SW18: Raised water levels on grassland on peat soils
Find out about eligibility and requirements for this option.
How much will be paid
£1,381 per hectare (ha)
Where to use this option
It is available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier on whole or part parcels only of permanent grassland, only:
- on land mapped as lowland peat and with support from Natural England (lowland peat does not appear on MAGIC, contact Natural England for details)
- with written support from the Environment Agency, or lead Local Flood Authority, and where relevant Internal Drainage Board
Where this option cannot be used
- Where water level changes would damage priority habitats, protected species or features of archaeological, historic or landscape value (unless you can take approved measures to mitigate this)
- Where it may increase the risk of flooding or waterlogging outside the agreement
- Where it could damage third party land or buildings, infrastructure or other assets
- If there are conflicts with public access or other uses of the land that cannot be resolved
How this option will benefit the environment
It will prevent the further degradation of lowland peat soils. This will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released when peat soils are broken down as well as improving soil health, natural flood management and biodiversity.
Aims
If you’re selected for a site visit, we will check that delivery of the aims is being met and the prohibited activities have not been carried out. This will ensure the environmental benefits are being delivered.
- By year 2, water levels will be maintained between 10cm and 30cm below mean field level
- Use dip wells to keep a monthly record of water levels
Prohibited activities
To achieve the aims and deliver the environmental benefits, do not carry out any of the following activities:
- None
Recommended management
To assist you in achieving the aims and deliver the environmental benefits for this option, we recommend that you use best practice.
- Please refer to Aims, Prohibited activities, Additional guidance and advice.
Keeping records
Where there’s uncertainty about whether or not the aims of the options have been delivered, we will take into account any records or evidence you may have kept demonstrating delivery of the aims of the option. This will include any steps you’ve taken to follow the recommended management set out above. It’s your responsibility to keep such records if you want to rely on these to support your claim.
- Record of water levels
Useful additional options and capital items
You can use WT3 Management of ditches of high environmental value where specific ditch management is required to maintain aquatic communities and/or to maintain water supply to the site, but you must measure the area of the ditch and exclude it from the in-field options.
You may need the following capital items to help deliver the objectives:
FM2 Major preparatory works for priority habitats and priority species
WN2 Creation of scrapes and gutters
WN3 Ditch, dyke and rhine restoration
WN4 Ditch, dyke and rhine creation
WN9 Brick, stone or concrete sluice
WN10 Construction of water penning structures
RP6 Installation of piped culverts in ditches
RP9 Earth banks and soil bunds
Additional guidance and advice
General information
Water level management can be extremely complex and should always be designed on a site by site basis to make sure that water level targets are appropriate. The levels required will depend on the physical characteristics of the site (particularly geology, soil type/permeability and hydrology) and the target features. You may need a feasibility study and this can be funded via the PA2 capital item.
This option does not specify how you should manage water levels, so you may also need a Water Level Implementation Plan. This should be produced by someone with suitable technical and hydrological knowledge and may be funded via the PA1 Implementation Plan item.
Consultations, consents and permissions
You should seek specialist and/or local advice when using this option. In particular, you must consult the relevant drainage authority (Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Board or local authority), to make sure that the desired outcomes can be achieved and will not have a negative impact on adjacent land and properties, flood management, river and ditch management, water resources and fish migration.
You may need Land Drainage Consent, particularly where changes to infrastructure are required, such as the removal of a flood defence structure (bank or pump) or installation of water control structures.
You may need planning consent, for example, to construct or remove a flood defence bank. You may also need permission to divert a Public Right of Way from the Local Planning Authority.
Other considerations
Land under this option may support or impact upon priority habitats, ditches of high environmental value, priority/protected species and historic/archaeological features. You must consider all these factors when designing a high water level agreement, including any associated capital works.
Biodiversity
This option has been identified as being beneficial for biodiversity. All Countryside Stewardship habitat creation, restoration and management options are of great significance for biodiversity recovery, as are the wide range of arable options in the scheme. Capital items and supplements can support this habitat work depending on the holding’s situation and potential.
The connectivity of habitats is also very important and habitat options should be linked wherever possible. Better connectivity will allow wildlife to move/colonise freely to access water, food, shelter and breeding habitat, and will allow natural communities of both animals and plants to adapt in response to environmental and climate change.
Further information
See the manuals for Mid Tier or Higher Tier to find out more about the scheme and how to apply.
More information for further guidance on landscape management
RSPB advice on re-wetting grassland, including water level management structures and scrapes.
The Wet Grassland Guide: Managing Floodplain and Coastal Wet Grasslands for Wildlife (RSPB Management Guides,1997). J. Treweek (Author), M. Drake (Author), O. Mountfield (Author), Chris Newbold (Author), C. Hawke (Author), P. Jose (Author), M. Self (Author), P. Benstead (Author)
LIDAR data can be downloaded for free from the Defra Data Services Platform.
Last updated 4 January 2024 + show all updates
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Update to How Much Is Paid
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First published.