Our Active Projects
Phase 4 projects
Natural Course is now in its fourth and final phase of work, and will be delivering 18 exciting and ambitious projects.
We are set to deliver yet more innovative work and further embed the lessons learned across all organisations, all with a view to creating more sustainable ways of working that puts us in a better place to achieve bigger, better and longer-term improvements for the water environment.
Support for catchment partnerships
Background: Catchment partnerships are a network of local organisations and communities working together to improve the water environment for people and wildlife (through delivery of Water Framework Directive (WFD) outcomes). Each partnership focuses on a specific catchment. The North West River Basin District (NWRBD) is a diverse area made up…
Catchment operation: Cheshire Hub
Background: Several organisations have responsibilities in the operation of catchments, however resources are not always focused on understanding what is going on in the whole catchment area. Activity is often delivered in isolation and without a joined-up approach, meaning interventions are not targeted in the right areas for the greatest…
Catchment operation: Fylde Hub
Background: Catchment management generally result in activity associated with water quality. Water quantity (flood and flood risk) is managed by several organisations, and from a long-term strategic perspective via the water industry Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMP). There has been some progress in developing long-term strategic plans and bringing…
Flood and Coastal Risk Management natural capital mapping
Background: The Environment Agency’s Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) teams develop their 6-year programme to improve flood protection for communities identified as being at risk from flooding. These schemes can provide opportunities to deliver environmental outcomes such as The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) Regulations 2017 (WER) measures and…
Using local nature recovery network strategies to deliver Water Framework Directive objectives
Background: Connecting habitat and aiding nature recovery tools (such as nature recovery networks (NRN), local nature recovery strategies (LNRS), biodiversity net gain (BNG)) are central to environmental policies. These tools often have a broad focus looking at opportunities for nature recovery across habitats and cover a large spatial scale. Opportunities…
Reaching high ecological status on the River Irt
Background: Fresh Water Pearl Mussels (FWPM) require close to pristine conditions in terms of water quality, flow and habitat – equivalent to ‘high ecological status’ under the Water Framework Directive (WFD). There are several rivers nationwide that hold small numbers of FWPM, however almost all populations have declined dramatically in…
Ecological Network Tool
Background: Wetland and woodland habitats across the North West River Basin District (NWRBD) are fragmented due to both historic and current land use pressures. Habitat degradation, agricultural intensification, industrialisation and urbanisation all affect water bodies by reducing their resilience to diffuse water pollution, eutrophication and climate change. This in turn…