmentally sustainable approach to improving water quality” Roy Taylor Catchment Manager

Presentation Structure

1) Drinking Water Catchments 2) Objectives of SCAMP NI 3) Three Current Projects 4) Future Plans 5) Conclusions

NI Water’s Drinking Water Catchments

• 24 Water Treatment

Works

• 34 Raw water

abstractions

Presentation Structure

1) Drinking Water Catchments 2) Objectives of SCAMP NI 3) Three Current Projects 4) Future Plans 5) Conclusions

Sustainable Catchment area Management Planning

(SCAMP NI) Objectives

Objective: “To improve the quality and reliability of the raw water received at NI Water’s raw water abstraction points through sustainable catchment based solutions that focus on protecting the natural environment through achieving favourable condition and habitat improvement.”

• Erosion, runoff, dried out vegetation
• Environmental nightmare
• Poor raw water quality
• Water treatment difficulties = £££
• Saturated peat, healthy vegetation
• Enhanced environment
• Good raw water quality downstream
• Improved water treatment = savings

SCAMP NI Helps Mitigate Against and Adapt to Climate Change

Carbon

Good

WTW Carbon

Bad

Consequences: CO2 emission, increased WTW capital & operational cost, reduced storage capacity, reduced summer raw water base flow, river flow more ‘ flashy’

WTW & Extension

Consider best Catchment Practice from UK Water Industry Woodland Trust RSPB Community Groups

SCaMP Project Delivery

• Land management
• W oodland creation
• Blanket bog restoration
• Heathland management
• Invasive species control
• W ildfire prevention
• Pesticide Control

Reduced

• perational

WTW costs Increased Water Quality Compliance Reduced or Delayed WTW capital costs Increased Environmental Compliance

Ulster Wildlife Trust DWI Forestry Service DRD NIEA Farming Groups e.g. UFU DARD Mourne Heritage Trust

SCAMP NI – Approach to Project Scoping & Delivery

SCAMP NI Steering Group

Presentation Structure

1) Drinking Water Catchments 2) Objectives of SCAMP NI 3) Three Current Projects 4) Future Plans 5) Conclusions

Garron Plateau Blanket Bog Restoration

Dungonnell WTW – Catchment Details:

• ‘Direct Catchment’ – a single impounding reservoir
• ‘Indirect Catchment’ - intake from Inver River and Collin Burn
• In total 2,000 hectares catchment - all owned by NI W ater
• 4 rivers feed into the reservoir and in turn, these rivers are fed by other streams.
• Catchment consists entirely of bogs and marshes
• No dwellings in the catchment
• Garron Plateau contains the

most extensive area of intact upland blanket bog in N Ireland

• Blanket bogs are one of the

most important habitats found in Ireland, if not globally.

• Home to rare wildlife –

Sphagnum moss, hen harrier, golden plover, snipe, red grouse, etc

Garron Plateau – The blanket Bog What are the problems?

• Over-grazing – Reduces the mount of vegetation cover and leads to

large areas of bare peat

• Drainage – Intercepts and diverts overland flow to remove water

rapidly from the peatland system.

• Peat cutting, burning, recreation, climate change, invasive species,

forestry, etc.

Poor raw water quality & expensive water treatment Dried out & damaged peatland Damaged ecosystems & loss of habitats

Project Objectives…

• Restore Garron Plateau ASSI to favourable condition
• Ensure appropriate grazing levels to prevent issues such as peat

erosion

• Blocking drains to prevent peat erosion, improve raw water quality

and restore hydrology.

• Information sharing with similar projects in N Ireland

Garron Plateau – Drain Blocking Methods

Peat Dams

This involves removing short strips of vegetation from either side of the drain. The underlying peat is then used to create the dam and the vegetation is placed on to the top of the dam.

Heather Bale Dams

Only possible where there are large areas of heather adjacent where it can be cut and baled

Plastic Curtain

A sheet of plastic that will insert vertically into the ground to prevent lateral water movement

Stone Dams

On larger drains stone are used to block and slow the water velocity

The Water Catchment Partnership

• Extensive river catchment – upper reaches
• f the catchment are in the Republic of

Ireland

• Catchment Area >32000 Hectares
• The catchment is a rural area,

predominantly pasture with areas of forest, bogs and heathland in the upper catchment

• M ain Risks – Slurry, silage, Nutrients &

Pesticides

Derg WTW – Catchment Details:

Partnership Aims:

• Promote best practice guidelines in the

use of pesticides to all users

• Reduce levels of pesticide in W ater

particularly drinking water catchments through education and voluntary initiatives

• Derg Catchment pilot area of need

The Water Catchment Partnership

• Engaged farming community at events and shows:
• Omagh Agricultural Show
• Clogher Valley Agricultural Show
• Cafre Soil and Sward event -Greenmount and Enniskillen
• CAFRE Hill farming events - Glenwherry and Newtownstewart
• Catchment wide postal drop
• Engaged suppliers, local merchants
• Open days at Derg W TW ’s
• Farm visits

Delivering the message...so far

Eastern Mournes Wildfire Project

• Direct Correlation between

W ildfire events and severe drought periods

• Over the last decade the number
• f severe drought periods are

increasing slowly but significantly since 2005

• At the same time the total number

minor drought is slightly decreasing.

• W ith more periods of drought the

potential fire season is getting longer Number of drought periods over the last decade, duration and maximum drought period per year

Mournes Fire Group

• Develop expertise and knowledge

to manage the wildfire risk

• Share responsibility of intervening

at wildfires

• Provide financial & practical

support to the NI Fire & Rescue Service

• Train & equip land managers to

provide an initial response team

• Aid stakeholders in forming a

collaborative response to wildfire

Phot o Mark Pearce

Wildfire Advisory S ervice Report recommended establishment of an Eastern Mournes Fire Group. This group would:

Additionally,

• NI Fire & Rescue Service should consider creating a wildfire ‘hub’ at an

appropriately positioned station.

Presentation Structure

1) Drinking Water Catchments 2) Objectives of SCAMP NI 3) Three Current Projects 4) Future Plans 5) Conclusions

• Roll out The W ater Catchment Partnership in a wider area across N Ireland
• Liaise with DARD to influence policy towards minimising pesticide use
• Liaise with University of Ulster to research and monitor best environmental

practice

• Catchment studies in every drinking water catchment in N Ireland
• Further develop relationships with stakeholders to identify concerns and
• pportunities
• Continue to deliver investment on a prioritised basis to improve the water

environment

Future Plans

Conclusions

SCAMP NI: 1) Contributes to drinking water protection 2) Contributes to the W ater Framework Directive (W FD) Objectives 3) Contributes to the NI Biodiversity Action Plan 4) Helps mitigate against, and adapt, to Climate Change 5) Enables risk based approaches to solutions Successful delivery will only possible through: 1) Stable long term strategic direction & funding 2) Implementation of new ways of working and innovative solutions 3) All stakeholders continuing to working closely together