The Relevance of CatchmentCharacterisation and WFD River Basin

Management Planning for Farming

Donal Daly and Jenny DeakinCatchment Science & Management Unit, EPA

Acknowledgements: Colleagues in Catchments Unit, EPA, & Pathways Project researchers

Context: Sustainable Intensification

FH2020 Strategy & Food Wise 2025 Strategies Increased application of nutrients in certain areas

a challenge for water, biodiversity and GHGemissions

Our ‘green’ credentials have a benefit in themarket place

Issue: how can we achieve our environmentalgoals and ensure environmental sustainability, asthe basis for economic sustainability?

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100% unpolluted river channel

December 2027

1987-1990

2010-2012

1995-1997

1998-2000

Expenditure 2000-2014 € billion

2021

Some Context: River Water Quality, past, now, future?

33%

53%

6%8%Municipal

Agriculture

Industry

Other

Suspected causes of river pollution

Urban Waste Water

REPS Water

Farm Buildings

0 1 2 3 4 5

Slide source: Pat Duggan

Challenging in the context of FH2020/FH2025 strategies,increasing population and implications of climate change

2015

?

??

Context: Water quality – Summary (1)

There has been a general decrease of phosphate andnitrate in water nationally

Based on data to 2012, 47% river water bodiesrequire improvement to satisfactory condition

We have to retain existing high status sites

Context: Water quality – Summary (2)

The 2015 targets set in the River Basin ManagementPlan for 2009-2015 are unlikely to be met

A draft river basin management plan must becompleted by end 2016, and the final plan in Dec2017

This plan will need to include specificstrategies/measures to enable achievement of WFDobjectives

Context: Information Availability

By end 2016, information on all 4933 water bodiesand 582 subcathments in the country will beavailable on-line

Status (high/good/less than good) , risk category (at risk or not at risk

of failing to meet WFD objectives), hydrochemistry, trends, etc.

Where there are issues, the likely causes will be knownand stated

WFD App Preliminary risk Boundaries Subcatchments

Water bodyinformation

(Trends)

EQS

Context: Information Availability

If water quality objectives are not being met(particularly downward trends where quality is unsatisfactory):

Our Nitrates Derogation could be threatened.

ECJ cases against Ireland.

Our ‘green’ credentials under threat

Unsatisfactory water quality has the potential to be thenew quota

There will be no ‘hiding place’ for unsatisfactorywater (keeping in mind the information available online)!

But, there are solutions!!!!

1. Catchment characterisation

2.Management strategies & measures toprotect existing satisfactory water quality andrestore unsatisfactory water quality arefeasible

3.Selecting ‘the right measures in the rightplace’

Lough Guitane, Co Kerry.

Kilmaine Spring, Co. Mayo.

Catchment characterisation(knowing and understanding our

catchments)is the foundation of water resources

& biodiversity management

Doovilra strand, Killary Harbour, Co Galway. Source: Shane O’Boyle, EPA.

Characterisation Approach

Three TIERS of

risk characterisation

so that the level of assessment isappropriate for the risk posed

1: Preliminary risk screening2: Initial characterisation3: Further characterisation

4933 Waterbodies

582Subcatchment

(100-200km2 in size)

46 Catchments

1 National RiverBasin District

2 InternationalRBDs

MonitorReport status

Assessrisk

Prioritisemeasures

PlanReport to EU

Water management unit scales

Preliminaryriskscreening

Completed

Status Trend +Distance tothreshold Risk

SurfaceWaterBodies

At RiskReviewNot at Risk

1. Subcatchmentdelineation

• 582 subcatchments• 100-200 km2

• 3-15 WBs in each• Reviewed with LAs

Initialcharacterisation

2. Subcatchmentstories

• Work commenced• Trial the approach in River

Suir catchment

DRISH subcatchment13 waterbodies• 5 At Risk• 5 Review• 2 Not at Risk• 1 Unassigned

CASE STUDY 1

AquiferClassification

Subsoils

Source: TeagascSource: GSI

Soil drainageGroundwaterVulnerability

Source: Teagasc Source: GSI

Stocking Density

Source: CSO

Large point sources Mines, quarries &historic landfills

Source: EPA

IE_SE_16D020100Drish_040

(07-09) (10-12) T1 Pressures

Bio & Eco PoorStatus

PoorStatus

At risk LisheenPeat workings

Chem Status Trend Value T1

Ortho-P High D (N/N) 0.013 (F) H Not at risk

TON (N) Mod D (N/N) 2.764 (F) M

T Am (N) Good D (N/N) 0.187 (F) M

Tier 1 outcome At risk Change? No

Action Follow up on Peat and Lisheen Measures

Subcatchment storyboard

Subcatchment storyboard

DRISH subcatchment13 waterbodies• 5 At Risk• 5 Review• 2 Not at Risk• 1 Unassigned

CASE STUDY 1

Preliminary Load Apportionmentmodelling - southern tributary

N load

P load

Draft maps indicating thesusceptibility of surface water &

groundwater to impact by PhosphateGWSW

Source: EPA

Critical Source Areas (CSAs)Concept is Important

CSAs = high riskranking areas

+HSA

Critical Source Area

( CSA )

Hydro(geo)logically

Susceptible Area (HSA)

Catchment

Pollutant Source

Area

CSA

Phosphate Pollution Impact Potential(PIP) Draft Map for Surface Water

Source: EPAMap of “relative risk”

Subcatchment7 waterbodies• 1 At Risk• 5 Review• 1 Not at Risk

CASE STUDY 2

Waterbody storyboard

16K050200Killenaule_010

(07-09) (10-12) T1 Pressures

Bio Poor Poor At Risk WWTP

Eco Poor Poor

Chem Status Trend Value T1

Ortho-P (P) Poor

Mod

D (N/N)

D (N/N)

0.082 (F)

0.045 (F)

At Risk

TON (N) Mod

Mod

D (N/N)

D (N/N)

3.318 (F)

1.878 (F)

Tot Am (N) Good

High

U (N/N)

U (N/N)

0.042 (F)

0.02 (F)

T1 Risk At Risk Change No – At Risk

Actions Review with LAs (focus on Waste Water TreatmentPlant)

Where does this get us?

By 12 months time, we will completecompilation of ecological and hydrochemicaldata, and maps for all 582 subcatchments inthe country.

If there are water quality issues, we willconclude on the likely causes – what andwhere.

Keep in mind…….

The scale of the maps – subcatchment NOTfield-scale

The Pollution Impact Potential (PIP) map givesRELATIVE RISK

Where there are water quality issues, EPAmaps and information provides guidance onwhere to do Investigative Assessments

Investigative assessment (1)

Desk approach not sufficient for local/field scaleassessment

Investigative Assessment (Tier 3 - Further Characterisation)• Focussed on subcatchments with “at risk” water bodies.• Focussed on subcatchment scale critical source areas

(delineated by the EPA pollution impact potential (PIP) maps)

in the case of likely diffuse pressure impacts.• Focussed on locations of small and large point sources, e.g.,

farmyards, silage pits/clamps, cattle stream access/crossingpoints, farm roadways, WWTPs, etc.

Teagasc knowledge & expertise, based on field-scaleresearch, will have an important role.

Investigative assessment (2)

IA consists of some or most of the following:

Catchment walks and visual assessment

Soil sampling and testing results, with NMP evaluation.

Land-use & buffer zones

Soils mapping/checking & evaluation of role of ditches & land drainage &slope

Field measurements of water conductivity, temp, DO and pH in localstreams

Physico-chemical and chemical sampling & analysis

Small stream risk score assessments

Talking to local people, particularly farmers

Analysis of information and conceptualisation of the situation, followed byconclusions.

All undertaken in the context of water quality outcomes

Potential Strategies and Measures

1. Investigative assessment

2. Knowledge Engagement & Innovation (KEI)

3. Incentives, e.g., GLAS

4. Compliance checking

5. Licensing of intensive agricultural activities

6. Integration into the planning process

7. Local mitigation measures

Potential Strategies & Measures:Knowledge Engagement & Innovation (1)

Copy of text in a slide in presentation by Brendan Dunford (on DAFM

website)

This has to be the main underlying philosophy……

Will to be undertaken by the (new) WFD Office staff 12 catchment/water engagement officers will be in place in early 2016

Farmer advisors are key!! Need Sustainable Intensification advisors

Advisors who are knowledgeable about/trained in environmental sustainability aswell as economic sustainability.

Whose instincts and philosophy are as environmentally oriented as productionoriented, for the long-term benefit of farmers & agri-industry

Agri-industry has an important leadership role.

In our view, we have a way to go ………

Improved training of agricultural scientists and young farmers in colleges

More advisors (with right training and attitude)

Keeping in mind that some areas are unsuitable for increased intensification andmany other areas only suitable with best practices farming, includingappropriate strategies for minimising impacts on water and biodiversity.

Potential Strategies & Measures:Knowledge Engagement & Innovation (2)

Potential Strategies and Measures

1. Investigative assessment

2. Knowledge Engagement & Innovation (KEI)

3. Incentives, e.g., GLAS

4. Compliance checking

5. Licensing of intensive agricultural activities

6. Integration into the planning process

7. Local mitigation measures

Potential Strategies & Measures:Local (field-scale) measures

Country-wide measures (e.g., GAP Regs measures)needed to protect existing satisfactory & help improveunsatisfactory quality water.

Targeted measures needed where water (& biodiversity)

is unsatisfactory.

Targeting is now more feasible than in the past

Implication: more measures than are currently in place andperhaps better targeting of existing measures.

1. A literature review of possible mitigation measures(expected to be 60-70) will be undertaken

Applicable to:• Point sources and diffuse sources

• P, N, sediment, pathogens and pesticides

Including:• Evaluation & ranking of effectiveness

• Estimated cost

• Overall assessment

Potential Strategies & Measures:Local (field-scale) measures

Programmes of Measures WG All potential strategies/measures for the different sources

impacting on water will be costed & evaluated

Water Pollution Advisory Council and Minister Final decisions on what is in the River Basin Management

Plan (RBMP) in December 2017

There is an opportunity in the next 9 monthsto influence the strategies included in theRBMP

Relevance to WFD River BasinManagement Plan?

E

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