Territories of Rivers Action Plans (TRAP) is a three year project funded under the INTERREG IVC programme. It aims to develop policies and tools to ensure sustainable economic growth whilst ensuring good water quality, supporting the aims of the WFD.
Sheffield Catchment Science Centre have collected deculverting case studies from around the world, provided links to available sources/materials, and detailed environmental, social and economic objectives and results. People can add new sites and provide details to amend existing entries. This will improve the evidence, and also help RRC to update the national inventory of projects.
The Innovation Partnership for Water aimed at businesses and entrepreneurs includes a 35m euro fund to encourage the development of innovative and novel ideas for water supply and treatment.
A speech by Wetlands International CEO Jane Madgwick focused on some of the threats to river ecosystems and the growing importance of restoring rivers for a cleaner, safer and richer environment.
The Better Thames Network is a NERC funded project, administered by the University of Westminster, devised to support the Environment Agency and local stakeholders implement the Water Framework Directive targets for water quality in the Thames River Basin District. Its primary objective is to develop and support an interconnected community of scientists and stakeholders who can make a scientific contribution to, or have a role in, implementation of the Thames River Basin Management Plan.
Presenter Ellie Harrison visited a project on the River Wye where live willow has been planted to address bank erosion. Salix Technical Director David Holland talked on camera about the techniques suitability and application on the Wye.
The Government has today published the Water White Paper - Water for life which describes a vision for future water management in which the water sector is resilient, in which water companies are more efficient and customer focused, and in which importantly water is valued.
Please have a look at four new pages which have been added to the RRC website featuring content on the LIFE+ RESTORE project, Designated Rivers (resource), the National River Restoration Inventory (of projects) which we manage and PRAGMO - our new monitoring guidance.
A progress report for 2008-2011 for England shows that the Environment Agency by working with regional flood defence committees, local authorities, internal drainage boards and other partners, achieved and exceeded all of the government targets with the exception of one covering intertidal habitats. To read the document click on the link.
The Environment Agency has released a list of the 10 most improved rivers – the waterways that have shrugged off their industrial past to become havens for wildlife and people. The transformation of these rivers has been achieved thanks to thousands of habitat improvement projects, tighter regulation of polluting industries and work with farmers, businesses and water companies to reduce pollution and improve water quality.