Newcastle University The River Eden as an example of a UK National Demonstration Test Catchment Benskin, CMcWH., Bellaby, D., Barker, P., Burke, S., Cleasby, W., Deasy, C., Dugdale, L., Haygarth, P., Jonczyk, J., Jones, S., Kay, D., Lees, E., Mackay, E., Marsh, T., Ockenden, M., O'Donnell, G., Oughton, L., Owen, G., Pereira, G., Perks, M.T., Quinn, P., Quinton, J., Reaney, S., Smith, P., Snell, MA., Surridge, BWJ., Watson, N., Wilkinson, M.

What is the “DTC ”? “Catchment scale experiment to evaluate policy tools” “Evidence based evaluation of policy tools” ‘Observatory’ Policy Science 3 DTC catchments

(1) Produce evidence to test the hypothesis that it is possible to cost- effectively reduce the impact of agricultural diffuse pollution to water on ecological function, while maintaining food security, through the implementation of multiple on-farm measures (2) Develop a research platform to host collaborative research. (3) Develop a common vision for catchment management centred around local knowledge and understanding. Aims

The River Eden & Agriculture 2900 Farms Cattle Sheep 6000 staff 2300km 2

Pressures Erosion of river banks by livestock Intensive farming Flash flooding from hills and lowland drainage Abstraction, pollution and silting Climate change & increasing frequency of floods and droughts

Aim 1 : produce evidence……. Set up monitoring networks in 3 catchments km 2 ) Paired 2 km 2 sub-catchments within each 10km 2 (Control & Mitigation) Water quality & hydro-met data collected and telemetered at 10km 2 (Sub-station data downloaded by field team) Mitigation measures implemented Autumn 2012/Spring 2013 Monitoring continues until March 2014……& beyond pending extension

2 km2 sub-catchment outlets 10 km2 outlet of the main catchment & location of the Hach Lange equipment Paired sub-catchments in Pow Beck 10 km2 ….. Mitigation sub-catchment Control sub-catchment 10 km2 outlet

Hydro-met Weather stations ( AWS) & Tipping buckets

Hydro-met cont… (2) SonTek Argonaut-SW (Acoustic Doppler for measuring flow) (1)Van Essen Divers (pressure transducer for measuring level) Stream gauging ( for rating curves ) ……..old fashioned way & with the acoustic doppler continuous profiler (ADCP)

EquipmentMeasurement/purpose Hach Lange nutrient analyser (10km) TP and TRP (autoanalyser), Ammonium (probe), nitrate (probe) Analite (2 km)Turbidity YSI multi-parameter sonde (10 km) DO, pH, temperature, conductivity, blue green algae, chlorophyll a ISCO sampler (10 & 2 km) Automatic water sampler Meteor GSM boxTelemetery and data visualisation Water quality instruments……

Laboratory analysis : Nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, TN, TDN, Total P, ortho-P, suspended solids, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), chloride, sulphate, alkalinity, electrical conductivity, pH, silica, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, boron Faecal indicator organism (FIO) sampling: High and low flow events Summer and winter Laboratory analysis on storm & monthly spot samples Biological samples Borehole level & chemical analysis Non- telemetered data …….

Invertebrates x 3 p.a. Fish x 1 p.a. at one site Diatoms monthly Macrophytes x 1 p.a. Ecological status expressed using Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) biotic scoring method for bottom-dwelling (benthic) invertebrates and abundance of aquatic insects Biological Monitoring In parallel with spot samples, bio- film samples are being taken for biological analysis

Conceptual Approach to mitigation

Holistic mitigation plan for Morland catchment……… Local Knowledge Funds from schemes Researchers & tools CRF fund

Towcett Farm plan 1.Yard plans 2. Runoff from track 3. In-ditch feature at end of a land drain 4. Capture surface runoff & intercept a surface drain.

Identified by SURFACE WATER PLANS ( CSF) Farmer- eroding track material Fast pathway connecting to headwater of catchment.

Cross drains into ‘swales’

In-ditch feature

Summary EdenDTC is: – collecting data to evaluate policy tools..... – We are a platform... – We have used the data to understand how the catchment is functioning and which pathways to target. – Using experts, tools, advisors and land managers ( farmers), we have a ‘spatially targeted’ catchment plan. – The individual measures will be monitored at the local scale and also through the DTC platform equipment. ‘Raise our ambition’ in achieving WFD Be brave and try new things,...take the leap of faith with ‘no regret measures’