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Upstream Thinking Spatial data and analysis in the improvement of aquatic ecosystem health and downstream water quality
The Tamar Catchment
1,800km2 and 300,000+ people
It provide us with.
food and materials
energy / fuel
drinking water
It regulates.
climate gases
flooding & drought
It also gives us areas for.
culture
recreation
habitat for wildlife
A catchment provides many
Ecosystem Services
Many pressures act to reduce ecosystem health
Contribution of pollution from diffuse sources in the catchment
Nutrients
Phosphorus compounds Nitrates/Nitrites Ammonia compounds Physico-chemistry
Dissolved oxygen Colour Turbidity / suspended solids Smell & taste
Microbiology
Faecal indicator organisms (FIO) Other bacteria Cryptosporidium spp. Algae Pesticides
Acid herbicides Neutral herbicides Insecticides
Many pressures act to reduce ecosystem health
Reduced ecosystem health impairs service provision
Heavily exploited ecosystem Natural ecosystem
Provisioning services Regulating services
Cultural services
Crops
Meat
Timber
Spaces for Wildlife
Recreation
Pest control
Water regulation Water purification
What services are we currently getting?
A participatory stakeholder-led approach
What services do we get?
Are we getting enough?
What areas effect provision?
What can we do to provision?
Where should they be targeted?
How is it funded?
What are the outcomes?
Are the new sources of funding?
Developing a shared vision & a shared language
- Habitat creation
- Landuse change
- Farm infrastructure
- Best practice advice
- Stewardship
- Water Company
- Biodiversity offsetting
- Flood Risk
- Research findings
- Spatial data
- Monitoring
- Reports & plans
Ecosystem services: Water regulation & quality
The water cycle is one of the fundamental processes we all depend on
Water regulation is dependent on -
Direction of water movement: laterally or vertically
Rate of water movement / timing of release
Interactions with contaminants
Some land areas play a role in water regulation and water quality
- Innate characteristics
- Condition/health
Ecosystem services: Water regulation & purification
3
4
3
6 9
6 2
2 1
INHERENT RISK
PR
AC
TIC
E
Source
Receptor
We want to understand why water quality is (or is not) degraded in certain locations
+++ Importance/opportunity
Ecosystem services: Water regulation & purification
Seasonally wet gley
3
4
3
6 9
6 2
2 1
INHERENT RISK
PR
AC
TIC
E
Identifying areas of high importance/risk to water regulation
- Soil type & condition/practices
Free-draining brown earth
Gley with impeded drainage
Natural habitat
Cultivated land
3
4
3
6 9
6 2
2 1
INHERENT RISK
PR
AC
TIC
E
Permanent pasture
Ecosystem services: Water regulation & purification
Identifying areas of high importance/risk to water regulation
- Landuse & practice (intensity of use)
Direct connection to watercourse
Steeply sloping
3
4
3
6 9
6 2
2 1
INHERENT RISK
PR
AC
TIC
E
Hydrologically connected
Ecosystem services: Water regulation & purification
Identifying areas of high importance/risk to water regulation
- Location, topography & hydrological connectivity
Water Quality
Soil hydrology & condition
Run-off risk
Leaching risk
Topography (i.e. slope)
Hydrological connectivity
Proximity to watercourse
Flood plain
Surface & sub-surface flow accumulation
Land cover
Natural habitats (wetland, woodland or peatland)
Farmed land (tillage or permanent grass)
The group identified land most likely to have an impact on water quality:
Case study: South West Waters Crownhill WTWs
For SWW: Water Supply + Pollution = Risk + Cost
Crownhill WTWs
60 Ml/day
80,000 households in Plymouth & South Hams
3 raw water sources
- Burrator Reservoir
- Tamar at Gunnislake
- Tavy at Lopwell Dam
Crownhill WTWs
60 Ml/day
80,000 households in Plymouth & South Hams
3 raw water sources
- Burrator Reservoir
- Tamar at Gunnislake
- Tavy at Lopwell Dam
SWW change the raw water sources for Crownhill WTWs according to various pressures
Where is the ecosystem service derived?
BUT
changing the source can have a significant impact on the treatment process
RISK
COSTS
Challenges at the water treatment works
Challenges at the water treatment works
Increased treatment cost = Pumping + Purification
Using river sources increases the cost of treatment
Challenges at the water treatment works
Suspended sediment & turbidity
We need determine the scale of the problems and where they are derived from in the catchment
if we dont know this, how can we possibly estimate the potential for enhanced ecosystem service (clean raw water) delivery?
Sources of pollution in the catchment
Suspended sediment & turbidity
Sources of pollution in the catchment
Suspended sediment & turbidity
Sources of pollution in the catchment
Suspended sediment & turbidity
Sources of pollution in the catchment
Suspended sediment & turbidity
Sources of pollution in the catchment
Suspended sediment & turbidity
River walkover surveys (APEM 2010)
Suspended sediment & turbidity
653 pollutions found.
Sources of pollution in the catchment
The sediment run-off risk model helps us to quantify the scale of the
problem & target high risk areas
Challenges at the water treatment works (WTWs)
Nutrients: Phosphorus
Sources of pollution in the catchment
Nutrients: Phosphorus
Morse et al., (1993)
Sources of pollution in the catchment
Nutrients: Phosphorus
Sources of pollution in the catchment
Nutrients: Phosphorus
P point
sources
PSYCHIC (ADAS, 2004)
Sources of pollution in the catchment
Nutrients: Phosphorus
P livestock sources
P Total
PSYCHIC (ADAS, 2004)
Sources of pollution in the catchment
Nutrients: Phosphorus
Total P
A well established toolbox of measures to reduce rural diffuse pollution
Improving water quality toolbox of measures
A well established toolbox of measures to reduce rural diffuse pollution
Improving water quality toolbox of measures
Improving water quality toolbox of measures
A well established toolbox of measures to reduce rural diffuse pollution
Improving water quality toolbox of measures
A well established toolbox of measures to reduce rural diffuse pollution
*
Assessing the prospects for improvement
ECM+ for predicting phosphorus export
Scenario 2: 100% uptake of BFPs on Caudworthy
Scenario 1: Current situation
*
Scenario 2: 100% uptake of BFPs on Caudworthy
Scenario 1: Current situation
Scenario 3: 100% uptake of BFPs on entire Tamar
Assessing the prospects for improvement
ECM+ for predicting phosphorus export
It provide us with.
food and materials
energy / fuel
drinking water
It regulates.
climate gases
flooding & drought
It also gives us areas for.
culture
recreation
habitat for wildlife
A catchment provides many
Ecosystem Services
Flooding Drought
Spaces for wildlife Carbon sequestration
Land value Recreational resources
Bringing it all together
We now have a shared understanding of what outcomes will come from a better catchment, who will benefit and importantly who might pay
Ecosystem Sustainability Meter
Ecosystem Sustainability Meter