Summary of feedback from the Rivers Trust Autumn Seminar

Information sharing for the Catchment Based Approach

Drowning in data

The amount of data is mind-blowing!

I can’t keep up with it all

Overwhelmed by all the information

Our catchment is huge – where should I start?

How can we best present it and communicate it - examples of good practice please

Data package and RT support was extremely helpful

It’s great to have the data package but I haven’t opened it yet and don’t know what to do with it – ongoing support needed

Diversity - some want processed data some want raw

Modelling tools - SAGIS

A useful visual tool for convincing farmers – but no further support provided from EA past initial introduction to the tool

Numerous versions of SAGIS outputs out there – can be a cause for confusion!

Need to be able to challenge assumptions and limitations of models – need to understand what these are

More support and access to modelling tools e.g. need SAGIS runs for high and low flows

Monitoring & Classification Low confidence in the classification data and frustration

Good Ecological Status grossly overstated

A waterbody previously classified as poor now good based on one sample point – lots of local evidence to challenge this and show it is poor

I know of diatom data pushed aside because it shows a good waterbody is really failing

1st cycle classification was shocking. For CaBA we have thrown waterbody classification out of the window and gone with what people think locally instead as have no confidence in it

WFD classification is like taking a patient’s pulse through an overcoat. We are being asked to comment on whether the river is alive or dead based on a monthly sample, when we have lots of data and just get on with it

Monitoring & Classification Could ignore WFD classification but it has a direct impact on

prioritisation of funding

Local EA contacts have been supportive and we are looking at ways we can use our data and evidence to influence the classification and prioritisation of funding

EA have boxes to tick reporting to DEFRA and EU and that is where the issues are – doesn’t help improve catchments

We need to think longer term. How can we build a better evidence base to take back to Brussels to underline directives

Keep pressure on EA to avoid tick box exercise

Data Sharing We’re not at the stage of having much data of our own

to share yet

Need more support to collect our own local catchment evidence and build up our own understanding of the catchment

What tools and techniques have others used?

Academic institutions also need to get better at sharing data and research e.g. DTC Project

Where are the gaps – what knowledge/research is missing?

Data Sharing Evidence Sharing Platform is a great

development but how is EA going to constructively use the shared information?

Shared data guides action but it’s not currently linked to the budgetary decisions – missing link getting it into RBMP

Is the onus on EA or on the CaBA partnerships to develop mechanisms for feeding into the river basin plans? Yes, CaBA partnerships need to do it:

No point in creating a management plan if no-one will fund it

We need to collate the whole picture of what all the trusts/CaBA partnerships are achieving to gain national funding support

Currently there is no meeting in the middle between bottom-up and top-down approaches

Regional co-ordination could help

But caution - It’s not just about RBMP and WFD! Danger don’t focus solely on WFD

EA are not the only source of funding for catchment measures so CaBA doesn't have to fit everything to WFD

We shouldn’t be doing the EA’s job for them

They keep expecting us to do more and more for no extra resource – I can’t keep going

There are other funders and aspirations out there and CaBA should be about how everyone pulls together to deliver the plan

Diversity of solutions is important!

It’s not helpful to polarise in either extreme

Don’t force us into national protocols

We need to preserve the diversity of the Rivers Trust movement and CaBA partnerships

Diversity is our strength