Guidance

River basin management plans, updated 2022: introduction

Updated 22 December 2022

Applies to England

1. Introduction

This document provides an overview of the river basin management plans for the river basin districts in England.

A river basin is the area of land from which all surface water run-off flows through a sequence of streams, rivers and, possibly, lakes into the sea at a single river mouth or estuary. A river basin district includes the area of land and sea made up of one or more neighbouring river basins together with their associated groundwaters and coastal waters (covering one nautical mile from the coast).

Each river basin district has a river basin management plan. Each plan consists of a collection of documents which describe how waters are managed, together with information about the river basin district in data tables and maps. Each document covers an aspect of the plan and links to where you can find data and information specific to the river basin district you are interested in.

The data for each river basin district, including summary statistics and detailed information for each river, lake, canal, coastal, estuarine and groundwater water body, can be accessed through catchment data explorer. This information can also be viewed on the river basin management plans map explorer. These data explorers provide data and information summarised at different geographic scales which may be more relevant to you.

2. Background

The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017, referred to as the WFD Regulations in these plans, seek to establish an integrated approach to the protection and sustainable use of the water environment. They require the:

• preparation and publication of river basin management plans
• setting of environmental objectives for groundwater and surface waters (including estuaries and coastal waters)
• devising and implementing of programmes of measures to meet those objectives

This requires a holistic approach to managing waters, looking at the wider ecosystem and considering the movement of water through the hydrological cycle.

Under the WFD Regulations, a river basin management plan must be developed for each river basin district and reviewed and updated every 6 years. These plans were first published in December 2009. They were updated in February 2016 and December 2022.

Statutory guidance on the practical implementation of the planning process, the role of the Environment Agency and requirements for the plans are laid out in the ministerial guidance on river basin planning.

The plans will be reviewed and updated again by December 2027.

3. Why the plans matter

The aim of the river basin management plans is to enhance nature and the natural water assets that are the foundation of everyone’s wealth, health and wellbeing, and the things people value, including culture and wildlife. Rivers, lakes, canals, estuaries, coasts and groundwater, and the essential services they provide, are worth billions of pounds to the economy. All parts of society benefit from clean and plentiful water.

The plans describe the framework used to protect and improve the quality of waters in each river basin district. They are the strategic plans for water in England. The plans consider climate change to be a critical challenge that requires urgent action and investment, to limit future deterioration in the quality of the water environment.

A river basin management plan contains the following.

The local environmental objectives for water bodies and protected areas that government, the Environment Agency, and other public bodies use to:

• make planning decisions
• decide on the conditions to include in environmental permits
• target action, including informing funding decisions

An assessment of the current condition of each water body and, if it is not in good condition, the reasons why.

Summaries of the programmes of measures, including:

• the government’s legal and administrative framework for protecting and improving waters in England
• current and planned programmes of improvement actions
• principles to be followed when choosing future actions
• summaries at a catchment scale, including the local catchment partnership’s vision and priorities for future action

4. How river basin management plans are used

River basin management plans are used to make water management decisions by:

• the government
• the Environment Agency
• other public bodies
• water companies
• catchment partnerships
• businesses
• voluntary groups
• individuals

They inform the ongoing process of planning and implementing interventions that help protect and improve the quality of the water environment. All public bodies are under a duty to ‘have regard to’ the river basin management plans.

The river basin management plan data viewer (the catchment data explorer) presents the environmental objectives and information about the condition of, and pressures on, the waters in England. Information is available at the water body, catchment, river basin district and England level.

4.1 Catchment and local plans

Public bodies, partnership groups, voluntary groups and water companies develop and implement catchment and local delivery plans to help achieve multiple outcomes, including the environmental objectives of the river basin management plans. These include catchment restoration plans produced by catchment partnerships. Catchment partnership pages are included in the river basin management plans.

The Environment Agency and Natural England produce diffuse water pollution plans for some habitats sites. Habitats sites refers to ‘European sites’ and ‘European marine sites’ as defined in regulation 8 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended).

The Environment Agency produces action plans to help achieve the objectives of other protected areas. These include:

• shellfish water pollution reduction plans
• bathing water action plans
• drinking water safeguard zone action plans

The 6 yearly cycle of river basin planning is instrumental in driving discussion between local Environment Agency staff and catchment partnerships on collaborative catchment management.

4.2 Strategic plans

The environmental objectives and information in river basin management plans inform the development of long-term statutory plans and other strategic plans. River basin management plans provides information about where additional improvement measures are needed and constraints on new activities or developments which must be complied with.

The plans and strategies informed by river basin management plans include:

• spatial development strategies
• water company
  • business plans (including the Water Industry National Environment Programme - WINEP)
  • water resources management plans
  • drought plans
  • drainage and waste water management plans
  • water resources regional plans
• local nature recovery strategies
• flood risk management plans
• marine plans
• the chalk stream restoration strategy

4.3 New policies and measures

National level summaries of the evidence in river basin management plans are used by government to review the effectiveness of current interventions and inform the development of new policies and measures.

Many new policies and measures are designed to deliver multiple outcomes, including helping to the achieve the environmental objectives in the river basin management plans. Recent examples include:

• the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan
• Environment Act 2021 targets for water and biodiversity
• Farming Rules for Water
• the new Environmental Land Management Schemes
• Farming Transformation Fund: Slurry infrastructure grants
• the National Framework for Water Resources
• government’s strategic priorities for Ofwat
• the Nature Recovery Network
• flood and coastal erosion risk management policy statement

4.4 Authorisations

The Environment Agency and other regulators determine authorisations (by setting conditions in environmental permits and licenses) to support the achievement of the environmental objectives in the river basin management plans. These include authorisations issued by the Environment Agency to discharge effluent to, or abstract water from, the water environment, diverting or impounding the flow of water, or undertaking certain other physical alterations. The Marine Management Organisations issue marine licences for activities in and around the estuaries and sea of English waters. These activities include construction, dredging, removal and deposit of substances and objects at sea.

4.5 Public funding

Government directs significant amounts of public funding to help address issues identified in the river basin management plans. Recent examples include:

• the Environmental Land Management Schemes which will pay farmers to adopt farming practices that are less damaging to the water environment
• providing grants for animal slurry storage facilities
• almost doubling the budget for Catchment Sensitive Farming advice to farmers and land managers
• providing additional funding to the Environment Agency for the regulation of agriculture and water companies
• financial support to run catchment partnership and deliver local improvement projects
• funding for the Environment Agency and Coal Authority to treat additional sources of pollution from abandoned metal mines

4.6 Private funding

As part of the collaborative catchment management process, the production of river basin management plans helps encourage discussions between local Environment Agency staff and partners to identify alternative funding sources to complement public investment. As partnerships mature, new investors are being drawn into the discussions. Seeking multiple natural capital outcomes, including health and wellbeing, attracts a wider range of partners and funding sources.

5. Benefits of the plans

Implementing the plans will enhance nature and the natural water assets of the river basin districts that are the foundation of everyone’s wealth, health and wellbeing, and the things people value, including culture and wildlife. It will help the country mitigate and adapt to the changing climate – aiming for net zero and building resilience to more frequent floods and drought. It will help reverse the significant decline in water-dependent biodiversity by restoring and reconnecting essential habitats.

Healthy water-dependent habitats are essential for wildlife and provide resilience to climate change and other pressures by regulating flooding, erosion, sedimentation, local climates, and water quality. Marine habitats can help achieve net zero targets by acting as a carbon sink, regulating the global climate, and protecting the coastline from sea level rise and storm surges. Freshwater habitats support water supplies for drinking, agriculture, and other industries. Both marine and freshwaters support fisheries and renewable energy generation. Rivers, lakes, canals, estuaries, coasts, and wetlands also provide many opportunities for recreation and tourism and help promote physical and mental wellbeing.

Many of the programmes of measures summarised in the plans deliver multiple benefits for people and nature. They will also enhance non-water natural assets including air and land. A healthy water environment is also essential to support economic growth, including much needed housing development.

6. Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan

Implementing the river basin management plans will help achieve many of the goals and targets in the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, in particular:

• clean and plentiful water – achieve clean and plentiful water by improving at least three quarters of our waters to be close to their natural state as soon as is practicable – this target is based on the 5000 water body status objectives in the current river basin management plans
• thriving plants and wildlife – restore three quarters of terrestrial and freshwater protected wildlife sites by area to favourable condition and achieve a growing and resilient network of land, water and sea that is richer in plants and wildlife, including the nature recovery network
• reducing the risks of harm from environmental hazards – reduce the risk of harm to people, the environment and the economy from natural hazards including flooding, drought, and coastal erosion
• enhancing beauty, heritage, and engagement with the natural environment – conserve and enhance the beauty of our natural environment, and make sure it can be enjoyed, used by, and cared for by everyone
• mitigating and adapting to climate change – take all possible action to mitigate climate change, while adapting to reduce its impact
• managing exposure to chemicals – make sure that chemicals are safely used and managed, and that the levels of harmful chemicals entering the environment (including through agriculture) are significantly reduced
• enhancing biosecurity – enhance biosecurity to protect our wildlife and livestock and boost the resilience of plants and trees

The Environment Act 2021 requires the government to always have an Environmental Improvement Plan in place. This sets out the steps the government intends to take to significantly improve the natural environment, including measures needed to meet its long-term and interim targets.

The 25 Year Environment Plan was designated as the first statutory Environmental Improvement Plan under the Act. The government must review its Environmental Improvement Plan every 5 years.

7. Finding relevant information in the plans

The plans consist of documents (covering all river basin districts) and online data systems presenting plan data and maps. You can view, print, or download plan data using these systems. There are also links to downloadable data in the documents.

The documents set out the context and purpose of the plans. They set out the legal framework and the principles for implementing the plans. They also provide detail on the planning process and link to more detailed information on specific topics.

The data systems allow you to access the data and maps for your river basin district. You can also view this data at a more detailed level, zooming in to the scale that is most meaningful for you. In addition, you can view all data for England.

7.1 The plan documents

The plan documents are written to be accessible to everyone. They do, however, describe complex processes and methodologies that require more technical language. The Environment Agency has adopted a layered approach to the structure of the plans. This is designed to allow all readers to understand the general approach and data. Those with more technical interests can follow links to more detailed technical information and data. We provide an online glossary to help you with any terms you may not be familiar with.

The documents and links to relevant data and maps are available on each river basin district page which you can access from River basin management plans: updated 2022. These documents are:

• River basin management plans updated 2022: introduction – this document which provides the context and purpose of the plans and explanation of the contents and structure
• River basin management plans updated 2022: implementing the plans – the principles that should be followed when implementing the plans
• River basin management plans updated 2022: current condition and environmental objectives – an overview of the classification and objectives setting process
• River basin management plans updated 2022: challenges for the water environment – a summary of the significant water management issues
• River basin management plans updated 2022: summary programmes of measures – describes the summary programmes of measures in the plans, linking to more detailed information and a summary programmes of measures download (spreadsheet)
• River basin management plans updated 2022: summary programmes of measures - mechanisms – details the mechanisms available to deliver the measures that underpin the achievement of the environmental objectives in the river basin management plans
• River basin planning process overview – this document provides background and technical information about the planning process
• River basin management plans updated 2022: progress report – this document provides an update on the progress in the river basin districts since the 2015 plans were published – it includes progress towards achieving the objectives and the implementation of planned measures, as well as changes in designations and standards
• Severn River Basin Management Plan summary and cross border catchments (England and Wales) – a summary of the whole Severn River Basin District highlighting how the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales work together with partners. This document (also available in Welsh) contains summary data for the river basin district and links to the data and documents hosted by the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales

Throughout the river basin management plans there are links to more detailed information, data and maps, and other plans, strategies, and programmes. This linked content includes a series of detailed documents, each focussing on a particular issue or pressure relating to the water environment, called the Challenges for the water environment series. You can access this series on the ‘Challenges for the water environment’ document collection.

7.2 The plan data

The data for the plans is available to view and download on the river basin management plan data viewers.

7.2.1 The catchment data explorer

The catchment data explorer has allowed people to view and download river basin planning data since 2015. It is also where you can access the data that forms the plans. The WFD Regulations require this data to be presented at river basin district level. The catchment data explorer provides data at this level as well as allowing users to view it at national, catchment and water body scale.

There are 2 options for viewing data on the catchment data explorer, you can view:

• the data that forms part of the river basin management plans
• the latest data available (updated approximately every 3 months)

There is box at the bottom of each page allowing you to switch between the plan data and the latest data. It is always worth double checking which data is being displayed before using it.

The plan data view presents the data used in the plans and, as such, is a formal part of the river basin management plans. This will remain unchanged until the plans are updated again in 2027.

The latest data view allows you to view the latest river basin planning data. It is updated quarterly and will reflect any changes in river basin planning data on the Environment Agency’s data systems. The latest data view is not a formal part of the plans, but it is useful for organisations and the public who need access to the latest available information.

The search function on the catchment data explorer is a useful way of locating content you are interested in. The search will only return results for the latest data on the explorer. You can still use this search to view plan data, but you will need to click on the link to switch to plan data once you have arrived at the target of your search.

You can find a glossary of common words and terms used in river basin planning on the catchment data explorer. There is also a guide on how to use the system available on the help page.

7.2.2 Catchment partnership pages

Catchment partnership pages can be found on the catchment data explorer. To view the pages, navigate to the management catchment you are interested in (one level below river basin district) by clicking on the map or using the links on the left. On the management catchment page, scroll down past the data section to see the link to the catchment partnership page. You can also use the search function to find the relevant management catchment. Alternatively, the catchment partnership pages home page lists all the pages and links across to them.

These pages have content provided by catchment partnerships, alongside data from the Environment Agency.

7.3 River basin management plan maps

You can find all the maps for the plans on the river basin management plans online map viewer. Instructions for navigating and viewing the maps are on the screen when you visit the viewer.

Maps are grouped under headings relating to classification, objectives, protected areas, location, and progress since 2015. Under each heading you can select to view specific maps relating to water body types, protected area types and classification types. These maps are divided into subcategories, so they are easier to view and quicker to load. If required, you can select to view other layers on top of these maps. An example of a layer that can be added is the chalk water bodies layer, which you can select to overlay on classification and objectives maps.

There are several ways you can find the area you are interested in. You can select the river basin district by name or use the map to move and zoom to the area. There is also the main search function where you can look up places, postcodes, or grid references. The secondary search function allows you to look up management catchments or local authorities. If your browser allows, you can also click on the target button on the left to zoom to your location.

Once you have identified the map you wish to view and located the area of interest, you can print out your map. Depending on your system, you will be able to print hard copies of the maps or PDF versions of the view on your screen.