Development of a high-level technical process and detailed participation strategy to support the implementation of Water Resources Management Strategies in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Phase 2: WRMS in Northern Ireland.
WFD33/Ph2
November 2004

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Background to the research: The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires the introduction of new regulatory regimes for abstraction and impoundment that are planned and managed at river basin and catchment levels. The agencies responsible for the administration of these new requirements (SEPA for Scotland, and EHS for Northern Ireland) wish to develop an approach for the catchment-based management of water resources that:

• ensures proper protection of the environment and secures the objectives of the WFD;
• delivers the equitable allocation of water resources between competing human and environmental needs;
• involves the public and stakeholders in adopting a consensus-building approach;
• supports the fair and effective regulation of abstraction and impoundments that reduces the regulatory burden and facilitates the achievement of environmental objectives; and
• has regard to the social and economic impact of regulatory decisions.

The approach involves the development of Water Resources Management Strategies (WRMS), which have been designed to be a key mechanism for the involvement of the public and stakeholders in the management of water resources.

Objectives of the research: The overall purpose of the project was to develop the framework for WRMS to include the specific requirements of water resource management, and to indicate the scale of public and stakeholder involvement at the various stages of assessment and management. The criteria were that the WRMS framework needs to:

• provide a consistent and effective approach to participatory water resources management;
• be applicable in the context of catchments in both Scotland and Northern Ireland;
• be flexible in handling a wide range of catchment scales and complexities;
• deliver efficient and equitable water allocation between competing needs;
• propose where appropriate consultative and participative opportunities should lie within the process.

Under Phase 1 of the project, the high-level technical process for WRMS and a detailed participation strategy were developed. Phase 1 has been reported separately.

The overall aims of Phase 2 of the project were to provide more detail on how the technical methodology could be applied in Northern Ireland, and to extend the brief consultation process to key stakeholders in Northern Ireland.

Key findings of the research:

This report contains the findings of Phase 2 of the project, that is, the application of the WRMS approach to Northern Ireland. The high-level technical process for WRMS is flexible enough to be just as applicable in Northern Ireland as it is in Scotland. The four main stages of the high-level technical process are as follows:

• Stage 1 Scoping: basic information and data about the catchment are collected; major data gaps and the key issues affecting water resources management are identified; and the collection of further data, or any extra studies, are initiated.
• Stage 2 Technical assessment: an assessment is made of the water resources of the catchment (both groundwater and surface water); and the catchment is given a water resource availability status, taking into account environmental and ecological needs.
• Stage 3 Strategy development and publication: a range of options is developed, and a preferred option selected, for achieving the target resource availability status, taking into account socio-economic factors, the equitable allocation of water resources and conflict resolution; the WRMS itself is developed and published.
• Stage 4 Implementation: the WRMS is implemented; the implementation is monitored and the success of the WRMS judged against suitable indicators; and the WRMS is reviewed if necessary.

Similarly, there can be a common participation strategy in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. Key aspects of the participation strategy are as follows:

• Stakeholders would fall into one of three categories: 1) Core stakeholders, likely to be affected significantly by the WRMS, and closely involved throughout the process; 2) Interested stakeholders, who want to receive and comment on documents, and have some influence on the process; and 3) Other stakeholders and the general public.
• For efficient and effective engagement with stakeholders, the bulk of the communication would be by email or internet (although allowances are made for those without internet access). A catchment website would be established as the main channel for information, the source of key documents, and as a forum for feedback.
• A wide variety of methods is included in the participation process, such as: email communication; an informative and interactive website; stakeholder workshops; key documents openly available; and one-to-one meetings with stakeholders.
• The whole WRMS process, including the opportunities for participation, has been summarised in a series of annotated flowcharts. The process is designed to ensure consistency between catchments, while allowing flexibility to complete parts of the process quickly if the issues are simple, or agreement is reached early.

Potential tools and methodologies for undertaking the assessment of water resources (under Stage 2 of the technical process) were reviewed. The ones chosen for review were: DHRAM, RAM Framework, Low Flows 2000, numerical groundwater models, SWALP, WEAP, Aquator, and TOPOG. Various approaches to the setting of flow thresholds in rivers were also reviewed briefly, particularly in relation to the impact of low-head hydro-power schemes.

Consultation, in the form of structured interviews, was undertaken with the following stakeholders: Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure; Rivers Agency; British Hydropower Association; WWF; Water Service; and the Ulster Angling Federation.

Recommendations for uptake: The focus of short-term efforts should be on the collection of data on direct anthropogenic impacts on water resources. Discussions should be held between relevant bodies on existing tools in Northern Ireland, and there should be a review of the work required to adapt Low Flows 2000 to Northern Ireland. Any improvements to the river gauging network should be tied in to the requirements of the chosen tool, the WFD, and future plans for abstraction licensing.

Key words: water resources management, catchment, equitable allocation, environment, participation, consultation, stakeholder, Water Framework Directive.

Copies of this report are available from the Foundation in electronic format on CDRom at £20.00 + VAT or hard copy at £25.00. less 20% to FWR members.

N.B. The report is available for download from the SNIFFER Website