Legal protection.

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) sets standards and targets to protect, improve and promote the sustainable use of water through a system of integrated water management.

Landowners with land adjoining a water course have responsibilities set out in Environment Agency guidance.

Living on the Edge’

Water courses are also protected by inclusion in designated sites.

Certain species are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Links for further information:

Don Catchment Rivers Trust

Freshwater Habitats Trust

Freshwater invertebrates - Buglife

Quality of rivers and streams

Over past years, the quality of both the rivers Don and Dearne have improved due to legislation and work by the Environment Agency.

Currently assessment by the Environment Agency reports the ecological quality of the majority of streams and rivers in Barnsley as moderate.

One water course (Carlton Dike) has been identified as having previously bad ecological quality and work has been taking place to bring it to moderate quality.

River Dove is assessed as poor as is Thurnscoe Dike

The significant issues include the impact of water company discharges, run off from brown field land and agricultural land and physical modifications. Environment Agency information

Conservation

Although the water quality and conditions of our rivers and streams has improved due to legislation, changes in industrial practice, direct conservation action and public awareness raising, more can be done.

Factors causing loss or decline of priority habitat

• River channel modification, causing siltation and damage to the river bed; excessive abstraction resulting in reduced flows
• Impact of water runoff from upland moors causing flooding and consequential bank erosion, silting and damage to ecosystem
• Land drainage, flood defence works and development close to the river corridor not taking account of ecological issues
• Overgrazing along river banks and reduction in bank-side vegetation damaging the habitat for wildlife as well as causing erosion.
• Conifer planting may create ‘dead’ areas in streams due to loss of light
• Reduced water quality, changes in acidity and excess nutrients from agricultural runoff, industrial discharges and other pollution.
• Structures within the river and its banks, such as weirs, hindering movement of fish and other species.
• Biological stress caused by over stocking with fish or by non-native invasive species such as Signal Crayfish.

Positive conservation management

Rivers, streams and running water are best sustained for wildlife by:

• Maintaining and restoring natural habitat features including river beds
• Retaining and improving bank side cover, fenced off from grazing.
• Maintaining water flow, preventing siltation, promoting aeration
• Taking steps to moderate the impact of extreme weather, damaging flooding and droughts in river catchments
• Improving connectivity with the flood plain
• Preventing farm nutrient and other runoff, having buffer zones
• Enabling fish migration, removing barriers or installing fish passes
• Controlling invasive species in the water course and on the bank.

 Running Water Conservation