1. Preparing a River Basin Management Plan WFD Characterisation Manager
Ingrid Baber
WFD Characterisation Manager
8 May 2006

2. Introduction
Stakeholder engagement
Summary of Significant Water Management Issues (SWMI) report
What is a draft and final River Basin Management Plan?
Level of detail

3. Stakeholder engagement
National/RBD level – National Advisory Group
Provide strategic direction
Link with Ministers
Catchment level - Area Advisory Groups (AAG)
8 in Scotland RBD
2 in Solway Tweed RBD
Scale to allow effective participation without excessive resource input
AAG Forum – all interested parties
In UK we are going to have advisory groups/liaison panels.
Will have input at national level, RBD level, and area/catchment level:
National: National Advisory Group (Scotland); National liaison panel (England)
RBD level: National Advisory Group (Scotland – RBD is same as national); RBD liaison panels (England)
Sub-RBD (catchment): Area Advisory Groups (Scotland); Existing catchment level arrangements, supplemented where necessary (England)
The administrative arrangements for River Basin Management Planning in Scotland will be based around two levels of Advisory Groups.
A National Advisory Group for the Scotland RBD will be formed. The purpose of this group is to provide strategic direction over the RBMP production process. It will also provide a link between Ministers and the advisory groups.
RBMP production will primarily be co-ordinated through the Area Advisory Groups.
There will be 8 of these in the Scotland RBD and a further 2 in the Solway Tweed RBD.
SEPA developed the number and area of these in consultation with stakeholders and used catchments, coastal cells and administrative boundaries to form these group areas. The aim of the process was to find a scale that will allow effective participation without excessive resource input by stakeholders. Public consultation responses supported the final proposals. 6

4. Purpose of Summary of Significant Water Management Issues Report
To identify significant water management issues in the RBD: based on pressures and impacts within water bodies at risk (Art. 5 plus new data)
To present an initial assessment of potential measures which will be needed in the RBMP to address significant water management issues
To identify water bodies where alternative or less stringent objectives may be required (if available)
One consultation document per RBD (In Scotland the report will have annexes based on Area Advisory Groups and interactive map at water body level)
Main focus of report will be on measures (and alternative objectives). [In England and Wales the report will focus on issues. We will cover measures as much as possible. To make this a UK point suggest: Purpose of the report is to give an early view of the main implications of the WFD – the main issues which will need to be addressed, main changes likely to be required, and who is likely to be affected by measures.]
Report will move from Art. 5 report and into the draft RBMP. Will be a consultation – responses will be addressed in the draft RBMP.
Hoping to produce report spring/summer 2007 – this will allow enough time to take on board consultation responses.
As for engagement: 3 layers of detail – RBD, AAG and water body

5. Proposed Method for Identifying Significant Water Management Issues
Based on information held at water body level.
Pressure types by industry sector impacting at risk river water bodies in the Scotland RBD

6. Significant Water Management Issues and Measures
Focus of report is on issues and measures:
Existing measures – regulations, guidance, voluntary action & support
Gaps in existing measures
Future measures
Example of a SWMI in the Scotland RBD
Diffuse source pollution – farming of animals, growing of crops, mixed farming
Examples of existing measures - Controlled Activities Regulations 2005, PEPFAA Code & Rural Stewardship Scheme
Gaps in existing measures – no comprehensive piece of legislation that specifically targets diffuse pollution
Future measures – diffuse pollution regulations
How do other member states see the SWMI report?
We hope to use it to engage advisory groups in thinking about measures – solving the problems.

7. What’s in the RBMP? Characteristics of the District;
pressures and impacts
risk assessment plus additional information based on water quality, ecology, quantity and hydro-morphology factors
including protected areas
economic assessment of water services
Environmental objectives and timescale for achieving
Programme of measures to achieve objectives:
summary in RBMP
details for water bodies in GIS
Monitoring networks and programmes
Consultation & participation opportunities for “interested parties”

8. What Constitutes a RBMP? Levels of information
Summary report for the RBD
Strategic objectives and summary of the associated programmes of measures (PoMs) for the district
Sub-basin plans
More detailed management plans including sub-basin objectives and PoMs. In Scotland, Area Advisory Groups will prepare Area Management Plans forming chapters in the RBMP for the district.
Water body level
Detailed objectives and measures for each water body. Scotland will present this via interactive GIS.
Rest of UK are exploring this.
Summary reports will refer to other plans, or those parts that link with RBMP.
Summary RBD reports and sub-basin plans are derived from water body level information.
Accept that water body information will not stay static for 6 years (all plans are like this).
This is Scottish view – still being discussed in UK, not necessarily UK view. (All agree that detail is needed, but not necessarily whether it constitutes part of plan or not).
RBMP is what is approved by Ministers and submitted to the Commission – so question is how much detail is in the RBMP and how much sits below it.

9. Interactive GIS Water Body Information Pressures & Impacts Status
Monitoring Results
Environmental Objectives
Measures
We feel it is essential to present information for each water body.
Easiest way of doing this is using GIS tools.
By displaying WB info using GIS, can update information without having to rewrite RBD plan. Most up to date info available at WB level.

10. Summary Welcome discussion on:
Levels of engagement
Identification of significant water management issues and use of report
Level of detail that is considered part of the RBMP

11. Assessment of Compliance of RBMP with WFD Requirements
Compliance indicators could include:
Average size of water body
Objectives set for all water bodies
Percentage of water bodies with alternative objectives
Justification provided for use of alternative objectives
Measures identified for all water bodies ‘at risk’
Assessment should be numeric but also based on quality of data