File:RRC competition.docx

APEM was commissioned by Severn Rivers Trust to undertake a series of surveys in the River Worfe catchment, a tributary of the River Severn in Shropshire, England. Particular interest and survey effort was focussed on a sub-catchment of the River Worfe, Wesley Brook which has, historically, been influenced by a wide variety of human activity and where pressures from surrounding land uses and development are causing the watercourse to fail Water Framework Directive (WFD) objectives. The brook was selected as a priority catchment which has significant capacity for improvement using funds made available to SRT via the Catchment Restoration Funding initiative.

In 2012/13 APEM undertook a walkover survey of the entire Worfe catchment to assess the current condition of the river and the pressures imposed on the watercourse by surrounding land practices. APEM undertook a walkover survey mapping fish habitat and diffuse pollution sources throughout the entire catchment. These surveys allow accurate and informed interpretation of the sources and pathways of contaminants entering the river system with subsequent mitigation measures aimed at source inhibition. Validation of suspected diffuse pollution sources were also subsequently determined by a series of wet weather sampling events in winter 2013 / 14. In addition, a variety of ecological surveys using both ground and remote sensing applications have been undertaken in order to establish a baseline in the most sensitive and impacted sub-catchments. As part of these surveys barriers to fish migration in the catchment have been mapped and subsequent site visits have been performed looking at potential fish passageway measures at each. In addition protected species surveys have been established, notably looking at the population status of white clawed crayfish in the catchment. It was intended that these surveys would inform mitigation work to facilitate a potential move towards good ecological status in the catchment, as required by the WFD. Prior to the implementation of any improvement measures, it was essential to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the current pressures on the catchment. This understanding enabled measures to be targeted to the specific issues impacting the water body and, as a result, provide the most ecological and cost effective mitigation strategy. This work has led to the initiation of a riverine restoration plan on Wesley Brook. In 2013 APEM presented the findings of the catchment surveys to the East Shropshire National Farmers Union in Telford. Subsequently, APEM have undertaken 20 farm visits in the Worfe catchment to discuss high priority issues. The contribution of the land owners and farmers in the area to date has been excellent and a number of proposals have been put forward to the SRT and the Environment Agency which aim to mitigate future diffuse pollution issues on Wesley Brook, of which a significant number have been implemented