1. East Devon Diffuse Pollution Project

3. The 3-5 billion tonnes of carbon is stored in the UK’s peatlands, and 3.7 million tonnes is lost every year
Around 300,000 hectares of soil are thought to be affected by legacy contamination from the UK’s industrial past

4. The UK’s arable soils have seen a worrying decline in carbon levels since 1978, with widespread and ongoing decline in peat soil carbon.
many of our most productive soils will cease to be commercially useful within a generation

6. East Devon Catchment Partnership
Led by DWT and Westcountry Rivers Trust
Water Framework Directive issues
Co-ordinate catchment action by partners
Generate new projects
Generate funding

8. Project basics Maize identified as a major issue
Aim: to improve practice in high risk areas
£40K CPAF funding
Consultant (Chantal Brown) plus EA input
30 high risk farms visited by the consultant
2 x advisory visits plus EA audit, fact sheets
May 2015-March 2016

10. Results Runoff found from all farms
63% of farms (19) had ineffective mitigation
19% of farms (5) had Category 2 (serious) incidents
30% of farms (8) also had pollution from slurry
Low farmer awareness
… demonstrates a serious issue

11. 27
All ‘early’ varieties, contour drilling
Buffer strips, grass re- seed
No. Run-off from bare stubble evident, compounded impact by muck heap in field and compacted wheelings towards stream. No run-off from grass re-seed.
Cat 3 incident, (minor)
Runoff found entering into local pond / watercourse.
Soil erosion > 1ha.
Second maize field investigated. Minor runoff found in grass crop following maize. 28
All ‘early’ varieties, contour drilling, plastic, buffers
Rough cultivated stubble, sub- soiled, cover crop
Yes. No run-off evident although fields very high risk. Cultivated strips were effective and compaction had been removed and surface left rough with the cover crop broadcast on.
Cat 2 water incident (serious)
Muddy runoff found causing flooding on highways and serious sediment discharge to the local watercourse.
Soil erosion > 1ha with erosion gulley. Runoff overwhelmed cultivated strips. 29
Some ‘early’ varieties, plastic
Wheat established, Some cultivated strips
No. Severe run off from stubble and wheat fields, cultivated strips not effective
Muddy runoff found flowing out of gateway, along farm track with serious sediment discharge to the watercourse. Soil erosion > 1ha.
Runoff overwhelmed cultivated strips.

12. Results

13. Next steps and issues
Recommendations from project: training, awareness, responsibility within sector, enforcement
Targeted farmers vs voluntary approaches
EDCP follow-up: soils manual being produced for the south west