A key Parliamentary meeting on water policy today chaired by Mid Sussex MP, Nicholas Soames, heard the latest from the Government on how it plans to protect our precious but dwindling rivers and water supplies. Experts from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Salmon and Trout Association (S&TA) highlighted the pressing problems facing our aquatic habitats.
The main threats to our rivers and wetland habitats identified by the GWCT include:
- Rivers and reservoirs drying up because of over-abstraction for industry, agriculture and to meet our domestic demands for water, like Ardingly
- Continuing pollution from inappropriate land management practice, poorly treated sewage and urban run-off
- Damage to fish migration through river systems from the proposed expansion of renewable energy using hydropower.
The Government’s recent Water White Paper highlights some of the issues, but as Nicholas Soames said; “The big question remains; Will this once in a generation opportunity be taken to set our rivers, wildlife and water on the right course?”
In response to the presentations made by the GWCT and the Salmon & Trout Association, Richard Benyon MP, Minister of State, said; “We set out two approaches in the Water White Paper to tackle abstraction, we need reform of the licensing system in the medium to long term, but in the short term we need to take action to prevent damage happening now.
“I am convinced that the best vehicle for improving the condition of our rivers lies in working with local groups, such as land and riparian owners, Rivers Trusts, farmers, and angling and nature groups, to stimulate the actions needed to reduce pollution and improve water quality.”