Guidance

Accessing information in the river basin management plans, updated 2022

Helps you find the information you need in the river basin management plans (RBMPs).

From:
Environment Agency
Published
22 December 2022

Applies to England

This guidance provides links to the documents and data explorers that make up the river basin management plans (RBMPs). These are referred to as ‘the plans’ in this guide.

This guide describes the structure of the plans and how they are presented. It also provides signposts for general users and for some specific groups or activities. This will enable you to jump directly to the content in the plans of interest.

The plans – structure and systems

Structure of the plans

There is a RBMP for each river basin district. The plans consist of a set of documents and online systems presenting the data and maps. You can view, print or download plan data using these online systems. There are also links to downloadable data in the documents.

The online 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.

The documents and links to data are accessed from the river basin district plan pages. Selecting the appropriate river basin district from river basin management plans, updated 2022 takes you to a list of documents and links to the online system for that district.

The documents and online systems that form the plans are described in the following sections.

You can find an online glossary to help you with any terms you may not be familiar with.

Viewing data using the catchment data explorer

The catchment data explorer presents the data for the plans. This provides easy access to summary data tables at river basin district level, with the option to download the source data. You can also select smaller catchments to view or download this data, as well as viewing the data for specific water bodies.

Catchment partnership pages are accessible on the catchment data explorer. These can be found at the management catchment scale view, or accessed from the catchment partnerships list page.

As well as displaying data for the RBMPs published in December 2022, the catchment data explorer also shows the latest available data. You can choose to switch between the data for the plans or the latest data by clicking on the blue, or green, bar at the bottom of the screen.

The plan view of the catchment data explorer presents the data that forms part of the plans. This data 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 internal 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 catchment data explorer displays the geographical extent of the river basin district, catchment or water body you’re viewing. You can then navigate to sub-catchments or water bodies by clicking on the map or selecting the name to the right of the map. When viewing the river basin district or catchment, you can select the data you want to view by clicking on the boxes in the data section (for example classification or objectives). This will bring up summary tables of that data and links to data downloads at the bottom of the page.

The search function on the catchment data explorer is a useful way of locating content on the area of your interest. 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 at the bottom of the screen to switch to plan data once you have arrived at the target of your search.

There is a guide on how to use the system available on the help page. This guide will be updated as improvements to the catchment data explorer are made and based on your feedback.

Viewing maps using river basin planning maps viewer

You can find all the maps for the plans on the river basin management plans maps viewer. This provides users with an interactive mapping system to view the plan data.

Instructions for navigating and viewing the maps are on the screen when you visit the viewer. You can display the legend, which explains what is displayed on the map. You can also turn different map layers on and off for comparison purposes. As with the catchment data explorer, it allows you to view the maps at the geographic scale of interest to you and print out the map you’re viewing.

As with the catchment data explorer, 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.

There are several ways you can find the area you are interested in. You can select the river basin district using the filter button 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.

You can click on water bodies and protected areas on the maps to find out more information. In some cases, this will allow you to follow a link to take you to the data about your selection on the catchment data explorer.

The following links can be used to access documents, sections of documents or specific locations on catchment data explorer.

Principles for implementation of the river basin management plans

All partners will need to work together to embed these principles across all water management initiatives as the river basin management plans are implemented. These principles are laid out in the implementing the plans document.

Classification data for any element or water body

The current condition and environmental objectives document describes the process of classification and links to more background information (including detailed method statements).

You can use the catchment data explorer to find out how any water body, or element of the water body, has been classified on the water body pages. You can also find summary data at different geographical scales and for all of England.

You can use these links to find summary classification tables and links to the data for your river basin district:

See maps of classifications here: classification maps.

You can use the maps to find the water body you are interested in. You can click on the water body for more information, and you have the option to follow the link to see the data on the catchment data explorer.

Challenges for the water environment

The challenges for the water environment document describes the significant water management issues and links to more detailed information.

You can see the reasons for not achieving good status data, and other relevant information, on the challenges data pages on the catchment data explorer. This data is also on individual water body pages.

Objectives for any water body

The current condition and environmental objectives document describes the process of setting objectives and links to more background information.

Water body objectives are held on the catchment data explorer. Water body objectives data can be seen at different scales, from summary data at England level, down to water body and element specific objectives.

You can use these links to find objectives for every water body in your river basin district:

See maps of water body objectives here: objectives maps.

As with the classification maps, you can click on water bodies for more information and follow links to the data on the catchment data explorer.

Progress made since the last plans

The progress report 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.

Programmes of measures

The summary programmes of measures for each river basin district consists of:

Local catchment partnership pages

The Environment Agency worked with Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) catchment partnerships to create summaries for their catchments as part of the river basin management plans. These pages provide information on the partnership and links to where more detailed information can be found. They also give the partnership’s vision, the current challenges and predicted future challenges due to climate change, land use change and population growth and the reasons these are a challenge for that catchment. You can view some of the biggest successes the partnerships had during the period the previous plans and how they intend to develop over this plan. Local actions the partnerships intend to deliver which form part of the summary programmes of measures are also on the page. A list of the partnership’s partners, including links, are provided.

You can find the catchment partnership pages on the catchment data explorer, on the geographically appropriate management catchment page. You can also use the catchment partnerships list page and select the catchment partnership you would like to view.

Local case studies

For case studies describing the implementation of local measures being progressed from 2015 see local case studies.

Protected areas

You can use these links to find summary data and downloads for the protected areas in each river basin district and information on compliance with their standards and objectives:

You can see compliance maps for protected areas here: protected area maps.

Summary data for protected areas is only available at river basin district level in the river basin management plan view. However, you can download protected area information at all levels.

Heavily modified water bodies

You can see changes to water body heavily modified designations since 2015 at designation changes.

Regulation 19 exemptions

A list of where regulation 19 exemptions may be applied in the future is available in the regulation 19 spreadsheet.

Mechanisms summary for programme of measures

The mechanisms document details the legal and administrative mechanisms available to deliver the measures that underpin the achievement of the environmental objectives in river basin management plans in England.

Overview of the river basin planning process

A summary of the river basin planning process the Environment Agency and others have followed in reviewing and updating the river basin management plans is available in the River basin planning process overview document.

The Severn River Basin District, England and Wales

The Severn river basin management plan (RBMP) summary and cross border catchments (England and Wales) document provides a summary of the whole Severn River Basin District and highlights how the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales work together with partners. This document contains summary data for the river basin district and links to the relevant data and documents hosted by the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales. This document is also available in Welsh.

Agriculture

Legislative information for agriculture

The mechanisms document details the mechanisms available to deliver the measures that underpin the achievement of the environmental objectives in river basin management plans in England.

Key areas of agricultural interest

For an overview of the agricultural topic action plan see the topic action plans.

Measures for nutrient and diffuse pollution

Actions to reduce nutrient pollution and tackle diffuse pollution can be found in sections 4.1 and 4.2 in measures for each sector.

Catchment partnerships

To find more information about your local catchment partners see the catchment partnerships list page.

RBMP objectives

See what river basin management plan objectives mean for your farm business by looking at them in your river basin district:

Farming Rules for Water

For details of the Farming Rules for Water legislation and its potential to improve water quality see section 7.1 in the mechanisms document.

Local contacts

For who can you talk to in your local area to find more information on what’s going on to make farming more sustainable, contact the National Customer Contact Centre: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Catchment partnerships and partners

Catchment partnership pages

Visit the catchment data explorer catchment partnerships list page to find all the pages grouped by river basin district. You can then search by catchment partnership or management catchment.

Catchment measures

The summary programme of measures document contains national and local measures. Many national measures are relevant to your local area so you should consider these as well as ones that are specific to your location. Actions in the catchment partnership pages themselves are also part of the programme of measures.

State of the water bodies in your catchment

Use these links to find water body status information for the plans as well as the most up to date classifications. You can view summary classifications or status by water body or element level.

You can use these links to find classifications data in your river basin district:

See maps of classifications here: classification maps.

Local contacts

You can find contact information for your local catchment partnership on the catchment partnerships list page, or if you are looking for contacts in the Environment Agency contact the National Customer Contact Centre: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Objectives of the water bodies in your catchment

You can see objectives for all water bodies on the catchment data explorer. You can use these links to river basin districts to zoom into your catchments to see individual water body objectives.

You can use these links to find status objectives for every water body in your river basin district:

See maps of objectives here: objectives maps.

How or where to prioritise activity

Catchment priorities are set out on the catchment partnership pages. Use the implementing the plans document and the topic action plans which set out some priorities for how or where to prioritise activity to make improvements to the water environment.

You can then use the catchment data explorer or map viewer to identify which water bodies are not achieving good status or potential.

Flood and coastal risk management

Identify measures that relate to flood and coastal risk management

You can use the programmes of measures document.

Identify issues in locations with flood and coastal risk management assets

You can use the catchment data explorer to find out the how any water body, or element of the water body, has been classified on the water body pages. You can also find summary data at different geographical scales and for all of England. To find a specific water body, you can use the search function, or navigate using the map.

You can use these links to find summary classification tables and links to the data for your river basin district:

See maps of classifications here: classification maps.

Where to find the latest flood risk management plans

See the 2022 flood risk management plans.

Fisheries

Find the status of fish in your local river

You can use the catchment data explorer to find out how fish have been classified in your local river. This information is shown at the water body level (individual river or part of river) for each catchment. Clicking on the map on each page will help you identify which location you need to go to next. At the bottom of each water body page is a list of the monitoring sites that have been used to classify the water body. You can also see the location of these monitoring points on the plan maps on maps viewer using the ‘surface water monitoring sites’ layer. Not every water body has been classified for fish. If they have not for your river, then there will be no classification shown for fish under ‘biological quality elements’.

Find the measures being undertaken to improve fish status

On each water body page you can see the reasons that have been identified for why each element, for example fish, is not achieving good status or why its status has deteriorated from the previous water framework directive cycle. There are a wide range of measures being delivered to tackle these reasons. You can access these from the programme of measures document.

Find your local catchment partnerships

Catchment partnerships play a key role in delivering measures to improve fish status. Details of their activities can be found on each catchment partnership page.

Local authorities

Public bodies have a legal duty to ‘have regard to’ the relevant river basin management plan. There are 10 plans covering England. For the English part of the Dee River Basin District see the Natural Resources Wales website. For the English part of the Solway Tweed River Basin District see the Scottish Environment Protection Agency website.

Local authority activities and development of long-term strategic growth plans

Local authorities can use the data and measures presented in the river basin management plans to:

  • address the causes of poor water body status and make a major contribution to meeting plan objectives, both in your own activities and in your work with others
  • identify where additional environmental improvement measures are needed and constraints on new activities or developments
  • produce Local Nature Recovery Strategies
  • underpin what local nature recovery looks like in rivers and other water bodies
  • help the key planning stages of spatial plan options development and site allocations
  • provide confidence in the deliverability and soundness of plans
  • input into any public examinations, including technical seminars and evidence sessions

Development plan policies – how river basin management plan information can help inform

Use the programme of measures to help support policies which:

  • require that development does not lead to deterioration of water body status and where appropriate helps to conserve and enhance watercourses and riverside habitats
  • encourage development proposals to improve the water environment, for example restoring ‘natural’ watercourses through removal of culverts and hard engineered structures, physical improvements to riverbanks and habitats, development of green infrastructure, urban regeneration or conservation projects, especially for water bodies with poor ecological status
  • protect sensitive locations, for example wetland habitat and protected areas identified in river basin management plans
  • require upgrades to local water infrastructure, for example, for strategic development sites in strategic site allocation policies
  • require efficient use of water in new buildings and refurbishments, including adoption of the tighter Building Regulation Part G for water efficiency in new homes
  • encourage incorporation of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in new developments and retrofit of SuDS to reduce flood risk, enhance water quality and ecology

Water body objectives are held on the catchment data explorer. Objectives data can be seen at different scales, from summary data at England level, down to water body and element specific objectives.

You can use these links to find updated water body objectives for every water body in your river basin district:

See maps of objectives here: objectives maps. You can use the secondary search function (see section 2.3) to highlight local authority boundaries.

Find the summary programmes of measures for each river basin district in the programme of measures document.

Responding to the climate emergency

For evidence and information which supports building resilience to more frequent floods and drought and achieving net zero see topic action plans.

Identify who else can help

See catchment partnerships list page for information on established groups in your locality. These reflect the challenges in the catchment as partnerships see them, their vision, the successes they have delivered, their plans for future partnership development and some priority actions and measures.

Coastal and estuarine

Status of transitional (estuarine) and coastal water bodies

You can access information, data and maps of transitional and coastal (TraC) water bodies on the catchment data explorer by navigating to the specific river basin district and clicking on the specific ‘TraC’ management catchment link. For example, for the South West River Basin District, click on the ‘South West TraC’ and either zoom in to the specified area using the map or click on the operational catchment.

Mechanisms for assessing, monitoring, managing and taking action across our estuaries and coasts

See the mechanisms section for marine environment as well as other relevant mechanisms from source to sea in mechanisms.

Actions (short to long term) around restoring the estuarine and coastal environment

See the relevant river basin management plan topic action plans.

Taking a source to sea approach: integrated whole system approach topic:

  • Restoring estuarine and costal habitats: nature recovery topic
  • Managing chemicals: chemicals and microplastics topic
  • Climate adaptation and mitigation measures linked to estuarine and coastal environment: climate change topic

Estuarine, coastal and catchment partnerships

Catchment partnership pages can be viewed on the catchment data explorer. For estuarine and coastal partners, visit the Coastal Partnership Network. The Coastal Partnership Network exists to encourage the exchange of information and debate between coastal and estuary partnerships and to establish links with other estuarine and coastal stakeholders, including catchment partners.

Published 22 December 2022
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