River basin management plans, updated 2022: implementing the plans
Updated 22 December 2022
Applies to England
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Who should be involved
When carrying out activities that can affect a river basin district, public bodies have a legal duty to have due regard to the relevant river basin management plan. However, to achieve the environmental objectives in the plan, the whole of society needs to play its part.
Every individual, from any background, should have equitable opportunities. By working together, embracing differing perspectives, experiences, and insights, we can all help eradicate discrimination and intolerance maximising the benefits of diversity. Only by including everyone in developing and delivering actions in the river basin management plans will a better environment for nature and for all communities be achieved.
Working in partnership has never been more important. By strengthening catchment to coast partnerships to support integrated planning and action, better outcomes can be achieved for all freshwater and marine waters.
Summary programme of measures
The plans contain a summary of the programmes of measures to protect and improve the water environment. In some cases, the detailed and specific on-the-ground actions (exactly what will happen, where and when) have already been identified and agreed. In other cases, the on-the-ground actions will be identified and agreed during the lifetime of the plans. Where flexibility exists, when implementing the programmes of measures and when choosing specific actions, these principles should be followed.
Principles
Recognise the journey of water from source to sea, catchment to coast. Understand how upstream decisions can impact on downstream systems.
Take a collaborative place-based approach, in catchments and at the coast. Align initiatives on water, and pool resources to achieve more than partners can achieve alone.
Work to improve the diversity of partners engaged in water management, increasing inclusivity, and striving for a more equitable allocation of water outcomes across all communities.
Make evidence led decisions. Work with partners to build the evidence base and use it to make evidence led decisions that are explicit about the intended benefits of actions and transparent about the assumptions used. Understanding the natural capital and ecosystem benefits of proposed actions can improve decisions and encourage collaborative working.
Take account of future and changing risks to delivery. In particular, the effects of climate change and population growth to make sure actions perform as intended over their lifetime. Consider a range of possible futures (for example 2°C and 4°C temperature rise by 2100) and use flexible approaches that enable solutions to be modified in the light of changing circumstances or new information.
Contribute to net zero. Minimise greenhouse gas emissions and maximise carbon capture aiming for net zero.
Build catchments resilient to warmer water temperatures, more frequent floods and drought, and rising sea levels. Choose measures that help natural assets cope with or recover from shock.
Work with natural processes. Where possible choose nature-based solutions to protect and improve natural water assets and deliver multiple benefits.
Deliver restoration and recovery of freshwater, estuarine, and coastal habitats and species. This will provide resilience to climate impacts and may help sequester carbon, whilst providing many other benefits for people and wildlife.
Adopting the principles
Adopting these principles will help the water environment better prepare for climate impacts and deliver multiple benefits for people and nature. All partners will need to work together to embed these principles across all water management initiatives as the river basin management plans are implemented.
Public bodies should ensure the environmental objectives of the plans are reflected in their processes and plans, for example the town and country planning system and statutory local development plans.