Water framework directive

Perspectives from the Broads Authority

Written by Andrea Kelly
Conservation Officer
Andrea.Kelly@broads-authority.gov.uk

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) introduces a new, integrated approach to water protection, improvement and sustainable use. The Directive applies to all water bodies including those that are man-made. In the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, the WFD will apply not only to the rivers and the lakes themselves but also, to the estuary and coast and groundwater.

The WFD is widely referred to as the most important and far-reaching legislation ever to come out of the EU. It is ambitious in both its scope and its timetable. It may have some significant implications for water users, industry, and farmers as well as the way we judge the success of managing our waters. It introduces a new statutory system of river basin management plans. These plans will provide the mechanism for the future management of both water use and of activities affecting water status.

Water Framework Directive and the National Parks

The Environment Agency (EA) has divided the country into River Basin Districts. In the Broads the Anglian River Basin District (RBD) covers the whole Broads catchment. The EA will be producing a management plan for each RBD, with the help of stakeholder panels called River Basin Liaison Panels (RBLP). The Broads is representing National Parks and Navigation Authorities on the Anglian RBLP.Other panel members include representatives from farming, water companies, conservation fisheries and recreational users in addition to the regulatory representatives.

The Panels meet regularly, deciding on the significant issues affecting the River Basin and what measures (or actions) may be necessary to manage these issues. RBLP members must liaise with their sectors and feed back views and ideas into the planning process. The Broads Authority has taken a wide interpretation of its interests and regularly reports to the Anglian recreation newsletter and gives regular updates to the Broads Forum, our consultative Committee, which reports to a wide network of stakeholder interests, as well as giving presentations on the challenges of managing the Broads and its work with the WFD process.

The Broads Authority believes it is important that National Parks engage with the WFD. The way to do this is through the RBLP, each of which has a Programme Manager you can contact. The Broads welcome the WFD as a mechanism for integrating management across the catchment to deliver benefit to the wetland National Park which is receiving the water draining our intensively populated and farmed catchment. Other National Parks will share these as well as having different challenges arising from upland land or coastal management.

Further information on current issues and meeting papers are available on the Environment Agency's Website (follow the links to "Find out about your river basin district" and "Anglian River Basin District"). Things to look for are: "River Basin Planning: Working Together" publication, which have more information about the work of the RBLP, as well as "Water for Life and Livelihoods" publication, which details the significant water management issues. The publications are targeted for each river basin district and comments from National Parks are welcomed.