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What is river basin management planning?
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River basin management planning is a strategic decision-making process that integrates the management of land and water within river basin districts (RBDs). There are three RBDs in Scotland (see maps):
- the Scotland RBD covering most of the country;
the Solway Tweed and Northumbria RBDs which are shared with England.
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires the production of a River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) for each River Basin District.
Under the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003, SEPA is responsible for leading and coordinating river basin planning in Scotland. Other responsible authorities have been identified and given responsibilities by the Scottish Executive.
Separate regulations require SEPA and the Environment Agency to work together to produce River Basin Management Plans for the Solway Tweed and Northumbria RBDs.
Use the links below to see maps of the three River Basin Districts and to view the relevant regulations.
The river basin management planning process aims to improve and support sound and sustainable water management to deliver the requirements of the Water Framework Directive. River basin management planning also tries to balance environmental, social and economic needs within the RBD.
The diagram below shows:
- the cyclical and iterative nature of river basin management planning;
- the key steps in the planning process;
- the requirement for stakeholder participation.
River basin planning in the Scotland River Basin District
SEPA published a River Basin Planning Strategy for the Scotland River Basin District in December 2005. This Strategy was developed following a public consultation in 2004 and stakeholder events held during 2003. A digest of responses to the consultation is available.
The Strategy presents actions to:
- establish effective and efficient administrative arrangements and working principles to support the production of the RBMP;
- provide opportunities for participation and consultation;
- integrate and coordinate the RBMP with other plans and planning.
River basin planning in the Solway Tweed River Basin District
Slightly different approaches will be taken in the Scotland River Basin District and the cross-border Solway Tweed River Basin District, though the basic principles are the same.
SEPA and the Environment Agency jointly published iver Basin Planning Framework for the Solway Tweed River Basin District in August 2006.
Follow the link for specific information on river basin planning in the Solway Tweed.
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What will be in a River Basin Management Plan?
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River Basin Management Plans are the output from each six-year cycle of the river basin planning process. The required contents of each RBMP are outlined in Annex VII of the Water Framework Directive. These include:
- identification of responsible authorities;
- characterisation of the RBD;
- monitoring networks;
- environmental objectives;
- a Programme of Measures for the RBD;
- identification of heavily modified and artificial water bodies;
- a Register of Protected Areas;
- summary of consultative and participative activities undertaken to support RBMP production and the outcome of these exercises.
Before the final RBMP for the first six-year cycle is published in 2009, preparatory consultation documents are required in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Click here to view the WFD timetable. Click here (33k pdf) to view a more detailed flow chart of the river basin management planning process.
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Who will be involved in river basin planning?
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Participation and levels of involvement in river basin management planning
The Scotland River Basin District has been split into eight sub-basin districts and the Solway Tweed River Basin District into two sub-basin districts.
For each of these sub-basin districts, there will be three main points where people and organisations can become involved in the river basin planning process:
- A National Advisory Group will involve key players from various organisations.
- Area Advisory Groups will involve the key stakeholders within a sub-basin district.
- The Area Advisory Group Forum will capture all those with an interest in river basin planning and involve the largest number of people.
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Click on the map or the links below for information on individual Area Advisory Groups.
The process will involve a wide range of partners at appropriate levels. Effective consultation, participation and provision of information will allow a range of stakeholders to work together to achieve agreed environmental objectives. The diagram below shows the tiered system of involvement.
Click here to be kept informed about river basin planning in your area.
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What pressures and impacts exist in Scotland?
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The Water Framework Directive required an environmental and economic analysis to be carried out for each River Basin District by December 2004. This analysis is referred to as river basin characterisation. A summary of the results was reported to the European Commission in March 2005. These reports present the most detailed descriptions ever produced on the pressures and impacts on the water environment in Scotland.
The main steps of characterisation are:
- identifying water bodies and their physical characteristics;
- identifying protected areas;
- assessing the pressures and impacts on rivers, lochs, estuaries, coasts, groundwaters and wetlands;
- identifying which water bodies are at risk of not achieving the Directive’s objectives;
- an economic analysis of water uses and users (presented in a companion report).
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Monitoring and classfication
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The Water Framework Directive requires SEPA and other responsible organisations in Scotland to develop new monitoring and classification systems by December 2006. These systems will cover all surface water and groundwater bodies, and be based on a new ecological classification system.
SEPA has little or no experience of measuring and evaluating several of the range of quality elements used in the new ecological classification system. Research is being carried out into how to analyse these elements.
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Guidance from the UK and Europe
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Guidance on river basin planning has been produced by a European Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) working group.
SEPA is part of the UK Technical Advisory Group (UKTAG) supporting the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. Through UKTAG, SEPA contributes to the development of guidance and support materials for use across the UK.
Legislative differences across the UK mean that river basin planning is likely to be delivered in different ways in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
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Early river basin planning work
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During 2001 and 2002 the Scottish Executive funded research to help inform river basin planning in Scotland. Consultants used available information to produce a ‘Shadow RBMP’ for SEPA's South West Area that met, as far as possible at the time, WFD requirements for a RBMP. The project was led by:
- a steering group chaired by the Scottish Executive with members from Scottish Executive departments, SEPA, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Forestry Commission and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities;
- an advisory group chaired by SEPA with members from the Scottish Executive, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Forestry Commission, relevant planning authorities, Scottish Water, the Association of District Salmon Fishery Boards and the Scottish Coastal Forum.
A Plan Preparation Report was produced to accompany the Shadow RBMP, which:
- outlined the process of production;
- identified positive and negative aspects of the work;
- made recommendations for future work.
