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 • Saturated peat, healthy vegetation • Environmental nightmare • Enhanced environment • Poor raw water quality • Good raw water quality downstream • Water treatment difficulties = £££ • Improved water treatment = savings
SCAMP NI Helps Mitigate Against and Adapt to Climate Change Good Carbon WTW Carbon Bad WTW & Extension Consequences: CO 2 emission, increased WTW capital & operational cost, reduced storage capacity, reduced summer raw water base flow, river flow more ‘ flashy’
SCAMP NI – Approach to Project Scoping & Delivery Farming Forestry DRD Ulster DWI Groups Service Wildlife RSPB DARD e.g. UFU Trust Mourne Woodland Heritage Trust Trust Community NIEA Groups SCAMP NI Steering Group SCaMP Project Delivery • Land management • W oodland creation Consider best • Blanket bog restoration Catchment Practice from UK Water Industry • Heathland management • Invasive species control • W ildfire prevention • Pesticide Control Increased Reduced or Reduced Increased Water Environmental Quality Delayed WTW operational Compliance Compliance capital costs WTW costs
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 • 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 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 – 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. 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 • Poor raw water Dried out & Damaged ecosystems quality & expensive damaged peatland & loss of habitats water treatment
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 Derg WTW – Catchment Details : Extensive river catchment – upper reaches • of 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 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 Delivering the message...so far 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 •
Eastern Mournes Wildfire Project • Direct Correlation between W ildfire events and severe drought periods • Over the last decade the number of 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 Number of drought periods over the last decade, longer duration and maximum drought period per year
Mournes Fire Group Wildfire Advisory S ervice Report recommended establishment of an Eastern Mournes Fire Group. This group would: • 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 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
Future Plans • 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 opportunities • Continue to deliver investment on a prioritised basis to improve the water environment
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
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