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

• 200000 + Cattle

• 1000000 + Sheep

• 6000 staff

• 2300km2

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 (@10 km2)• Paired 2 km2 sub-catchments within each 10km2

(Control & Mitigation)• Water quality & hydro-met data collected and

telemetered at 10km2 (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

http://www.edendtc.org.uk/2012/03/weather-stations/

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)

Equipment Measurement/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 greenalgae, chlorophyll a

ISCO sampler (10 & 2 km)

Automatic water sampler

Meteor GSM box Telemetery and data visualisation

Water quality instruments……

http://www.telemetry-data.com

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

SummaryEdenDTC 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’

http://www.edendtc.org.uk

Jennine.Jonczyk@ncl.ac.uk