An assessment of the impact of an Industrial Estate on the Ecological Integrity of the River Mease

Descriptions

Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are collectively known as Natura 2000 sites and are protected under European legislation for their important wildlife and habitats. In England there are 337 Natura 2000 sites covering 2,077,276 hectares. Many river SSSI/SAC are unfavourable due to water quality, in particular Orthophosphate. It is recognised that diffuse pollution, along with point source pollution are the major contributors to excessive loading of orthophosphates. Natural England's SSSI remedies programme includes catchment sensitive farming and agri environment schemes as mechanisms for achieving favourable condition. Our objective for 'Favourable Condition' in SSSI's/SAC's designated for river habitat, including water quality targets has been set out in Common Standards agreed by the UK conservation agencies. They apply equally to SAC and SSSI designations and relate to the availability of the river (as a representative of its type) to provide favourable habitat conditions for the characteristic biological community, rather than conditions which might favour a particular species. Water and sediment quality has a fundamental effect on the physical habitat, species and ecosystem within the river. Natural England recognises the need to provide a robust evidence base of the impact of heavy metals and road salts, generated from an industrial estate at Measham, are having on the ecological integrity of the River Mease in order to meet favourable condition and WFD targets for SAC Rivers. Previous data collected by Plymouth University and APEM, through a highways survey indicated runoff issues associated with heavy metals and demonstrated contamination to river bed substrate that is in excess of guidelines for risk to aquatic life. At road crossing nodes throughout the catchment, elevated copper, zinc and lead concentrations were observed in stream sediments.