River basin planning

 Delivering the first river basin management plans

Interim reports describing progress in the implementation of the planned programme of measures for the first river basin management plans are now available.

These summary reports, for both the Scotland and Solway Tweed river basin districts, are based on information submitted to the Commission by SEPA and the Environment Agency. They outline the work currently underway to meet targets set to improve the water environment by 2015.

The measures consist of a combination of regulatory measures, individual initiatives and multi benefit delivery through partnership working.

It is recognised that improvement in condition may take time to manifest itself. The current condition of the water environment in relation to its target condition will be assessed and published at the end of 2013 in the ‘Current Condition and Challenges for the Future’ report.

Maintained momentum and action are required as we move towards the second cycle of river basin planning (2015-2021). In particular, increased effort and resource is required to progress measures needed to improve the physical characteristics of our water environments and work to tackle rural diffuse pollution.

Please get in touch if you would prefer a hard copy of the document by emailing:  rbmp@sepa.org.uk    

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Working together to protect and improve Scotland’s water environment: Getting involved in developing the second river basin management plan consultation

The first river basin management plans for Scotland have been approved, adopted and published. We are now in the process of developing the second river basin management plan which will be completed in 2015.  

We are currently seeking comments from public bodies involved in management of the water environment, together with land and water managers, and commercial users on the development of the second river basin management plan.

The consultation:

  • outlines the timetable and work programme for the development of the second river basin management plan in 2015;
  • highlights the opportunities and structures/groups in place to enable you to influence the development of the second plan;
  • provides you with the opportunity to let us know of any additional ways in which you would like to get involved in river basin planning;
  • sets out how we propose to develop a second plan that enables more efficient and integrated management.

You can access the consultations by clicking on the following links:

Please get in touch if you would prefer a hard copy of the document by emailing: rbmp@sepa.org.uk

The consultation closes on 28 February 2013. We look forward to receiving your response.

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Most of Scotland is within the Scotland river basin district, which is covered by the Scotland river basin management plan (“the Scotland RBMP”). Following its approval by the Scottish Ministers, SEPA adopted and published the Scotland RBMP on 22 December 2009.

In the south of Scotland, the major river catchments cross the border with England and are included in the Solway Tweed river basin district, which is covered by the Solway Tweed river basin management plan (“the Solway Tweed RBMP”). The Solway Tweed RBMP was adopted and published jointly by SEPA and the Environment Agency on 22 December 2009 too, following its approval by the Scottish Ministers and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Both plans and supporting documents, along with the environmental reports and statements produced in connection with strategic environmental assessment, are available for inspection free of charge at:

SEPA Corporate Office,
Erskine Court,
The Castle Business Park,
Stirling,
FK9 4TR.

You can view the documents between 09:00 and 17:00 Monday to Friday or by phoning 01786 457700. The Solway Tweed plan will also be available at SEPA’s Dumfries office; click here for contact details.

The development of river basin management planning represents a huge step forward in the way in which we safeguard and improve the quality of our water environment across Scotland and the Solway Tweed river basin districts.

These river basin management plans (RBMPs) ensure that public sector bodies, businesses and individuals work together to protect the water environment and address significant impacts by co-ordinating all aspects of water management for the next 6 years. The plans have been produced as one of the requirements of the European Union's Water Framework Directive and similar plans are being put in place across Europe. The plans will be reviewed and updated in 2015.

The plans are available here:

  Scotland river basin management plan Solway Tweed river basin management plan
Non technical summary

Summary of the Scotland Plan pdf link (4.6mb)

Overview of the Solway Tweed pdf link (3.6mb)
State of the water environment Chapter 1 pdf link (2.9mb)

Appendices pdf link (6.1mb)

Chapter 1 pdf link (1.4mb)

Appendices pdf link (691kb)

Environmental objectives Chapter 2 pdf link (5.8mb)

Appendices pdf link(696kb)

Chapter 2 pdf link (3.6mb)

Appendices A and B pdf link (489kb)

EA Appendix C pdf link (1.2mb)

Achieving the environmental objectives

Chapter 3 pdf link (2.4mb)

Appendix pdf link (93kb)

Chapter 3 pdf link (2.7mb)

Appendix pdf link (445kb)

Heavily modified and artificial water bodies

Chapter 4 pdf link (4.7mb)

Appendix pdf link (90kb)

Chapter 4 pdf link (2.4mb)

 

Protected areas Chapter 5 pdf link (4.3mb)

Appendices pdf link (167kb)

Chapter 5 pdf link (2.7mb)

Appendices pdf link (420kb)

Competent authorities Annex 1 pdf link (596kb) Annex 1 pdf link (1.1mb)
Consultation and engagement Annex 2 pdf link (191kb) Annex 2 pdf link (452kb)
Cost Recovery Annex 3 pdf link (112kb) Annex 3 pdf link (431kb)
Water body sheets
Interactive map application

Any questions or queries on the process can be sent to rbmp@sepa.org.uk

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

A Strategic Environmental Assessment to examine the significant environmental effects of implementing the RBMPs has been undertaken. The SEA was consulted upon in an “Environmental Report” that was published alongside the draft RBMPs in December 2008. This is available here. The SEA statement which sets out how the Environmental Report and any views expressed during the consultation have been taken into account is available below:

  Scotland river basin management plan Solway Tweed river basin management plan

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Scotland river basin district Strategic Environmental Assessment pdf link (563kb) Solway Tweed river basin district Strategic Environmental Assessment pdf link (827kb)

Habitats Regulations Appraisal and Appropriate Assessment

Areas in Scotland protected by law for their European nature conservation importance, known as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA), must be given special consideration by organisations making plans that are likely to have a significant effect on these sites. A statutory appraisal under the Habitats Regulations 1994 was undertaken for each RBMP. While the majority of measures being promoted by the RBMPs are likely to be overwhelmingly positive in their effects on SACs or SPAs, SEPA concluded that some measures in both Plans were likely to have a significant effect on such protected areas. SEPA, therefore, in consultation with Scottish Natural Heritage, undertook a more detailed assessment, known as an appropriate assessment, for each plan.

These appropriate assessments identified any measures in the plans that could have an adverse effect on the integrity of SACs or SPAs, and proposed mitigation of any adverse effects. This allowed SEPA to conclude that neither RBMP would have an adverse effect on the integrity of any SAC or SPA. For the Solway Tweed RBMP, a matching Habitats Regulations Appraisal was undertaken by the Environment Agency for the English area of the RBMP, which came to a similar conclusion to that for the Scottish part of the plan.

  Scotland river basin management plan Solway Tweed river basin management plan
Habitats Directive Regulations Scotland river basin district Appropriate Assessment pdf link (470kb)

Solway Tweed river basin district Appropriate Assessment pdf link (784kb)

Solway Tweed river basin district Habitats Regulation Appraisal pdf link (1.6mb)

Details of the draft plans, a summary of consultation responses and the changes made to the final plans, and other work SEPA has carried out to develop the plans, are available here.