River Basin Management Planning

Cath PrestonSenior Planning Officer (River Basin Planning)

2nd March 2006

Water Framework Directive

The effective co-ordination of water environment policy and regulation across Europe to:

Prevent deterioration and enhance status of aquatic ecosystems, including groundwater

Promote sustainable water use

Reduce pollution

Contribute to mitigation of floods and droughts

Legislative and River Basin Planning Principles

Scotland RBD (WEWS Act) and Solway-Tweed RBDs (individual regulations)

Each RBD must have a River Basin Management Plan (RBMP)

For Scotland RBD: Sub Basin Plans* prepared to support RBMP delivery (WEWS S15)

Advisory groups to support RBMP production (WEWS S17)

* Geographical chapters & detailed sub-basin or sector plans as required

For Solway-Tweed RBD: Agencies acting jointly to produce required reports / outputs

River Basin Planning StrategiesFor Scotland RBD strategy sets out:

Principles for river basin planning

Administrative arrangements

Consultation and participation

Co-ordination with other plans and planning

For Solway-Tweed RBD will set out:

Same contents as Scotland RBD Strategy; plus

Co-ordination of agency actions: Monitoring Data management Regulation

What’s in the RBMP? Characteristics of the District;

pressures and impacts

risk assessment based on water quality, ecology, quantity and hydro-morphology factors

including protected areas

economic assessment of water services

Environmental objectives and timescale for achieving

Programme of measures to achieve objectives:

summary in RBMP

details for water bodies in GIS

Monitoring networks and programmes

Consultation & participation opportunities for “interested parties”

Role of River Basin Planning

Improve and support sound, sustainable and integrated water management to deliver the requirements of the WFD.

Provide a framework for developing institutional arrangements and co-ordination with other plans.

Provide on-going opportunities for public participation and partnership working.

Provide a framework for proportionate and transparent decision making that balances environmental, social and economic needs within the river basin district.

The River Basin Planning Process

The most important period for the new river basin planning process is still to come. The large part of the work to develop the planning system and produce the plan

(with others) must be complete for the draft RBMP in 2008.

Role of National Advisory Group

Coordinate Area Advisory Group (AAG) work:

Strategic direction and guidance for AAGs to ensure consistent approach;

Guidance and support for consultation and public participation;

Act as arbiter of conflicts raised by AAGs;

Provide link between Scottish Ministers and AAGs.

Oversee and contribute to production of final RBMP:

Identify national priorities for improvement and protection:

Identify need for national measures to deliver national standards;

Identify opportunities to better integrate with other strategic plans and policies;

Contribute to and review RBMP before submission to Ministers.

Area Advisory Groups

Eight Area Advisory Groups in Scotland RBD.

Two Area Advisory Groups in Solway-Tweed RBD.

Geographic scale for effective participation and manageable costs.

Include complete catchments and coastal water units and best alignment with Local Authorities.

Supported in public consultation.

SEPA is currently identifying and recruiting members of National and Area Advisory Groups to have all functional by mid 2006.

Area Advisory Group Roles

Identify key priorities for environmental improvement and protection;

Identify actions and measures to deliver environmental improvement and protection;

Provide advice on the use of alternative objectives;

Improve the coordination and integration of the RBMP with other plans and policies in the area;

Coordinate relevant consultation and participation in their area;

Consider the need for further detailed plans and programmes in their area.

Prepare Area Management Plans for their area which together will form the RBMP for the RBD.

In developing Area Management Plans the AAGs will:

River Basin Planning & Flooding

The Act also places duties upon Scottish Ministers, SEPA & responsible authorities to:

SEPA will continue to work with FIAC to develop guidance on SFM.

SEPA will seek to develop a relationship between the Area Advisory Groups and relevant Flood Liaison and Appraisal Groups to help promote integration between river basin planning and flood management.

River basin planning will start to form links to other relevant processes for example development planning, biodiversity planning and land management.

Commitments in the River Basin Planning Strategy for the Scotland RBD:

Promote SFM during delivery of their designated functions (Section 2(4)).

The WEWs Act places a duty upon Scottish Ministers, every public body and officer holder to:

Have regard to the RBMP (Section 16).

River Basin Planning & FloodingDeveloping Links in the First Planning Cycle

FIAC

Sustainable Flood

Management Guidance

FLAGsDevelopment

of SFM Schemes

National Advisory

GroupRiver Basin

Management Plan

Area Advisory Groups

Area Management

Plans

Flooding Priorities

RBMP Priorities

WEWS Act Section 2(4)Promote SFM

WEWS Act Section 16Have Regard to RBMP

Controlled Activities Regulations & Flooding

Flood Alleviation Scheme

Controlled Activities Regulations

Assessment of relevant components of scheme in relation to current water body status.Water body status is based on water quality, ecology, quantity & morphological factors

In future, assessment will be against the objectives set in the RBMP.

Unavoidable deterioration

despite mitigation?

Additional mitigation required to prevent

deterioration of status?

No deterioration of status with

proposed mitigation measures?

Socio – economic considerations e.g. overriding public interest?

Set alternative objectives in RBMP?Licensing decisions

If adopted, proposed Floods Directive will increase linkage between WFD and flood risk management. Proposal (Jan 2006) includes:

Preliminary flood risk assessments (3 years after adoption) Flood mapping (by 2013) Flood Risk Management Plans (by 2015)

Linkage between WFD and proposed Flood Directive: Flood risk management co-ordinated in same river basin districts as

WFD Synchronisation of planning timetable from 2015 Co-ordination of public consultation Member states may integrate flood risk management plans into river

basin management plans Co-ordination of complementary objectives.

The links and good working relationships developed during the preparation of the first RBMP will form a sound basis on which to integrate the requirements of the WFD and the proposed Floods Directive.

River Basin Planning & FloodingSecond Planning Cycle and Beyond

River Basin Planning & FloodingSummary

For the first river basin planning cycle (to 2009): WEWs Act duties - have regard to RBMPs and promote SFM. SEPA will continue to work with FIAC to develop guidance on

SFM. Links between AAGs and FLAGs to promote integration

between river basin planning and flood management. Synergies developed between river basin planning and other

relevant processes e.g. development planning, land management and biodiversity planning.

For the second river basin planning cycle and beyond: Look towards proposed Floods Directive to further integrate the

requirements of WFD and flood risk management. The links, synergies and good working relationships developed

in the first river basin planning cycle will form a sound basis for this integration.