Partners
The Environment Agency's Role
To regulate the activities that have the biggest effect on water quality in our rivers, primarily water companies, farmers and industry.
To set permitting rules of water companies (and others) and monitor and enforce these.
Conducting research, monitoring data and intelligence to target agricultural regulatory and enforcement activity.
Understand and track the quality of the river.
Work with farmers to drive better compliance including inadequate farm infrastructure, poor soil and nutrient management.
Managing flood risks through planning and infrastructure projects.
Preserving and enhancing natural habitats and biodiversity.
Work in partnership to protect and enhance water quality.
Collaborating with communities, businesses, and other stakeholders to address environmental challenges.
Promoting sustainable development practices and resource management. Acting as a statutory consultee for planning applications, providing advice on how a development may affect the environment.
Natural Resources Wales’ Role
To manage the environment in the most beneficial way, taking account of social, economic and environmental needs.
To regulate and to protect people and the environment by ensuring that businesses and individuals operate within the law when their actions impact on the environment. For water quality this means setting rules and regulating water companies, farmers, developers and industry.
As a statutory consultee for planning applications, providing advice on how a development may affect the environment. This includes possible damage to important habitats, wildlife, rivers and landscapes.
To gather evidence to develop our knowledge of the environment in Wales, in conjunction with a wide range of partners. This includes running sampling and monitoring programmes.
Advise the Welsh Government, to industry and to the wider public and voluntary sector - advising on how new policies, legislation, developments and their day-to-day work affects the environment.
Catchment Sensitive Farming
CSF advisers (CSFA) are locally based with an understanding of the challenges farmers face. They will work with farmers to take the latest advice and tailor it to best benefit their business.
CSF provides locally informed, confidential, on-farm advice to help farmers make decisions on:
soil management.
nutrient, slurry, and manure management.
ammonia emission reduction.
farm infrastructure and machinery set-up.
pesticide handling.
water resources and natural flood management.
local environmental priorities.
land management.
agricultural transition, including grants.
Citizen Science
The Wye Alliance is a collection of citizen scientist groups that follow aligned methodologies when collecting data within the catchment. They have a representative on the Wye Catchment Partnership, allowing them to work closely with partners and get involved in projects, collecting contributing data.
Find out more on our Citizen Science section.
Herefordshire Council
Herefordshire Council plays a significant role in the Wye catchment through various activities and initiatives aimed at managing and protecting the environment. They work collaboratively with various stakeholders on issues such as environmental planning, flood risk management, water quality monitoring and habitat restoration.
Herefordshire Council are the Local Planning Authority and have been working on a variety of projects to both improve water quality and enable economic growth. These include development of the Interim Phosphate Delivery Plan which includes the UK’s first phosphate calculator. The calculator enables developers to assess the amount of nutrients their proposed development will add to a watercourse and any mitigation options required.
Find out more: www.herefordshire.gov.uk(External link)
Herefordshire Rural Hub
Herefordshire Rural Hub exists to promote economic, social and environmental improvements in farming and rural businesses in Herefordshire.
They aim to help every farming and rural business in Herefordshire to:
develop their business and take advantage of business opportunities
stay fully informed of legislation/cross compliance changes and funding
take advantage of formal and informal training opportunities that will help them develop their business and improve their business skills by targeting younger ‘next generation’ farmers in particular
support exiting famers and those who want to diversify their businesses
work together to ensure the future of farm businesses and rurally based businesses, reduce isolation and support the rural community.
Find out more: www.herefordshireruralhub.co.uk(External link)
We recently worked to develop guidance leaflets for farmers on Farming Rules for Water - Link to leaflets:
https://engageenvironmentagency.uk.engagementhq.com/25695/widgets/72716/documents/44051
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust is part of The Wildlife Trust movement. There are 46 Wildlife Trusts across the whole of the UK, the Isle of Man and Alderney. The Wildlife Trusts are the largest UK voluntary organisation dedicated to conserving the whole range of the UK's habitats and species. In the Wye catchment the trust plays a significant role in conservation efforts, including habitat restoration, river conservation, wildlife monitoring and community engagement.
Find out more: www.herefordshirewt.org(External link)
Natural England
Natural England (NE) are the government’s adviser for the natural environment in England. Their purpose in the Wye catchment, and other areas across England, is the conservation and enhancement of natural habitats, biodiversity, and landscapes for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development. They are responsible for designating Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), such as the River Wye, and ensuring these are protected and managed appropriately.
Their role within the Wye catchment involves the following:
To monitor the condition of the River Wye and ensure habitat features are in a healthy state and being conserved by appropriate management.
To assess whether proposals to carry out operations within an SSSI have a positive or negative effect on the condition of a site.
Advise Herefordshire Council and Gloucestershire County Council on their Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Advice and approval for grants to delivery improvements for air and water quality through the joint Natural England/Environment Agency Catchment Sensitive Farming Programme, as well advice to farmers through Agri-environment agreement.
National Farmers Union (NFU)
The NFU represents more than 46,000 farming and growing businesses. Their purpose is to champion British agriculture and horticulture, to campaign for a stable and sustainable future for British farmers and to secure the best possible deal for their members.
They strive to protect and promote British farm life and give members a voice.
Find out more: www.nfuonline.com(External link)
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW)
DCWW are responsible for providing water and sewerage services in Wales and parts of England. DCWW abstract from the Wye and are permitted to discharge treated effluent into the river. They play an influential role in managing water resources and quality of water returned to the environment.
Find out how we work with DCWW on our ‘water regulation’ page.
Find out more: www.dwrcymru.com(External link)
The Wye and Usk Foundation
The Wye and Usk Foundation is a registered charity concerned with ecology and restoring the habitat, water quality and fisheries of the rivers Wye and Usk.
They are the largest rivers’ trust in England and Wales in terms of output and a leader in their field, developing new techniques and delivering improvements for the aquatic environment. They focus on three broad categories; Environment, Education and Economics.
Find out more: www.wyeuskfoundation.org(External link)
Wye Valley National Landscape
The Wye Valley National Landscape is one of 46 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They are nationally designated and protected landscapes cared for by locally accountable partnerships that promote and support effective long-term management to keep the area special. The Wye Valley National Landscape is the only designated AONB to straddle the border between England and Wales. The cross-border Wye Valley National Landscape Partnership(External link) is overseen by a Joint Advisory Committee (JAC)(External link) which brings together and advises residents and businesses, community groups, local authorities and other organisations to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the landscape.
Find out more: www.wyevalley-nl.org.uk(External link)
Partnerships in the Wye Catchment
As well as working with the above partners on projects, we are also involved in the following partnership groups, working together on catchment wide developments and initiatives.
The Wye Catchment Partnership
The Wye Catchment Partnership was formed in 2014. It brings together organisations, initiatives and individuals who have a shared interest in the Wye catchment. The collaboration of these partners delivers improvements in areas such as water quality, water quantity and wildlife.
Find out more: Wye Catchment Partnership(External link)
Farm Herefordshire
The Farm Herefordshire partnership is comprised of eleven organisations, overseen by an elected co-chairs and co-ordinator. The group supports farming in Herefordshire with the common purpose improving the health of the catchment through sustainable farming practices.
Find out more: About Farm Herefordshire(External link)
Nutrient Management Board
The Wye Nutrient Management Board is made up of various organisations, such as Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, Herefordshire Council and Powys Council. The board is the responsible body for ensuring the delivery of the Conservation Objectives for the River Wye.
Find out more: Browse meetings - Wye Catchment Nutrient Management Board - Herefordshire Council(External link)
Wye Navigation Advisory Committee (WyeNAC)
The WyeNAC was established by the EA under the Wye Navigation Order 2002. Its aim is to manage the waterway in a way that satisfies all interests whilst meeting our obligations. The WyeNAC has a vital role in assisting the EA in balancing these interests whilst protecting the unique nature of the river.
Find out more: Wye Navigation Advisory Committee (WyeNAC) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(External link)
Local Fisheries Group
In the Wye, the lead responsibility for the management of migratory salmonid stocks and fisheries sits with Natural Resource Wales (NRW). This was agreed through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between NRW and the EA. The EA lead on the management of migratory salmonid stocks and fisheries within the River Severn Estuary and River Severn catchment. However, this MoU does not affect the EA’s legal responsibilities for all fishery management matters in England.
NRW have nine Local Fishery Groups in Wales. The EA are organisational representatives and provide active support to NRW to facilitate the group. The purpose of these groups is:
To act as a communication link between representative fisheries interests and fishing bodies and individuals on fisheries management, enforcement and related issues.
To provide a forum for the exchange of fisheries management information.
To seek views and advice from group members about fisheries management and related issues.
To consider the ecological, biological and economic impact of emerging and new issues affecting our fisheries.
To raise awareness in the fisheries community and other interested parties regarding development of fisheries resources and sharing of good practice.
To facilitate partnership working.
Local Nature Partnership
Local Nature Partnerships bring together local organisations, businesses and people who want to improve their local natural environment.
Local Nature Recovery Strategy
England is widely considered to be one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Government has made legally binding commitments to end these declines and for nature to recover. Each local nature recovery strategy will agree priorities for nature recovery and propose actions in the locations where it would make a particular contribution to achieving those priorities.