Water for Wildlife

river

Excuse the pun, but the Water Framework Directive (WFD) isn’t as dry as it sounds. It differs from most other water directives in that its principal focus is on ecology, and in particular achieving ‘Good Ecological Status’ for all of our rivers, streams and lakes as well as ground water and associated ecosystems. In addition to freshwater habitats, the WFD also applies to estuaries and coastal waters (up to 1 mile out from low tide). Given its remit, it is clear that the WFD has monumental potential for our freshwater and coastal habitats and wildlife.

In order to meet its objective, England and Wales have been split into 11 manageable areas known as River Basin Districts (RBD), of which 3 exist in Wales, including the Western Wales, Severn, and Dee, the latter two incorporating parts of England also.

Each RBD established a panel of representatives from different sectors including water companies, angling, agriculture and conservation to identify the issues which threatened the ecological status of the water related habitats in their area. Such issues include diffuse pollution, alien species, acidification, pesticides and organic pollution to name just a few. In order to achieve the aims of the WFD, all of the identified issues need to be ameliorated.

Draft River Basin Management Plans have been produced by the Environment Agency for each of the RBDs, and identifies those waters which are currently falling short of meeting a ‘Good Ecological Status’ and establishes a series of measures to bring about significant change for the better, measures which are desperately needed.

The freshwater ecosystem is a fragile one, affected by numerous sources of pollution and exploitation. Therefore, reductions in current pollutants and their causes will help lead to cleaner waters, free from over-abstraction. This in turn, will provide freshwater habitats able to support a plethora of freshwater invertebrate species such as stoneflies (Plecoptera) and mayflies (Ephemeroptera). Freshwater invertebrates form the basis of most freshwater food chains, providing a food source of a whole host of higher organisms, including Fish, Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) and Daubenton’s Bat (Myotis daubentonii), a species which feeds on the surface of slow flowing rivers, lakes and ponds.

freshwater pearl musselFreshwater pearl mussel
Two of our rarest Welsh fauna can be found in freshwater and include the Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) and the White-clawed Crayfish (Austropotomobius pallipes), both of which are affected by a number of integrated factors to be addressed under the WFD.

Today the Freshwater Pearl Mussel is almost extinct in Wales, being found in isolated areas in Snowdonia and on the River Wye. Although living up to 120 years old, the early stages of their life-cycle are highly dependent on Salmon (Salmo salar). The Mussel’s parasitic larvae (Glochidia) attach themselves to the gills of Salmon, where they are transported upstream before releasing themselves to develop on the river bed. Therefore fewer Salmon in our rivers mean that fewer Freshwater Pearl Mussels are able to extend their distribution and are subsequently confined to relatively isolated locations. Further factors such as sedimentation, pesticides and acidification, which can actually dissolve part of the Mussel’s shell, are all contributing to the continued decline of the species in Wales.

White-clawed CrayfishWhite-clawed Crayfish
It is estimated that around a quarter of the global population of White-clawed Crayfish occur in the U.K. but are still decreasing at alarming rates. As well as being impacted by similar pollutants as Freshwater Pearl Mussels, White-clawed Crayfish are also under attack from the alien, non-native crayfish; the North American Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), which not only competes for food and habitat but also carries a disease causing fungus known as Crayfish Plague, which is detrimental to our only native crayfish species.

It is clear from just these two examples alone, that the WFD could have untold benefits for our freshwater and coastal ecosystems. However, as with many promising EC Directives and Legislations, the WFD is not without its flaws, lack of funding being one of them. Therefore if the WFD is to live up to its ambitious beginnings and drive forward ecological improvements in Wales, it is up to all of us to have our say and guide the WFD in a direction that will have maximum benefit to the freshwater and coastal ecosystems of Wales, which in turn support some of our rarest and most fragile habitats and species.

Each of the three RBDs are undergoing a public consultation period on the River Basin Management Plans, to insure that all threats, issues and measures have been rightfully identified. This is perhaps our last chance to make a difference to the WFD, which can only be achieved by responding to the consultation document, available at:

www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfd

or by contacting the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60

We are also consulting our members and interested parties on whether they agree with our thoughts on the Water Framework Directive, Click Here to take part in our survey

For further information on the WFD and the consultation document, please contact

Robert Jones Parry
WTSWW
The Nature Centre
Fountain Rd
Tondu
Bridgend CF32 0EH

Tel 01656 724100

Mobile 07989 478176

E Mail: r.parry@welshwildlife.org

 

River Basin Districts

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