Devon and Cornwall Soils Alliance - Lower River Cober

Lower River Cober Devon and Cornwall Soils Alliance

This document was produced by the Westcountry Rivers Trust for the Devon and Cornwall Soils Alliance (DCSA) project, funded through the Environment Agency Water Environment Grant.

Contents This pack contains maps of the Lower River Cober catchment. This catchment is one of the 7 waterbody catchments being targeted in the feasibility study stage of the Devon and Cornwall Soils Alliance (DCSA) project. There are also 2 Special Area of Conservation catchments being focused on in another part of the project.

Each page focuses on a different theme, and uses maps, tables and graphs to provided spatial information about the catchment. Rivers, roads, and settlements are also included in the maps. A full list of data sources can be found on page 23.

Overview

4

Land Cover

5

Soils Soil Type

6

Soil Composition

7

Soil Hydrology

8

Soil pH

9

Geology

10

Crops

11

Habitats

12

CEH Natural Capital Maps Topsoil Carbon

13

Topsoil Nitrogen

14

Topsoil Phosphorus

14

Topsoil Invertebrates

15

Topsoil Bacteria

15

Land Ownership

16

River Condition

17

Flood Risk

20

Hydrological Connectivity

21

Slope

22

Data Sources

23

Overview The 9 DCSA catchments are spread across Devon and Cornwall. The Lower River Cober catchment (highlighted in red) is located in south-west Cornwall, on the south coast.

The area mapped in this report is the Lower River Cober Waterbody Catchment, as delineated by the Environment Agency for the Water Framework Directive (WFD). It is part of the Cober and Lizard Operational Catchment, and has two WFD waterbodies which feed into it, the Upper River Cober which feeds in from the top, and Carminowe Creek which joins the Cober via The Loe lake at the southern end of the catchment.

The waterbody has one main branch of river which is assessed under WFD. The river runs north to south, fed by several smaller tributaries.

The town of Helston lies in the east of the catchment.

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Land Cover Land Cover Map 2015 (LCM2015) is derived from satellite images and digital cartography and provides land cover information for the entire UK. Land cover is based on UK Biodiversity Action Plan broad habitats classes.

Freshwater, 2%

Heather, 1%

Broadleaved Woodland, 12%

Urban/Suburban, 13%

Arable and Horticulture, 40% Improved Grassland, 32%

Please note: The Loe and the river network are shown in dark blue on top of all maps

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Soil Area Type NATMAP Vector is the principle set of soil data held at Cranfield University. It is a 1:250,000 scale map of England and Wales, showing the locations of 297 distinct soil associations. Within each of the soil associations are multiple soil series.

MORETONHAM PSTEAD - loam over granite, 8% MOOR GATE loam over granite, 8% MANOD - loam over shale, 12%

No Data, 2%

DENBIGH 2 loam over shale, 50%

DENBIGH 1 loam over shale, 20%

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Soil Area Composition The map below shows the percentage of sand, silt, and clay in each soil area. Sand is subdivided into fine, medium, and coarse percentages. The table gives additional descriptive information on each soil area.

Soil Series

Series Definition

Soil Subgroups

Soil Layer

Dominant Soils

MOOR GATE loam over granite

Light loamy material over lithoskeletal acid crystalline rock

Humic brown podzolic soils

Mineral topsoil

Well drained humose gritty loamy soils.

Occasionally with thin ironpan.

MORETONHAMPS TEAD - loam over granite

Light loamy material over lithoskeletal acid crystalline rock

Typical brown podzolic soils

Mineral topsoil

Well drained gritty loamy soils with a humose surface horizon in places.

MANOD - loam over shale

Medium loamy material over lithoskeletal mudstone and sandstone or slate

Typical brown podzolic soils

Mineral topsoil

Well drained fine loamy or fine silty soils over rock.

Shallow soils in places.

DENBIGH 2 - loam over shale

Medium loamy material over lithoskeletal mudstone and sandstone or slate

Typical brown earths

Mineral topsoil

Well drained fine loamy soils over slate or slate rubble.

Some fine loamy soils variably affected by groundwater.

DENBIGH 1 - loam over shale

Medium loamy material over lithoskeletal mudstone and sandstone or slate

Typical brown earths

Mineral topsoil

Well drained fine loamy and fine silty soils over rock.

Some similar soils with slowly permeable subsoils and slight seasonal waterlogging. Shallow soils and some bare rock locally.

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Associated Soils

Soil Area Hydrology The map and table below give information on the hydrology of the soil areas.

Soil type Hydrology 4

Free draining permeable soils on hard but fissured rocks with high permeability but low to moderate storage capacity.

6

Free draining permeable soils in unconsolidated loams or clays with low permeability and storage capacity.

8

Free draining permeable soils in unconsolidated loams or clays with groundwater at less than 2m from the surface.

15

Permanently wet peaty topped upland soils over relatively free draining permeable rocks.

17

Relatively free draining soils with a large storage capacity over hard impermeable rocks with no storage capacity.

18

Slowly permeable soils with slight seasonal waterlogging and moderate storage capacity over slowly permeable substrates with negligible storage.

22

Relatively free draining soils with low storage capacity over hard impermeable rocks with no storage capacity.

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Soil Area pH The map below shows NATMAP Vector information on the average pH level of each soil area.

5.7 8%

No Data 2% 6.3 8%

6 82%

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Geology The map below shows British Geological Society 1:50 000 scale bedrock geology.

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Crops The Crop Map of England (CROME) contains approximately 32 million hexagonal cells classifying England into over 20 main crop types, grassland, and non-agricultural land covers, such as woodland, waterbodies, fallow land and other non-agricultural land covers. The classification was created automatically using satellite images in late January 2018 – September 2018.

Winter Barley, 2%

Water, 2%

Winter Wheat, 2%

Winter Field beans, 3% Potato, 3% Winter Oilseed, 4%

Woodland, 40% Grassland, 15%

Non-vegetated or sparselyvegetated Land, 23%

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Habitats Important habitats for wildlife are mapped below using Natural England’s Priority Habitat Inventory (PHI). Designated sites are also shown, with their condition status where relevant.

180 160

Area (ha)

140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0

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CEH Natural Capital Maps Natural England and UKCEH collaborated on a project to map aspects of natural capital.

A suite of ten maps have been produced showing different aspects of natural capital, using a range of datasets, including UKCEH sample data from the Countryside Survey (2007). The maps are derived from predictive modelling. Data from sample locations is extrapolated up to an England level using statistical modelling and is mapped at 1km resolution.

For more information: https://eip.ceh.ac.uk/naturalengland-ncmaps

Topsoil Carbon The map below shows mean estimates of topsoil (0-15cm depth) carbon density in tonnes per hectare.

The map was produced using measurements of carbon from soil collected in the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Countryside Survey (2007) at 2614 sample locations across Great Britain, within 591 1km squares. Measurements were extrapolated up to a national level using statistical analysis. This extrapolation was based on carbon density values associated with a combination of habitat type and soil parent material: the geological material, bedrock, superficial and drift, from which soil develops.

60 - 70 5%

70 - 80 1%

No Data 15%

40 - 50 79%

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Topsoil Nitrogen The map below shows mean estimates of total nitrogen concentration in topsoil (0-15cm depth) in percent dry weight of soil.

The map was produced by using measurements of nitrogen concentration from soil collected in the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Countryside Survey (2007), at 1024 sample locations across GB within 256 1km squares. Measurements were extrapolated up to a national level using statistical analysis. This extrapolation was based on total nitrogen concentration values associated with a combination of habitat type and soil parent material: the geological material, bedrock, superficial and drift, from which soil develops.

0.50 - 0.75, 11% No Data, 14% 0.25 0.50, 75%

Topsoil Phosphorous The map below shows mean estimates of Olsen-phosphorus concentration in topsoil (0-15cm depth) in milligrams per kg dry soil. This was calculated using the Olsen-phosphorus method, which is a measure of the amount of soil phosphorus available to plants.

The map was produced by using measurements of Olsen-phosphorus from soil collected in the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Countryside Survey (2007), at 1054 sample locations across GB, within 256 1km squares.

Measurements were extrapolated up to a national level using statistical analysis. This extrapolation was based on phosphorus concentration values associated with a combination of habitat type and soil parent material: the geological material, bedrock, superficial and drift, from which soil develops.

50 - 60, 5%

40 - 50, 1%

10 - 20, 5% No Data, 14%

30 - 40, 75%

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Topsoil Invertebrates The map below shows mean estimates of total abundance of invertebrates in topsoil (0-8cm depth).

This map was produced by using measurements of total number of invertebrates extracted from soil cores in the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Countryside Survey (2007) at 927 sample locations across GB within 238 1km squares. Measurements were extrapolated up to a national level using statistical analysis. This extrapolation was based on the total number of invertebrates extracted associated with a combination of habitat type and soil parent material: the geological material, bedrock, superficial and drift, from which soil develops.

75 - 100, 5%

25 - 50, 5%

50 - 75, 1%

No Data, 14%

0 - 25, 75%

Topsoil Bacteria The map below shows mean estimates of bacterial diversity in topsoil (0-15cm depth) measured using the Shannon diversity index, a mathematical measure of species diversity in a given community.

The map was produced by using measurements of bacterial diversity from soil in the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Countryside Survey (2007), at 1280 sample locations across GB within 256 1km squares.

Measurements were extrapolated up to a national level using statistical analysis. This extrapolation was based on soil bacterial diversity values associated with a combination of habitat type and soil parent material: the geological material, bedrock, superficial and drift, from which soil develops.

3.5 - 3.6, 5%

3.6 - 3.7, 1%

No Data, 14%

3.9 - 4.0, 18%

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3.8 - 3.9, 62%

Land Ownership The map below shows anonymised land ownership data from the RPA CLAD dataset. Nonanonymised data will be available upon commencement of the work.

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River Condition The map below show Environment Agency Water Framework Directive overall status, category 1 and 2 water pollution incidents and consented discharges.

The following pages give more information from the Catchment Data Explorer on WFD status, Reasons for Not Achieving Good status and upstream catchments.

Note: Under the Water Framework Directive, waterbodies are given an overall status of High, Good, Moderate, Poor or Bad. Anything below Good is a failing waterbody.

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River Condition cont.

This information has been sourced from the Catchment Data Explorer. The page for this waterbody is: https://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB108048001172

Lower River Cober Overview Id

GB108048001172

Type

River

Hydromorphological designation

Heavily modified

Catchment area

1928.729 ha

Length

6.36 km

Classification Cycle 2 Classification Item

2013

2014

2015

2016

Overall Water Body

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Ecological

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Chemical

Good

Good

Good

Good

Reasons for Not Achieving Good and Reasons for Deterioration SWMI

Activity

Category

More

Classification Element

Diffuse source

Poor nutrient management

Agriculture and rural land management

Details

Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined

Point source

Sewage discharge (continuous)

Water Industry

Details

Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined

Point source

Abandoned mine

Mining and quarrying

Details

Copper

Natural

Natural mineralisation

No sector responsible

Details

Copper

Diffuse source

Abandoned mine

Mining and quarrying

Details

Copper

Physical modification

Flood protection structures

Local and Central Government

Details

Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined

Flow

Surface water abstraction

Water industry

Details

Hydrological Regime

Suspect data

Not applicable

No sector responsible

Details

Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined

Diffuse source

Poor livestock management

Agriculture and rural land management

Details

Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined

Diffuse source

Poor soil management

Agriculture and rural land management

Details

Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined

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River Condition – Upstream Waterbodies

Water body Name

Upper River Cober

Carminowe Creek

Id

GB108048001171

GB108048001173

Type

River

River

Hydromorphological designation

not designated artificial or heavily modified

not designated artificial or heavily modified

Catchment area

2912.821 ha

579.08 ha

Length

21.414 km

4.091 km

WFD Overall Status (2016)

Moderate

Moderate

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Flood Risk The map below shows Environment Agency data on risk of flooding from rivers and/or the sea.

The dataset was previously known as NaFRA Spatial Flood Likelihood Category Grid. This is a national assessment of flood risk for England produced using local expertise. The risk mapping is based on 50m cells and each cell is allocated to one of four flood risk categories, high, medium, low or none, taking into account flood defences and their condition.

80 70

Area (ha)

60 50 40 30 20 10 0 High

Medium

Low

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Hydrological Connectivity The SCIMAP model has been used to map hydrological connectivity. The model uses terrain to identify flow pathways which have the potential to carry pollutants, and can help target mitigation actions at a landscape scale.

For more information: http://www.scimap.org.uk/2013/06/scimap-in-under-seven-minutes/

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Slope The map below shows slope data created from a 1m Digital Terrain Model.

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Data Sources British Geological Survey •

BGS Detailed Geology 50k Bedrock

Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2020

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) •

Land Cover Map 2015

LCM2015 © and database right NERC (CEH) 2019. All rights reserved.

Rowland, C.S.; Morton, R.D.; Carrasco, L.; McShane, G.; O’Neil, A.W.; Wood, C.M. (2017) Land Cover Map 2015 (vector, GB). NERC Environmental Information Data Centre.

CEH and Natural England •

Topsoil carbon; topsoil phosphorus; topsoil nitrogen; topsoil invertebrates; topsoil microbes

Contains data supplied by Natural Environment Research Council. © UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

Contains British Geological Survey materials © NERC 2014. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2007.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government License v3.0. Available in the CaBA data package.

Cranfield University NSRI •

NATMAP Vector

•

NATMAP HOST

Soils Data © Cranfield University (NSRI) and for the Controller of HMSO 2019 © Centre for Ecology and Hydrology © The James Hutton Institute

Environment Agency •

Consented Discharges

•

WFD Reasons for Not Achieving Good Status

Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2015. All rights reserved.

•

Detailed River Network

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government License v3.0. Available in the CaBA data package.

•

WFD Groundwater Status 2015

Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2015. All rights reserved. Derived in part from 1:50,000 and 1:250,000 scale digital data under permission from British Geological Survey. ©NERC. © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey 100024198.

•

WFD River Status 2016

•

WFD Lake Status 2016

•

WFD Site Classifications 2016

•

WFD Transitional and Coastal Water Status 2016

Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2016. All rights reserved.

•

Category 1 and 2 Pollution Incidents

Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2017. All rights reserved.

•

Customer and Land Anonymised Database

Extract from Rural Payments Agency Customer and Land Database (CLAD) – Information warning: This dataset has not been updated since 2015. Contains Environment Agency information © Environment Agency and/or database right Devon & Cornwall Soils Alliance: Lower River Cober 23

Data Sources Natural England •

Ancient Woodland

•

Priority Habitat Inventory (South) (England)

•

SACs

•

SSSI units

© Natural England copyright. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2020.

Natural Environmental Research Council •

Tellus DTM SW

Ferraccioli, F.; Gerard, F.; Robinson, C.; Jordan, T.; Biszczuk, M.; Ireland, L.; Beasley, M.; Vidamour, A.; Barker, A.; Arnold, R.; Dinn, M.; Fox, A.; Howard, A. (2014). LiDAR based Digital Terrain Model (DTM) data for South West England. NERC Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/e2a742df-3772-481a-97d60de5133f4812.

Ordnance Survey •

Vector Map District

•

Strategi

Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2019

Rural Payments Agency •

Crop map of England 2018 (CROME)

Open Government Licence © Rural Payments Agency

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