Case study 5
Mitigating agricultural impacts on water quality in the East Devon Catchment, UK
Location
East Devon, United Kingdom.
Local Context
Catchment Partnerships are inclusive civil society-led initiatives that work in partnership with Government, Local Authorities, Water Companies, businesses and more to improve river catchment functioning beyond legal requirements. The East Devon Catchment Partnership, operational since 2014, aims to deliver positive and sustained outcomes for the catchment by promoting a better understanding of the environment at a local level. Challenges are related to underfunded environmental enforcement, which hampers regulatory compliance and the application of incentives. Only 1 in 5 rivers in the West Country meet the ecological standards set by the Water Framework Directive, with failures primarily attributed to pollution from agriculture and sewage. Specific areas face acute challenges, particularly Drinking Water Protected Areas (River Exe) and Special Areas of Conservation (River Axe).
Planned Actions
The case study focuses on improving the regulatory framework by contributing to a Weight of Evidence approach to triaging the environmental Regulator’s resources through remote sensing data and citizen science investigations. The partnership between Westcountry Rivers Trust and the University of Exeter leverages tools such as GIS mapping from satellite land cover data and Serious Gaming projects to enhance regulatory targeting and compliance guidance. Additionally, a Citizen Science Investigation scheme engages volunteers in monitoring water quality.
Expected Impacts
The project aims to create integrated analyses of pollution sources, considering both acute and chronic impacts. By utilizing citizen observations and advanced data tools, the initiative seeks to enhance the volume and utility of environmental data for regulatory purposes. Expected outcomes include increasing citizen science data collection, improving the application of remote sensing tools, and fostering regulatory investigations.
