Update from Martin Quine, Environment Agency.

The Diffuse Water Pollution Plan (DWPP) Part 2, ‘List of Actions Needed to Achieve Favourable Condition’, was provided in Supplement 3.

Martin Quine explained that work was ongoing on the DWPP for the English Wye, led by the Environment Agency and jointly owned with Natural England.  It was noted that the document should be available in advance of the next board meeting. 

Attention was drawn to Table A, ‘Strategic priorities identified through the DWPP Options Appraisal process’, which identified priorities, rationale, and related actions (including matters relating to wider river health, tools in development, and elements requiring further investigation).  Reference was made to the ‘nutrient gap’, the difference between the outputs of the measures and mechanisms modelled and the target. 

The board was advised that a study on legacy phosphate was being peer reviewed and was likely to be released at the end of August 2025.

The principal points of the ensuing discussion included:

1.           Claire Minnett explained that Catchment Sensitive Farming advice was led by Natural England and reported on a new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme to incentivise land management practices, including options around river and floodplain habitat restoration.  An overview was provided of the work of Natural England advisers to engage with farmers, in conjunction with local bodies.

2.           A board member expressed concern that voluntary measures would be insufficient for certainty around phosphates and there was a need for additional measures to achieve catchment recovery.

3.           The Chairperson said that the DWPP would form the evidence base for the English Wye and work commissioned would provide the evidence base for the Welsh Wye, and these would be brought together to become a Nutrient Management Plan.

4.           Martin Quine commented that the DWPP consolidated and updated knowledge, and the suite of actions included regulatory, voluntary, and education measures.  It was noted that there were challenges around measuring outputs and that further research was needed.

5.           A board member questioned whether the identified measures were radical enough and commented on the need to lobby government for mandatory measures.  It was also commented that uncertainties around incentive schemes impacted on the levels of uptake by farmers.

6.           The Chairperson commented that it would be problematic if the DWPP was simply a statement of the nutrient gap; adding that landscape recovery schemes should be given due acknowledgement.  Martin Quine reported that the national team was aware of the gap, most DWPPs would be signed off by March 2026, and the next steps would need to include consideration of how to enable the delivery of currently unfunded measures.  It was also reported that the government had recently announced additional funding for agriculture regulation.

7.           A board member drew attention to the priority ‘Supply chain engagement and accountability’ and questioned how environmental standards and incentives would address water- and air-borne emissions, and the impacts of the transfer of poultry manure out of the catchment; adding that the list of actions did not include any references to reducing livestock production.  Martin Quine said that it was understood that advances in technological solutions, including pelletizing and sustainable storage of manure, were being explored by Avara.

8.           A board member drew attention to the River Wye Bare Ground Project, referenced in Table B, ‘Options Appraisal Actions’, and questioned how observations from citizen scientists and others about soil loss into rivers could be utilised.  Martin Quine said that relatively few reports of soil loss were received currently, but a new online reporting platform should help to improve the recording and triaging of incidents as they arose.  The Chairperson welcomed this work and suggested that it should be joined up with the relevant local authorities.  A board member suggested that it would be helpful if the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales could prepare a document about soil loss to aid understanding.

9.           The Voice of the River noted that the agencies were working hard but considered that the current legislative framework was not sufficient to ensure sustainable farming practices.