New approach to improving the future health of waters in Tweed
Posted: Tuesday 31st March 2009
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Environment Agency have recently published information on the local water environment in a draft Area Management Plan for Tweed. Your views on the plan are now welcome as part of a six month consultation process. The Area Management Plan outlines the current condition of Tweed, the main pressures on it and outlines the types of actions required to address them.
Dr Chris Spray, SEPA's Director of Environmental Science, and chair of the Tweed Area Advisory Group said: "The waters of the Tweed catchment are an important environmental, economic and social asset and this plan aims to protect and improve this asset for generations to come. The Tweed Area Management Plan is being issued in conjunction with the first draft of the Solway Tweed River Basin Management Plan which provides a summary of the condition of the water environment in the river basin district using a new classification system being applied across Europe.
Commenting on the collaborative approach taken by SEPA and the Environment Agency to produce the plan, he added: "Effectively involving partners has been key to developing the draft plan and this is why we have worked closely with Tweed Forum who have been championing integrated catchment management locally for some years now. We are eager to ensure that as many people as possible are involved in achieving the goals set out. I would encourage you to get involved in the consultation process."
Bob Kay, Chairman of Tweed Forum said: "We have always worked very closely with SEPA and the Environment Agency but with this plan, and the legislation behind it, we are entering a new era in the coordinated and progressive improvement of this most precious resource."
The Area Management Plan for Tweed is available here. It contains information on issues such as diffuse pollution, invasive non-native species; the impacts of hard engineering on the water environment and aspects of water resource management. You can have your say before 22 June 2009.
In addition to the publication of the draft River Basin Management Plans and Area Management Plans, two consultations 'Scotland's Water: Future Directions' and 'Restoration of the Water Environment' were launched by Environment Minister Michael Russell, seeking views on further ways that we can make improvements over the long term in a proportionate and cost effective way. These can be viewed at www.scotland.gov.uk/publications/2009/01
