Creating a better place – putting policy into action

Paul Smith

Environmental Projects Manager

15 September 2011

Summary of the talk

Why are we involved?

What do we know?

What needs to be done?

The future

The Environment Agency’s involvement

Champion for sustainable development

Responsible for the water environment.

Making space for water is key in providing ecosystem services.

Climate Change Adaptation

What do we know?75% of our water comes from groundwater

4162 billion litres water abstracted from environment

Effluent discharge - there are 607 sewage works discharging 13 billion litres treated effluent per day

The environment is important for

health and well being

How far have we come?

Otters, salmon and other wildlife are returning to our rivers.

Water quality has improved year on year for the last 20 years

Water companies have invested heavily through the National Environment Programme

Locally we’ve improved 45 kms of river habitat through physical restoration, and 4,700 hectares of SSSI are now in Improved Condition.

There’s much to do

Delivering the Water Framework Directive

Taking a catchment approach

Working with partners – The pilot project

MORPHPart of the Adur and Ouse pilot catchment

Integrated Catchment Management

Climate Change Adaptation

Trends for the UK are hotter, drier summers and warmer wetter winters, with more extreme events such as floods, drought and sea level rise.

By 2020 winter flows could increase by up to 10% for the more responsive catchments and summer flows could reduce by 5-10%).

By 2050 river flows during the summer and

autumn could decrease by 50 %.

Working with Natural England, RSPB, local stakeholders and communities

Medmerry Managed Realignment

AimsTo provide a sustainable flood risk solution

To create large scale intertidal habitat

To benefit local communities

Together Everyone Achieves More

Be clear about pressures and priorities based on evidence

Help people to value nature

Working in partnership – including the “unusual suspects”

Be different

Deliver more