Water management is changing, with management techniques taking into consideration the whole of river catchments. This new approach has recently been adopted by the Government and FWAG SW has played a leading role in the development of the Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) through the pilot phase of the Upper Thames Catchment project based in the cotswolds. The pilot has used FWAG SW's Integrated Local Delivery (ILD) framework and demonstartes how ILD can work by:
Encouraging participation to improve the water environment and deliver positive outcomes under the Water Framework Directive (WFD)
Delivering a range of environmental benefits for landowners and local communities
Developing a shared understanding of the catchment priorities
Make sure participants feel the pilot has made a difference in what can be achieved. After the great successful of the piolt project, FWAG SW are now continuing the Project with the support of the Countryside & Community Research Institute (CCRI), who chair the Upper Thames Catchment Steering Group. The Upper Thames Catchment Management Plan can be found here. This identifies the actions needed to achieve the objectives of the Water Framework Directive in the Upper Thames Catchment. In addition to coordinating partner activity across the catchment, FWAG SW also manage the WILD project, a WFD delivery project in the Cotswold Water Park and the Upper Thames (Cotswolds) Catchment Payments for Ecosystems Services pilot which is a research and policy project. Find out more about the Upper Thames (Cotswolds) Catchment by visiting the Catchment Based Approach.
