Welcome to the SDCP meeting on Water Resources 30/09/2026 We will not be recording this session If you would like to use closed captions this is available: at the top of your screen press “more”, “language and speech” and “show live captions”
Agenda Time
Session
09.45 – 10.00
Arrive
10.00 – 10.10
Welcome
10.10 – 10.45
Talk 1: Water, Risk and Resilience at Riverford (Anna David, Riverford)
10.45 – 11.20
Talk 2: Emerging challenges and solutions in water resources management (Nick Paling, Bioregional Learning Centre)
11.20 – 11.40
Break
11.40 – 11.55
Talk 4: Rally for Nature (Jane Nichols)
11.55 – 12.15
Talk 5: Environment Agency update inc. POMS, WER classifications, and water resources (Dave Shorten)
12.15 – 12.50
Partners slot for updates
12.50 – 13.00
Steering group update, wrap up and close of online session
13.00 – 14.00
Lunch and networking (in-person only)
14.00 – 16.00
Site visit (in-person only): Apricot Centre (Charlie Nemeth)
Farming through climate whiplash; vegetable production, landscape adaptation and lessons learned from Riverford. Anna David Sustainability Researcher
Riverford Wash Farm
What do we grow at Wash? • Salad pack (30 tonnes) • Lettuce (260,000) • Tomatoes (50 tonnes) • Baby cucumbers (300,000) • Pointed cabbage (46,000) • Summer greens (20 tonnes) • Bunches of radish (105,000) • Plus many tonnes of leeks and brassicas over winter
The challenges of irrigation at Riverford - 6 reservoirs dotted across landscape - 150 ha of irrigable land - Only two have UV filtration (at Polytunnels and at Yarbury reservoir) - other reservoirs require water pumped to Yarbury and then out - Hilly land - Massive headache!!
We need more capacity
Reservoirs don’t come cheap… Total calculated in 2023 is £263,000 for a 30,000m3 reservoir… In 2027 the cost of a reservoir is likely to be higherprobably over £300,000 It has already cost approx. £30,000 to apply for the abstraction licence, undertake planning applications, liaise with consultants…and we haven’t even entered design phase!
So…how can we make sure we are using every drop efficiently?
Precision irrigation technology
Polytunnels: What we have learnt this year • Cucumbers- 90% of target achieved despite heat stress. (Target of over 300,000 mini cucumbers) • Tomatoes down to just under 80% of target yield. (target of 50 tonnes of tomatoes) • Learning about VPD and plant stress • Water footprint approx.: 570ml/mini cucumber. 40 litres/tonne tomatoes
• We need to invest in misters • We need to invest in better drip tape (pressure compensating) • Approx 3000 m3 of water used for these crops- can we produce more per litre used? • It wasn’t just about the water saving…we also needed to use water to bring down temperature and reduce plant stress
Take home message about irrigation at Riverford: - Irrigation now becoming necessary even for traditionally nonirrigable crops (e.g. brassicas) - Water demand in the summer is going up as heat and drought increase water consumption of plants - Expensive to build reservoirs, but it is non-negotiable
- We need to all upskill in our understanding of plant water requirements and heat stress - Make the most of existing and emerging technologies - We need better network signal in rural Devon! - This all takes time and effort, alongside busy working lives!
Soil Health • Increasing Soil Cover • Perennial Crop Trials • Strip Tillage • Inter row cover crops • Organic matter addition • Climate challenges make this trickier • Network challenges make this trickier
We share the land with the Riverford Dairy - They are increasing herbal ley and mob grazing and managed to largely maintain production without resprting to too many winter feed options - We are working together to increase tree cover, swales and ponds - A shared recognition of the need to protect soil, increase water holding and increase biodiversity as far as possible
Collaboration is key ‘getting help from Wendy and Annabel at Westcountry
Rivers Trust was one of the best things we’ve ever done’- John Richards- Farm Manager at Riverford We now have a risk assessment for all 150ha of land in vegetable production and have among other things:
- Created bunds to prevent soil washing into roads - Re-positioned gate ways to reduce soil movement from gates at bottoms of hills - created wider headlands at bottoms of runs - Subsoil areas to increase permeability of soil - Tree planting in areas to help slow flow - Planted hedges Each field is case by case, takes time, thought, money…but we think it’s worth it and many hectares have been taken out of production. The risk is just too high in some places.
Nature Based Solutions: Improving Biodiversity, Increasing Resilience with Agroforestry
Flooding At Wholesale Unit Flooding of new warehouse for Riverford home delivery stock. Including dock leveller on right hand side of building.
Next task… Create a water footprint for the business and a plan to reduce risk from water impacts (flooding and drought) and plug away at it as fast as we can.
Any questions?
Taking Stock and Storying a Water Resilient Future Nick Paling
Emerging challenges & solutions in water resources management Considering all spatial scales & water use sectors
The pressure being placed on our water environment and water resources have never been higher… There is an increasing need for holistic and sustainable methods to be adopted across the entire water system…
Water Resources Management Challenges… SUPPLY
DEMAND
Climate change
Modification & development
PRESSURE
Natural water system
Human water system
Population growth Damaging behaviours
PRESSURE
High water & wastewater demand
Ecosystem degradation
Leakage (in and out) Technology, Infrastructure, Asset Management, Operations
Water Resources Management Impact on supply: climate change Trying to predict the impact that climate change will have on the water cycle is difficult The rate of change depends on which emissions scenario you look at… Low river flow Q95* statistic in 2070 example
Carbon emissions models
(1000s of GW & river flow model runs)
3 Ml/d
2 Ml/d
Current Climate
RCP 2.6
RCP 4.5 The ‘eFlaG’ UKCP18 river flow projections presented in the WCWRG Pilot catchment Environmental Destination plans are based on RCP8.5 emissions
1 Ml/d
RCP 6.0 RCP 8.5
* Flow exceeded 95% of time: common low flow statistic
Water Resources Management Impact on supply: climate change
RIVER EXE
62% decrease in average flows
34% decrease in average flows
18% decrease in average flows
40%
47%
73%
decrease in average flows
decrease in average flows
decrease in average flows
…based on the High Emissions Scenario (RCP8.5)
Water Resources Management Impact on supply: ecosystem degradation & disfunction Optimal regulation of the natural water cycle depends on a healthy and functional ecosystem… • Compacted/unhealthy soils • Loss of habitats (esp. wetlands) • Creation of impermeable surfaces • Pollution • Invasive non-native species
…all perturb the natural water cycle, reduce resilience and can have a significant impact on the amount of water in the environment at certain times…
Water Resources Management Impact on supply: protecting the environment Low flows in rivers and lack of water in wetland habitats can have significant negative impacts on the ecology of the water environment. Longer, more severe and/or higher frequency events can have an even greater impact on ecology and hydrogeomorphology.
Longitudinal & lateral connectivity Heat stress & oxygen levels Eutrophication risk
Accumulation of sediment Riparian habitats Aquatic & riparian biodiversity
From the ‘About Drought Streams and Rivers Report Card 2020’ (NERC)
Water Resources Management Impact on supply: protecting the environment Sustainable abstraction is essential to support healthy ecology and the natural resilience of rivers, wetlands and aquifers.
Water resources plans must now – •
Demonstrate that abstraction is sustainable now and long-term
•
Protect/improve the environment against current/future challenges
•
Reflect the ambitions of the Government’s 25-YEP, including: •
Setting out the ‘destination’ for environmental sustainability and resilience
•
Supporting nature recovery
•
Using natural capital in decision making
•
Taking a catchment approach
•
Delivering net gain for the environment
Water abstraction reform Catchment and farm implications Multi-sector, catchment-level abstraction reform is coming… Decisions could significantly affect the amount of non-public water supply users (e.g. farms) can take and when they can take it. • Catchment focus: Reviews to consider the combined effects of abstraction on river flows, groundwater and ecology. • License volumes: EA may reduce licenses to prevent environmental damage. From 2028, at least 25% unused every year for 12 years could allow variation without compensation, subject to safeguards. • Flow conditions: Hands-off flow rules could reduce or stop pumping when river flows fall below a license threshold. • Farm planning: Check metered returns and license terms; assess storage, rainwater harvesting and water sharing for dry periods. • Considerations of seeking alternative supplies: Boreholes taking over 20 m³/day generally need a license. Some business uses of mains water could be restricted in drought.
Water Resources Management Impact on demand: Population growth (residential + transient) Water resources planners use local government and ONS data to estimate population growth… Components of population change: by county and unitary authority South West, mid-2007 to mid-2008
Also need to consider short-term changes in population… e.g., due to tourism
Water Resources Management Impact on demand: high water consumption Some water users (either individually or collectively) use large amounts of water •
Per capita consumption is currently estimated to be 140150 litres per person per day
•
Many businesses use large volumes of potable water or water taken from the environment
•
Building Regs require 125/110 litres pppd
•
New target – 100 litres pppd by 2050
Water Resources Management Impact on demand: loss or waste of water ~346,455 km of water pipes in the UK (8.5 x
)
Since privatisation, reduction in leakage is estimated at 2,131 megalitres per day (Ml/d), based on a benchmark of 5,000 Ml/d at privatisation and a most recent figure of 2,869 Ml/d at 2024-25.
Water Resources Management Assessing the risk that demand > supply
FLOW @ Q70 = 4-5 m3/s
FLOW @ Q95 = <3 m3/s
FLOW @ Q10 = 50-100 m3/s
Water Resources Management Assessing the risk that demand > supply
Water available for abstraction without risking environment
Natural Flow The flow in the absence of any artificial influences
= 260 ML/d
Environmental Flow Water protected for environment
Flow required to support Good Ecological Status – % of natural flow depending on the flow sensitivity
55% = 144 ML/d
Water Resources Management Assessing the risk that demand > supply 3x pressures impact this 1. Required environmental flow raised 2. Climate reduces flows - demand stays the same 3. Demand increases – short or long term
= 86 ML/d SURPLUS
Natural Flow The flow in the absence of any artificial influences
= 260 ML/d
Environmental Flow Water protected for environment
Flow required to support Good Ecological Status – % of natural flow depending on the flow sensitivity
55% = 144 ML/d
Water Resources Management Assessing the risk that demand > supply 3x pressures impact this 1. Required environmental flow raised 2. Climate reduces flows - demand stays the same 3. Demand increases – short or long term
= 86 ML/d DEFICIT – ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE
Natural Flow The flow in the absence of any artificial influences
= 260 ML/d
Water protected for environment increases
Environmental Flow Flow required to support Good Ecological Status – % of natural flow depending on the flow sensitivity
75% = 190 ML/d
Water Resources Management Assessing the risk that demand > supply 3x pressures impact this 1. Required environmental flow raised 2. Climate reduces flows - demand stays the same 3. Demand increases – short or long term
= 86 ML/d
Natural Flow The flow in the absence of any artificial influences
= 210 ML/d
DEFICIT – ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE
Environmental Flow Water protected for environment
Flow required to support Good Ecological Status – % of natural flow depending on the flow sensitivity
55% = 144 ML/d
Water Resources Management Assessing the risk that demand > supply 3x pressures impact this 1. Required environmental flow raised 2. Climate reduces flows - demand stays the same 3. Demand increases – short or long term
= 110 ML/d Natural Flow The flow in the absence of any artificial influences
= 260 ML/d
DEFICIT – ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE
Environmental Flow Water protected for environment
Flow required to support Good Ecological Status – % of natural flow depending on the flow sensitivity
55% = 144 ML/d
Water Resources Management Projected surpluses and deficits in 2050: low flows Environment Agency projected surplus or deficits – Local assessment (WBs) of possible impact Assumptions: •
Fully licensed abstraction
•
Enhanced ambition for environmental flows
•
RCP8.5 climate change projections
Som Axe -12 Ml/d
Q95 low flows K.S.Drain +1 Ml/d
Taw +10 Ml/d
L Bris Avon +35 Ml/d
U Bris Avon +12 Ml/d
Brue +11 Ml/d
L Avon -109 Ml/d
Torridge +9Ml/d
EA Env Ambition (2019): Predicted 2050 Fully Licensed Deficit or Surplus compared with Enhanced E flow, Ml/d
Camel SAC -6 Ml/d
Newlyn -3 Ml/d Exe +18 Ml/d
Tavy +0.5 Ml/d
E flow
Deficit (flow recovery needed)
Surplus (more water available)
Fal +25 Ml/d
Tamar +26 Ml/d
Plym -10 Ml/d
Dart -39 Ml/d
Dev Axe SAC +2 Ml/d
Otter -19 Ml/d
Frome -9 Ml/d
L Stour +2 Ml/d
Piddle -13 Ml/d
M Stour -30 Ml/d
Catchment boundaries and reservoirs also mapped in black
Water Resources Management Plans A ‘Roadmap’ to meet the supply and demand challenges Analysis shows that we will need to be taking 209ML a day less from existing river sources by 2050… PLUS – we also need to be resilient to a 1:500-year drought The WRMP presents a ‘roadmap’ that includes a blend of demand-, supply- and environmental-solutions to meet the supply challenge
Water Resources Plans Supply-side solutions: Operational & asset management options Options involve changing where water is abstracted, where it is returned, how it’s moved around or where/when it’s stored •
Unused sources (rivers, ground water, unofficial ‘reservoirs’)
•
Construct new reservoirs
•
Pumped storage schemes
•
Intra/inter regional transfers
•
Effluent re-cycling or reuse
•
Desalination
Pumped storage
Desalination
New sources/storage
Effluent reuse
Intra/inter regional transfers
Water Resources Plans Demand-side solutions: Water efficiency & reducing consumption Research into how to achieve the reductions required is ongoing, but approaches include… •
Metering – voluntary, compulsory, smart
•
Water efficiency campaigns/initiatives - influencing behaviour or using incentives
•
Innovative tariffs
•
Changes to building regulations and design standards.
•
Mandatory restrictions – last resort
Behaviour change
Incentives
Metering – voluntary, compulsory, smart
Design standards
Mandatory restrictions
Water Resources Plans Supply-side solutions: leakage detection and reduction Reducing leakage (in properties and the network) represents a significant challenge – ~346,455 km of water pipes in the UK (8.5 x
)
•
Undertaken detailed studies to determine baseline leakage levels
•
WRMP approach includes using latest technology and innovative approaches to find leaks
•
Significant work still required to meet industry-wide targets of 16% reduction by 2025, and 50% reduction by 2050.
• Very different approaches required to locate different types of leak – from a burst water main right down to a leaky
cistern kit – everyone can play a role in finding them.
Balancing Water Resources – supply & demand Developing a plan: Bringing it all together Analysis shows that we will need to be taking ~209ML a day less from existing river sources by 2050…
PLUS – we also need to be resilient to a 1:500-year drought
Potential role of NBS = ?? ML/d Drought/Resilience Options = ?? Strategic Supply Options = 42 ML/d
TOTAL INVESTMENT = £367.4m
Local Supply Options = 49 ML/d
Smart Metering = 18 ML/d
Water Efficiency = 48 ML/d
Potential role of NBS = ?? ML/d
Leakage Reduction = 34 ML/d
DEMAND
= 209 ML/d
SUPPLY
Water Resources Plans Developing a plan: Regional Plans We anticipate a deficit of between 131-246 Megalitres per day by 2050. If no action is taken to improve the resilience of the region, the West Country is likely to face a shortfall in water availability by 2050. It is vitally important that we work together as a region to reduce the overall risk for the whole area.
Water Resources Plans
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Water Resources Plans
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Regional Groups now looking at different scenarios and ‘stress-testing’ them to facilitate an adaptive approach
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Note of caution It is vital that the environment is resilient…to withstand multiple ‘shocks’ Despite all these solutions being delivered, there is still a risk that we will experience prolonged periods of low flow at certain times in the future… It is therefore vital that actions are taken now to ensure that our water environments (rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands) and the wildlife they support are as healthy and resilient as they can be…
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Break ends at 11.50
Please sign in at the front table if you haven’t already.
Note for Ada: swap to pdf
Rally for Nature Jane Nichols
Note for Ada: swap to pdf
EA update Dave Shorten
South Devon Catchment Partnership September 2026 Dave Shorten Catchment Co-ordinator alex.shorten@environment-agency.gov.uk
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• A massive thanks to all of you who inputted to this. • f f M’ , w being collated nationally ready for draft publication at the end of the year. • A DCIS area feedback session will be held in November. • Area teams are now reviewing RNAG comments and collating additional measures. • The public consultation on the RBMP running next year will provide further opportunity to comment and suggest additional measures.
Water Environment (WFD) 2025 Classifications • These are now available on the water hub Understanding England's Water Environment | Engage Environment Agency Will be uploaded to catchment data explorer from December 2026
• Headline numbers for South Devon waterbodies (Rivers, Lakes, Trac) • • •
21 at Good ecological status (reduction of 7) 49 at Moderate ecological status (increase of 5) 6 at Poor ecological status (increase of 2)
• Changes within ecological status • • •
• •
13 lower status 58 stayed the same status 5 higher status
Investigations on those with lower status, inform confidence and reasons for not achieving good Review through the catchment partnership to help with prioritisation
General updates • WEIF funded projects for 2026/27 are progressing. • EA Environment Programme Medium Term Plan (5yr horizon) currently being reviewed – please let me know if you have any potential projects to include. • Continuing to work on additional measures with partners and stakeholders to feed into future consultation. • Attending partner and stakeholder meetings and events. • Reporting incidents to the EA - now able to e-mail pictures and videos with online service Report an environmental problem - GOV.UK
Environment Agency and Water Resources South Devon Catchment Partnership – September 2026
Our role in water resources • Statutory responsibility to manage water resources in England. • Balance the needs of people, business, agriculture and the environment. • Regulate river flows, groundwater and aquatic habitats. • Provide evidence and planning for long-term water resilience.
What we do locally in Devon Key activities include: •
• • •
•
Assess water availability through catchment abstraction licensing strategies. Determine and regulate abstraction licences. Monitor river flows, groundwater levels and environmental impacts. Work with farmers, water companies, abstractors and catchment partnerships. Support river basin management plan objectives and environmental improvement.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
Current challenges • • • • •
Climate change increasing pressure on water availability Growing demand from public water supply, agriculture and industry. Need to protect sensitive rivers, estuaries and wetlands. Managing drought risk and improving resilience. Delivering sustainable abstraction and efficient water use.
Working together in the South Devon Catchment The Environment Agency supports a partnership approach: • Sharing and monitoring data. • Identifying water resource pressures and opportunities • Supporting nature-based solutions and catchment management. • Improving drought resilience and water efficiency. • Helping secure enough water for people, economy and environment.
Resources • Access all info via .gov website • • • •
Check if you need a licence to abstract water - GOV.UK Get advice before you apply for a water abstraction or impounding licence - GOV.UK Abstraction licensing strategies (CAMS process) - GOV.UK Check if you need a licence to impound water - GOV.UK
• Other related guidance •
• •
Low risk abstraction for nature recovery actions and fish or eel passage: RPS 374 - GOV.UK Low risk impounding activities: RPS 302 - GOV.UK Nature-based solutions for water resources handbook - GOV.UK
Questions
Dave Shorten South Devon Catchment Co-Ordinator
SDCP update Nicola Rogers
Steering Group •
12 members
•
Representation from 7 organisations as well as someone from each of the 5 catchments
•
Introductions and priorities for the SG, reviewed ToR, cycle of business
•
Decided on topics for SDCP meetings
•
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Water resources: drought and flooding risks and what to do about them (Sept 26)
❑
Farming and supporting agricultural practices for a sustainable future (March 27)
Planned activity to assess the new WFD classifications and identify priority waterbodies and/or elements for action.
WFD Classifications: Regional Headlines
WFD classifications
2025 data released but not yet on Data Catchment Explorer.
These will help us to Recognise what’s working well Understand deterioration
Does this match your understanding?
WFD classifications
Partners updates
Catchment Update ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
55 Riverfly Monitoring Sites 200+ Volunteer Network A growing pool of volunteers across the Teign catchment, notified of practical conservation, monitoring and survey opportunities throughout the year via website www.thetaca.com Long-Term Electrofishing Dataset Annual juvenile salmonid monitoring to highlight and target habitat intervention areas Practical River Restoration Volunteer-led bank stabilisation, live willow work, woody habitat, riparian management and natural flood management. Drogo Weir – Species Recovery Project Major Natural England-funded partnership project progressing fish passage at one of the Teign's most significant barriers, alongside a Bournemouth University research programme. Headwaters & Climate Resilience SWW Nature Recovery Fund application submitted for riparian woodland, brook rewetting and NFM on the Upper North Teign, responding to increasing drought and summer river temperatures. Working Across the Catchment TACA continues to work alongside the EA, National Trust, WRT, angling associations, landowners and community groups linking monitoring, evidence and practical delivery from the headwaters to the estuary.
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Farm Cluster Activity
Living Laboratory
Workshops: June - Managed Grazing at Yelland Cross Farm & BBQ October - soil monitoring/pasture management Riverford Dairy.
Community Rivers Officer Dr Eva Perrin on secondment from Plymouth Uni.
AES schemes put in place for members through SFI/CS and Higher Tier. Farm Collaboration Fund: included in DCC application to DEFRA to become delivery partners. Outreach: Expansion as Mid Dart Farm Cluster
Ongoing Research Fine Sediment Pollution UoP Impact of Rattery WWTW with UWE Soil Research Symposium in December Baseline/Long term monitoring: invertebrates and bats
Wildlife Corridor/ Connecting People and Landscape Detailed plan for wildlife corridor with: Westcountry Rivers Trust, Bioregional Learning Centre, Bat Conservation Trust. Community Engagement Programme planned in conjunction with SWW in relation to CSO in Dartington
https://bidwellbrook.org/
AOB
Many thanks for joining SDCP spring meeting: Wednesday 17th March (all day) Steering group winter meeting: Wednesday 25th November (14.00-16.00)
Site visit: Apricot centre
Parking at Saint Mary’s church From there it is a short walk up the bicycle path to a gate that is the entrance to the farm (w3w: ///headlines.promoting. inclined),and then walking across the driveway and up right on the dirt track.