Lead Agencies: Public Sector Environment
Agency
Voluntary Sector RSPB
1 INTRODUCTION
Standing open water bodies encompass a wide
range of types and sizes, ranging from ponds as small as 1m2, lakes
and gravel pits larger than 2 hectares and canals that can be several
kilometres in length.
Classification of these waters is based upon
their nutrient status. All open standing waters in Northamptonshire are
considered to be eutrophic (nutrient rich) and are characterised by having high
plant productivity with anaerobic and organically rich mud beds.
The variety of open standing waters support a
rich and diverse flora and fauna with some species relying on these habitats
for their entire lifecycle.
2 CURRENT STATUS
Habitats included in this plan:
Lakes and
gravel pits
Reservoirs
Canals
Ponds
Associated Plans:
Rivers and
streams
Springs and
flushes
Wet and marshy
grassland
Reedbeds and
swamps
2.1
Definitions
2.1.1
Lakes and gravel pits
2.1.1.1 Gravel Pits
The Nene Valley, particularly between Northampton and Thrapston, is
characterised by the large number of gravel pits. Whilst the area is still
being worked for aggregates, many of the disused gravel pits have been restored
to form important nature conservation habitats. Gravel pits can be deep, steep
sided excavations up to several thousand square metres in surface area. The
steep sides provide narrow margins and limit the growth of marginal vegetation,
although surrounding land can support scrub, willow carr and rough grassland
habitats. Those pits that have wider marginal zones with associated shallows
and islands tend to be of greater nature conservation value as they support a
diverse marginal and aquatic flora and invertebrate fauna. Their major
importance, however, is the number of breeding and over-wintering waders and
wildfowl that they support.
Situated
adjacent to the River Nene, this site covers 103.5ha and comprises a major part
of a larger gravel pit complex. The site is primarily designated for its
variety and numbers of breeding birds, especially waterfowl and waders. These
include Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Shoveler and Redshank. The site also
holds nationally significant numbers of wintering Gadwall.
2.1.1.2 Lakes
Large bodies of standing water either formed
naturally or man-made for amenity purposes. Water levels tend not to fluctuate
to any great extent and gently shelving margins support a wide variety of flora
and associated fauna. Lakes also serve an important aesthetic role and within
the context of designed parkland landscapes are important heritage assets.
2.1.2
Reservoirs
Reservoirs are man-made bodies of open water
serving as public water supply sources, as winter storage for crop irrigation
or as flood storage facilities in association with river corridors. Water
supply reservoirs have developed into important nature conservation assets. The
major difference between these water bodies and lakes or other areas of open
standing water, is the phenomenon of “draw-down”. This occurs when abstraction
from the reservoir exceeds recharge from feeder streams and rivers, typically
in summer, causing a lowering of the water level. Drawdown exposes large areas
of mud which are quickly colonised by ruderal species, some of which are rare
or unusual such as golden dock or marsh cudweed. These species tend to produce
large volumes of seed which, once set, are valuable as food for breeding and
over-wintering wildfowl.
Pitsford Reservoir is the largest water body in
Northamptonshire at 409ha. It is noted, amongst others, for its populations of
Shoveler, Gadwall, Pochard, Teal, Tufted Duck, Kingfisher, Great-crested and
Little Grebes. Seventeen species of dragonfly have been recorded on the site,
as well as Great Crested Newts and Otters.
Winter storage reservoirs are small, man-made
reservoirs; normally clay-lined, steep sided pits. They are filled from rivers
during the winter to provide irrigation for crops during spring and summer.
They provide little wildlife habitat other than roosts for gulls and wildfowl.
Flood storage reservoirs can be in line with,
or adjacent to, major watercourses. They are designed to store excess water
during periods of high river flows. Large open grassed areas that usually have
some residual wet areas when they are not in use, these areas are of particular
importance for waders.
Example Three: Northampton Washlands. Grid Ref: SP 785600
This site
covers approximately 150ha adjacent to the River Nene south of Northampton. The
site supports internationally important numbers of Golden Plover during the
winter.
2.1.3
Canals
Although water flows through canals via locks
and sluices, the movement is so small in comparison with the total volume of
the system that they can be construed as standing water. The bulk of canals
were constructed in the late 18th and early 19th
centuries for commercial carriage of cargoes. The advent of the railways saw
the gradual abandonment of the canals, so that today few remain as commercial
navigations, although an extensive network is maintained for recreational
navigation. The rest have fallen redundant, some of which have developed as
important wildlife habitats.
Although canals can be viewed as elongated
ponds, their boundaries usually also include a towpath and hedge on at least
one side of the bank. As well as supporting diverse flora, these corridors are used
by a wide variety of fauna such as otters, water voles, birds, bats and
invertebrates such as dragonflies. The degree to which the ecological value is
able to develop is dependent upon the level of disturbance by boats and other
recreational uses.
2.1.4
Ponds
Ponds are defined as small water bodies between
1m2 and 2ha (a water body larger than 2ha. is termed a lake) that
hold water for more than four months in a year. Ponds can be formed naturally
in depressions created by glacial activity, natural subsidence or river
activity. They can also be man-made, in gardens and village greens, or be
created by landowners for fishing, shooting, livestock watering, aesthetic or
amenity purposes.
2.2National Status
Water bodies are of great importance to
wildlife. Around 3,500 of the UK’s invertebrate species live in freshwater and
up to half of these occur in ponds. Over two thirds of Red Data Book
invertebrates occur in ponds, as do 300 species of vascular plants, including
half the UK’s wetland plants. Larger water bodies are of particular importance
for bird life. Water bodies are commonly fringed by other important wetland
habitats such as reedbed, fen, marshy grassland and wet woodland or carr, which
are covered in other action plans.
2.3Local Status
In Northamptonshire most of the water bodies
are man-made, the majority being the disused gravel pits along the Nene valley.
The other large water bodies are the 13 reservoirs in the county including,
Pitsford, Sywell, Ravensthorpe and Hollowell.
123 County Wildlife Sites are listed that
include at least one pond on site. 57 lakes and 44 disused gravel pits are also
listed as County Wildlife Sites. The Grand Union, Oxford and Weedon Depot
canals have between them 17 County Wildlife Site Designations.
3
CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES
3.1National Priority Species
3.2Local Priorities
Greater Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), Lesser Water Plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides) and Greater duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza).
See Appendix 1 Rivers and
Wetlands Priority Species for full lists
·
Lack of management leading to gradual loss of
open water through siltation, build up of dead plant material and expansion of
marginal vegetation.
·
Nutrient enrichment (eutrophication), resulting
from agricultural runoff and leaching.
·
Pollution from a range of sources. In urban
areas run-off from hard standing can include oil, spilt fuel etc, whilst in
rural areas leaching, run-off or spillages of pesticides, herbicides and
fertilizers pose a threat to aquatic communities.
·
Introduction of fish and removal of predators
can lead to the loss of natural fish populations and have an effect on plant
and invertebrate communities. In particular, heavy stocking of bottom feeders
such as Carp can increase turbidity and accelerate the release of nutrients
from sediments.
·
The release of non-native species can have an
adverse effect on indigenous flora and fauna. For example, the introduction of
non-native crayfish has introduced a crayfish “plague” to which native
White-clawed crayfish are highly susceptible.
·
Unsustainable water abstraction can reduce
water levels in open water bodies.
·
Direct loss of ponds to development,
agriculture or infilling either with waste or because they are perceived to be
dangerous to the public.
·
Over zealous management, particularly of ponds,
can result in the loss of fringe habitats and marginal zones.
·
Inappropriate recreational use of water-bodies
can result in disturbance to breeding or roosting birds.
·
The most significant reservoirs, lakes and
gravel pits have been notified as SSSIs. These are concentrated in the Nene
Valley, specifically Pitsford Reservoir and Higham Ferrers gravel pits.
·
Over 100 lakes and gravel pits have been
designated as County Wildlife Sites and a similar number of pond sites have
also been designated. Ownership of these sites is diverse. Pitsford Reservoir,
for example, is managed by agreement between the Wildlife Trust and Anglian
Water and similar agreements exist between aggregate companies and the Wildlife
Trust and the County Council for the management of some of the gravel pit
County Wildlife Sites.
·
In addition to these designations, the RSPB is
currently lobbying to have part of the Nene Valley designated a Special
Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive on account of its internationally
important populations of Golden Plover, Gadwall and Shoveler.
·
The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
is currently running a national pond campaign. Their work includes training
volunteers to survey and manage ponds for nature conservation.
6. OPEN STANDING WATER OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS
|
|
OBJECTIVE
|
ACTION |
LEAD AGENCY |
PARTNERS |
TARGET
|
|
|
6.1 |
Policy and Legislation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Objective One: Maintain and enhance water quality throughout
Northamptonshire |
Set appropriate water quality standards,
monitor and enforce |
Environment Agency |
Anglian Water |
All waters to have “good” ecological quality
by 2016 |
|
|
|
Objective Two: Ensure that BAP species and their habitats
are given an appropriate level of protection in local plans |
Include habitat and species protection
policies in local plans and/or supplementary guidance |
Local Authorities |
Wildlife Trust, English Nature, Environment
Agency |
By 2003 |
|
|
6.2 |
Site Safeguard and Management |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Objective Three: Ensure sites are appropriately protected |
Identify priority non-designated sites for
elevation to County Wildlife Site, SSSI or SPA status |
English Nature |
Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency, Local
Authorities |
All suitable sites protected by 2004 |
|
|
|
Objective Four: Ensure that key open standing water habitats
are maintained and enhanced in terms of the site’s primary interest and
variety of other habitats |
Identify all key, and best representative,
open standing water habitat types. Produce and adopt management plans in
conjunction with landowners. Measure management success against key criteria |
Wildlife Trust |
Environment Agency, English Nature, Local
Authorities, Anglian Water, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, BTCV |
Management plans in place by 2006 |
|
|
|
Objective Five: Restoration of water-bodies lost as a result
of development. The nature conservation value of water-bodies should not be
diminished as a result of development |
Produce, adopt and apply supplementary
planning guidance. Ensure developers are made aware of the importance of
ponds. Discuss protection, mitigation and conservation of ponds on
development sites prior to submission of planning applications |
Local Authorities |
English Nature, Wildlife Trust, Environment
Agency |
Guidance and strategy in place by 2003 |
|
|
|
Objective Six: Landowners, community groups, schools and
local authorities should be encouraged to create new ponds where appropriate |
Promote BTCV’s national pond campaign;
encourage, and secure funding for, the excavation or restoration of ponds |
BTCV |
Wildlife Trust, English Nature, Anglian
Water, Local Authorities |
1 new pond per parish by 2006. |
|
|
6.3 |
Research and Monitoring |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Objective Seven: Gain a good understanding of extent, status
and distribution of all open water-bodies in Northamptonshire |
Collate and interpret current data. Identify
gaps in current knowledge and commission surveys as appropriate |
Wildlife Trust |
Environment Agency, RSPB, English Nature |
Targeted programme of surveys to begin by
2003. |
|
|
|
Objective Eight: Develop local community action initiatives to
record local ponds and pond life |
Promote BTCV's national pond campaign.
Recruit local pond wardens |
BTCV |
Local Authorities |
10 pond wardens recruited by 2005 |
|
|
6.4 |
Advisory
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Objective Nine: Ensure that advice and information is readily
available for anyone interested in the conservation of open water-bodies |
Produce and publicise and widely distribute
literature / information |
Environment Agency |
BAP Partners |
Collaborative literature available by 2002 |
|
|
6.5 |
Communication and Publicity
|
|||||
|
|
Objective Ten: Ensure opportunities are taken to raise
awareness of the importance of open water bodies for nature conservation,
amenity and aesthetic value |
Produce and promote literature, attend and
support local shows to encourage the conservation and sensitive management of
open standing waters |
Wildlife Trust. |
BAP Partners |
Collaborative advisory strategy in place by
2003. |
|
|
|
Objective Eleven: Publicise the progress made in delivering
this Action Plan in a BAP Annual Report |
|
|
BAP Partners |
Annual |
|