Catchment Data & Evidence Forum 2020

Today I attended the virtual Catchment Data & Evidence Forum 2020, run by the Catchment-based Approach and the Rivers Trust.

The forum is being held from today to 20th August, with lots of interesting talks taking place over the next couple of days. Check out the website to view the programme and email the Rivers Trust to see if there are spaces left to register – https://catchmentbasedapproach.org/events/catchment-data-evidence-forum-2020/

Lucy Butler (Rivers Trust) started the conference with an introduction, stating we had delegates joining from lots of different places including Denmark, USA and the Netherlands! This Catchment Data and Evidence Forum was born out of the CDUG forum, which continues to support the Catchment-based Approach. Dave Johnson (Rivers Trust) then stated the aims of the group were:

  • Identify evidence and opportunities
  • Inclusive forum for exchanging expertise
  • Incorporate ideas and expertise of wider community and encourage co-design

The main session then kicked off with a keynote presentation from Professor Alex Inman (Exeter University). Alex presented on the ‘Provision of data and evidence within the context of changing behaviours’. This presentation demonstrated the components driving human behaviour. Alex mentioned how it is crucial to take time to understand your audience and what they want, before you start showing them data that they might find meaningless. Alex outlined the aspects of behaviour, including an individual’s sense that they can carry out an action successfully, and help them reach an expected outcome. Also, an individual needs to believe that a certain behaviour can be performed. Beliefs shape an individuals attitude towards behaviour, so people need to be convinced there is a need for them to take action or act a certain way. An individual is also impacted by social norms and identities. These are frames of reference for appropriate behaviour, and how we think about the way we behave.

Alex mentioned ‘Double loop learning’, which is a new outlook on norms and identities. This considers assumptions which inform the first loop learning and review with data and evidence. This can be used to work out what the catchment issues are that we want to solve, identify the problems, and build relationships.

 

Alex then answered a question regarding the recent exam results model, and how they could have communicated the situation better. Alex said transparency would be better, and earlier communication of the actual methodology they used. They also didn’t take expert advice, which aided the distrust. This shows transparency and communication from an early stage are key points to consider in any catchment project.

We then had a series of ‘lightning talks’, where each presenter had a maximum of 5 minutes 30 seconds to demonstrate their project.

 

Session 1: Making data & evidence more collaborative and accessible

 

First was Barry Hankin (Lancaster Environment Centre & JBA) who presented on collaborative end user scenarios for NFM modelling. This looked at modelling for NFM, to identify how to improve and refine areas for suggested NFM approaches, for maximum effectiveness. This project identified 5 scenarios incorporating hydrological functions of soils, storage and runoff interception, peatland restoration, woodland, and working towards doubling the impact NFM efforts are currently having. The project focused on small catchments (<10km2) and populations in frequent flood zones, to narrow down to smaller scenarios where NFM ideas would be most effective. It was also mentioned that it is important to provide partners with maps and statistics on key areas which would benefit most.

Lucy Butler (Rivers Trust) then gave an overview of the CaBA Coastal Data Package. This is a national database of over 150 datasets from government agencies, government bodies, research and academia, and citizen scientists. There was a gap in the CaBA data package, and so they developed this to include coastal data. A further 30 online GIS layers related to coastal, marine and estuarine environments were added, along with a user guide. A range of data layers are available including data on habitat, coastal erosion, socio-economic information, impacts and pressures, and strategic planning information.

Next Dave Gurnell (Cartographer) gave an update on the Modular River Survey (MoRPh). This is a physical habitat survey for rivers. Cartographer develop the online platform, and have added new features to support MoRPh. These updates include:

  • Workspaces offering separate websites for groups working on separate MoRPh surveys. These workspaces list your surveys, offer tools for assessment, plus you can view surveys from all other participating organisations.
  • Integrations so you can import and export with different applications. The update includes automatic integration from cartographer onto ArcGIS online, with no manual downloads or uploads. Cartographer are also working towards getting MoRPh data into the CaBA data hub.
  • Mobile app to get data directly into the Cartographer interface. This app links to your workspace and surveys. It is currently in beta but will launch on iOS and Android for free later this year.

Next was Sim Reaney (Durham University), presenting on the SCIMAP Toolkit. This application looks at where to place NFM interventions to reduce flood risk. The model looks for a critical source area, where lots of issues are all occurring in the landscape, i.e. on average where most pollutants are coming from. The application calculates catchment risk ratings, and can use a range of parameters such as rainfall, land cover, sediment, pollutants and erosion risk potential for sediment.

Catherine McIlwraith (The Rivers Trust) then gave a presentation on ‘NFM Ponds & Wetlands: Estimating potential storage capacity through GIS analysis’. This looks at estimating the volume of water likely to be held back using NFM features. Catherine pointed out that whilst this is a difficult task for smaller organisations and Trusts due to a lack of expertise or expensive equipment; these trusts are well placed to do this modelling due to communication and contacts within the local community.

Catherine explained the preliminary feasibility analysis and available tools such as GIS. Land use information, LiDAR, drone/UAV footage can all be interpreted to help determine best location for NFM interventions. Modelling in GIS can provide an indication of whether the storage capacity gained from the NFM measure being installed, is likely to be beneficial. This data can also be used in further consultation and engineering plans.

 

The last presentation of this session was on Drones for Conservation, from Adrian Hughes (RSPB GIS team). Adrian mentioned how over the last few years, drone usage has developed in all sectors, with better access to equipment. This method can be useful for capturing aerial imagery, producing Digital Surface Models (DSM), and interpretation for habitat classifications. RSPB use drones mostly for aerial imagery and visualisation. For example, they can capture the condition of heather moorland, then overlay other data layers such as base maps, reference data and archaeology data. Tools in GIS can be used to help manage water and peatland in RSPB reserves. Similarly, habitat classifications can identify problem areas and set baselines for restoration works.

 

Lightning talks 2: Influencing change through data and evidence

Following a short break, Jayne Mann (CaBA Communications Team) gave an engaging presentation on how to make data more visually appealing. She stated 90% of information absorbed by the brain is visual. The use of infographics or gifs is beneficial to communicate the impact of your project or work, raise awareness and gather support. To affectively display data visually, it needs to highlight the problem, be backed up with data, and provide a conclusion if possible. It can help to use quantity, and give the most important information the most visual weight.

Canva and Biteable are useful programmes for designing infographics and material.

The next presentation in this session was from Holly Pearson (Westcountry Rivers Trust) on the use of portable water quality kits for monitoring and farmer engagement. Holly started by pointing out the simple changes that can be made in farming practices to reduce the risk of pollution. She explained what they are looking to measure in the water, including nutrients, colour, turbidity levels, and electrical conductivity. Nutrients such as phosphate and nitrate provide an indication of eutrophication or presence of high levels of manure. The colour of water shows the levels of dissolved chemical compounds and potential erosion of peatland environments. The turbidity identifies sediment levels in the water, indicating potential erosion of farm tracks and river banks. The level of sediment also shows the significant potential for sediment to be a vector for other contaminants to be carried to the watercourse. Conductivity looks for ions in the water, to indicate whether any silage liquors, slurry or salts are entering the channel, and could indicate pollution events.

Holly explained the instrument used to measure these parameters. A colourimeter is used, with a really simple process or collecting the water sample, placing it into the colourimeter, and letting the beam of light shine through the same to determine the concentration of pollutant. This potable method offers instant results, so is a perfect way of demonstrating to farmers what is being measured, why we are looking into these parameters, and how their land might be impacting upon water quality regulations and legislation. The engagement with farmers is important to tackling any pollution events or water quality issues. It is vital to earn the trust and respect of landowners and farmers, through regular visits, support, correspondence, and workshops to exchange knowledge. Also encourage landowners to be more involved in understanding the impacts their farming practices have on the catchment.

Next was a slightly different perspective. Dan Hird (Triodos Bank) gave a presentation on Natural Capital Investment in Catchments. Triodos is an ethical bank investing in tackling climate change and social equality. Dan stated how Natural Capital is a good approach for restoring the environment to generate valuable ecosystem services, whilst being able to access private investment alongside government funding. He pointed out how it can be difficult to quantify and monetise these ecosystem services. There are usually many stakeholders involved, with their own priorities of what they want from catchment. Also, a potential investor will want to know what they are investing in and their likely return, which can be difficult to forecast.

Next, we were presented a good example of using evidence to inform investment! Amina Aboobakar (United Utilities & The Rivers Trust) presented an evidence based approach to decision making in the Petteril Catchment Project. With limited data, modelling indicated the catchment needed to meet phosphate targets. A plan was developed to gather data and establish a catchment baseline. Walkover surveys were carried out, pollution hotspots were identified, and monitoring sampling points were determined with the help of the community, including schools and farmers. Over 17 weeks intensive sampling and monitoring was carried out, looking at DO, pH, phosphates, ammoniate and nitrates. This data was used to improve decision making tools.

The sampling actually showed that a waste water treatment works contribution to pollution was lower (<10%) than initially predicted by the model. Similarly, the contribution from septic tanks, misconnections and field runoff was actually higher. This lead to the development of a more flexible permitting approach, and the establishment of a catchment nutrient balancing plan, relaxing the treatment works permits, and implementing catchment interventions. This had benefits for water quality,flood reduction through catchment methods, as well as improved partnership working and joined up delivery. Plus, a saving of approx. £13m of capital efficiencies! This really showed how data can be used to inform policy and encourage action.

The next talk was about Natural Capital Data Cycling under the ELMS Trial, from Jenny Phelps (FWAG SW). This looked at how land is managed, and how we can advise and help assess land management to benefit ecosystem functions. This trial aims to bring farmers together and encourage them to help develop practices to benefit ecosystem services, and contribute to local nature recovery strategies. A set of steps are in place to encourage this partnership scheme, including initial advice and guidance, innovative mechanisms, spatial prioritisation, collaboration and resultant payments.

Continuing the Natural Capital theme, Rachel Lenane (Environment Agency) presented the Natural Capital Register and Account Tool. This will help start new conversations about the value of natural assets and local economy, and aims to help establish a baseline for values and assets. This tool supports the management of environmental risks, and should include qualitative and quantitative data.

   
The last presentation of this session was from Emily Carter (Stantec), who gave an overview of the EA’s Inventory and tool for cost effectiveness. This project aimed to collate evidence to estimate cost effectiveness of methods, and develop this information into a single, searchable, accessible tool. This therefore encourages integration and planning across different initiatives. Information needs to be cross comparable and easy to interrogate.

The user data entry interface is hosted on Survey123 form, which is an easy form to input data using text boxes, tick boxes and drop down options. This data can then be interrogated using ArcGIS online, to compare the interventions, and carry out analysis.

Following a live discussion session and a chance to chat with the mornings presenters, we had a lunch break before returning for more informative talks in the afternoon session. The first session of the afternoon was an update on various Environment Agency projects.

 

Lightning talks 3: Environment Agency updates on monitoring

Kicking off the afternoon session was Ben Bunting (Environment Agency), with an update on monitoring and how to progress following the Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown this year. Ben stated how Coronavirus has had an impact on all our lives, and the Agency has been working to overcome professional challenges and monitoring challenges. Similar to most of us, field and lab activity had to pause due to the pandemic. Restarting post-lockdown, the urgent monitoring needs are starting to resume, relating to drought, ecology and bathing water quality. Capacity in labs is still limited, but they are working towards making the right choices to continue to monitor in the field.

Rich Walmsley (Environment Agency) then provided an overview of the River Surveillance Network. This is part of a wider monitoring strategy looking at a targeted risk based approach to support decisions; and monitoring rivers to see how they change, and if conditions get better or worse. The data is used to see if changes are spatially clustered or spread across the country, and determine the relationship between catchment characteristics such as land use and river ecology.

Finally, James Finigan (Environment Agency) gave a presentation on the Sentinel EDM (Evidence Decision Making). This involves the interpretation, assessment and output of data regarding the state of, and changes to, the environment. It will also determine the causes of any changes in natural trends, and why these changes happened. Sentinel is a new way to join up evidence, using a front end interface for users. Behind this is a logical architecture that will link different evidence together. This is not just a library catalogue of data, but it will use our understanding of how evidence in the environment links together, to aid decision making. This is a whole environmental systems approach, and is essential for avoiding managing the environment in silos. This will help reduced knowledge gaps and uncertainty, through including social and economic evidence to help our understanding.

 

Lightning talks 4: Monitoring & Citizen Science

The next set of lightning talks demonstrated Citizen Science in action. Marie Taylor (Dales to Vales Catchment Partnership) started the session by outlining the iWarfe Project. This is a large scale citizen science monitoring programme, looking to monitoring 104km of the River Wharfe. This programme has grown out of the work of other groups, such as the Ilkley Clean River Group, and Dales to Vale Rivers Network (DVRN). The Ilkley group was set up as a community group raised concerns on the amount of sewage in the channel, and wanted to improve water quality for bathing water quality. DVRN was another programme partnering with the community to develop a strong working partnership to move forwards.

 

The project aims to test the whole river, which has been split into manageable sections for monitoring sample sites. Monitoring will look into faecal bacteria, nutrient levels, pH, alkalinity, DO and turbidity. The data will be tested in the lab, providing citizen scientists the opportunity to test new equipment. This will be the start of a data sharing platform, which has gained momentum in the last few months.

 

Next, Jayne Wilkinson (Becks to Bay Catchment Partnership) presented on Water Quality Monitoring in South Cumbria, and why they invested in a spectrophotometer. Jayne mentioned how the catchment was largely rural, and the water quality monitoring was not accurate enough. The Environment Agency data was less frequent, and tied to standard weekly timings when labs were open. Monitoring at standardised times meant spikes in pollutant might not be picked up by sampling. Instead, they developed their own monitoring programme, allowing them more flexibility. They could analyse their own samples, and were open to more flexible times of sampling, such as evenings and weekends, as well as looking into particular effects of water quality failure, such as slurry applications.

 

 

They invested in a spectrophotometer in order to carry out their own on site sampling. They largely focus on nitrates and phosphates. This allows them to establish catchment wide monitoring, and monitor a range of tributaries that might contribute to water pollution. For example including downstream of a caravan park and agricultural land. The monitoring was designed around weekends and evenings, and around fluctuation of tourists, in order to determine spikes in pollution data. The results show 2 tributaries have higher levels of phosphorous than the Environment Agency classification boundaries. This means they can set up more monitoring or on the ground investigations to target particular areas.

 

 

Cath Sefton (UKCEH) then gave an outline to intermittent and ephemeral streams: why and how we should keep monitoring when the flow stops. Cath mentioned how these stream are underrepresented, but can actually provide a biodiverse pattern of different characteristics and habitats. Cath presented an application ‘CrowdWater’ developed by the University of Zurich for a citizen science initiative across Europe. Data collected from the app show the fluctuations of water flow, rising in winter, falling in September, and rising again in December. Metrics have also been developed to determine the composition of channels, and the proportion of the river which is inundated, on a month by month basis. Cath suggested more data would be beneficial on rivers where flow stops either naturally or artificially.

 

 

Next was Tim Ferrero (Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust), presenting on the Shoresearch Citizen Science and Marine Champions Programme. This is an intertidal survey project involving citizen scientist. These are regular, free surveys with easy to follow methods. The aim of the survey is to identify habitats and species along the shoreline to build a picture of local diversity. This allows change and degradation to be highlighted over time, inform management and conservation, and raise public awareness of coastal diversity. The survey methods are standardised nationally, including a walkover survey for species identification. An optional 1day training course is available to teach shore ecology, survey methods and species ID skills.

Tim also mentioned the Secrets of the Solent project, which is a National Lottery Heritage funded project to showcase diversity and the importance of animals, plants and habitats. This raises awareness and increases participation in local communities, as well as behavioural change, and embedding public support for marine protected areas regionally.

 

The final talk of this session was from Thomas Myerscough (Wyre Waters Partnership). Thomas presented on the Wyre Estuary BioBlitz. This is a volunteer event which takes place over 24 hours to identify as many species as possible at a particular site, in order to understand the ecology of the site and engage with the public. So far the partnership have held 2 events (2015 and 2018), identifying species with partner organisations. These events also bring together local medical practices, to encourage engagement, health and wellbeing, and lifestyle choices. It gives the chance for local communities to become immersed in habitats and species surrounding them, whilst providing physical activity within nature, benefitting physical and mental health. The collected data is used to monitor changes to the habitats and species across a three year period.

 

Developing a Catchment Monitoring Cooperative

After a final short break, we had a presentation from the USA. Julie Vastine (Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring) and her colleagues gave a presentation on the Catchment Monitoring Cooperative for Chesapeake Bay. This partnership aims to integrate stakeholders with a range of expertise to encourage collaboration.

 

This programme looks into how they can best engage their volunteers in this long term data collection process. Their specific stewardship and engagement strategies consider what motivates a volunteer including helping contribute towards a cause you believe in; meet like-minded people; challenge yourself; develop new skills and experiences; protect the environment; learn about science; look after the local area. It can be useful to provide volunteers with a background to a project through workshops or seminars.

Julie also mentioned how for the Chesapeake Bay programme, they outlines what was expected of volunteers, as well as what volunteers can expect to gain. Volunteers were asked to carry out monthly sampling, record on data sheets, keep equipment safe, attend follow up meetings and stay in touch with the leaders. From this, they can expect to have continual contact with the leaders if they wish, engaging workshops to learn more, gain skills through using and maintaining equipment, chance to chat to other volunteers. This shows a need to build care and communications into a volunteer programme.

Emily Bialowas (Izaak Walton League of America) then mentioned how comradery is important, and some of these volunteer teams stay in contact for years. Over the years they can develop a sense of trust and community, and feel proud to support their local environment. If possible, let your volunteer network know where their data is going to be shared. This can improve their motivation to monitor if they are aware that their efforts are beneficial.

Finally, Liz Chudoba (Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay) outlined the unexpected outcomes from volunteer engagement. These can include education, personal behaviour or lifestyle changes, increased public engagement, community involvement, better communications and collaborations.

Following this very interesting presentation from across the pond, Michelle Walker (CaBA Technical Support Team) gave an update on the CaBA Catchment Monitoring Cooperative. She pointed out how the polling session from the 2019 Forum had provided suggestions to develop this cooperative. So far, they have opened a consultation (which is still open - monitoring.catchmentbasedapproach.org), established a working group to develop a strategy, and prioritised long term funding as a main focus. RRC is happy to be part of this cooperative, to support and encourage a collaborative, co-design approach and knowledge sharing process.

 

 

Finally there was chance for a couple of questions and discussion. Liz Chudoba mentioned the Hackathon ‘Hack the Bay’ https://hack-the-bay.devpost.com/, where there were different challenges set out to manipulate a dataset. The challenges looked into topics such as land use changes; modelling for climate change; and the relationship between water quality and socio-economic factors across the catchment. This was the first time the dataset was being looked at as a whole across the region, and in conjunction with state datasets. They hope to identify other areas that the dataset could be used, and determine the value added of having this extended network of data collected.

Alex Inman gave final reflections on the day, with a couple of final comments. Alex mentioned that there are so many tools available to measure and communicate things, and there are lots of people involved in developing these tools. Also, the use of data evidence is a process, and it’s about the journey not just the destination.

Thanks to the Rivers Trust and CaBA and all those involved with organising yet another successful online session. Looking forward to tuning into the sessions over the next couple of days

 

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