Conference Proceedings - "WATERFOWL" INFORMATION NETWORK International Conference
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Wetland Management: A problem orientated approach to degradation and restoration

Authors:
Dr Chris Spray, Environment Director, Northumbrian Water
Diana Ward, Andrews Ward Associates

Causes of degradation – overuse, multiple use, pollution, operational management, species introductions, urban/agricultural encroachment. Management itself is rarely the direct cause, rather an exacerbating factor

When do you intervene – may depend on objectives, usually when there is either a problem (real or perceived) or a loss of ecological function

Stepwise approach towards restoration

• Assess current use
• Assess perceived use
• Ask locals what they want
• Identify all the problems within the lake/river stretch – are there positive or negative feedback between them?
• Identify possible causes within the lake/river stretch and in the surrounding catchment
• Identify possible management options
• Link management options to local plans, biodiversity action plans, etc
• Ask locals which options they favour
• Consider feasibility, technical, cost, public acceptance and opportunities for public involvement
• Construct a management plan for the next 5 years encompassing the proposals

Methods of stopping/reducing degradation and restoration techniques
Physical – reprofiling banks, dredging, silt traps, recreate meanders, pools, riffles, shallows, islands
Vegetation management – alien species, grass length, management or establishment or marginal vegetation, nesting sites
Disturbance – zoning recreational areas and access
Bylaws – fishing times, not feeding ducks
Drainage – sewer inspections, cross-connections
Chemical – fertilisers in adjacent land, ferric sulphate dosing, aeration
Visual – outfall constructions, in-stream boulders and riffles
Bio manipulation – fish introduction and removal, invertebrate refugia, aqauatic plants, pricking eggs, culling
Education – involve local schools in planting and protection

Importance of community involvement and local opinion
Consult widely, newsletters, liaison officer, notice boards on site
Feedback results and on-going management programme via newsletters, newspapers and other media
Education opportunities in local schools and libraries

Scenario 1:

Lake with an island, adjacent to a children’s play area. Complaints about excess wildfowl being present, leading to fouling of grass, poor water quality and rat problem. What is to be done?

Pricking eggs, change vegetation on island, disturb nesting attempts, change bank slopes and fence new planting, fence playground, increase length of adjacent grass, ban feeding, rat catcher, trapping and releasing, last ditch attempt, culling, preventing roosting.

Scenario 2:

Two lakes, both shallow, with inflow to the top lake. Heavy visitor pressure and a high wildfowl population, coarse fishery, shaded margins and eroding banks. No aquatic vegetation and a high algal loading.

Find out water quality of inflow, current water quality, fish stocks, other inflows to the lakes. Determine management/recreational aspirartions, separate fishing from one lake, silt pond/reed bed on inflow, change profile of banks, stabilize banks, plant banks, fencing off planting, wave baffles, dredging, desilting, is there sufficient water to refill disposal of sediment. Aeration. Invertebrate establishment, planting aquatics, protection from birds and fish. Adjacent land planting, grass management. Changes in water levels. Development of a management plan. Cost, effort, likely success. Public involvement and information.

Scenario 3:

Lake, with an undulating margin, fished, sailed and with good waterbird populations. Much concern about retention of waterbirds.

Identification of desires and conflicts eg deep water birds or marginal birds, type of activity, eg bank or boat fishing, sailing boat type, walkers, oil from rescue boat, marginal vegetation management, retention of water levels, barriers for access, planting across the skyline, shore access. Public involvement and information.

CONTACT DETAILS

Andrews Ward Associates
17 West Perry
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire PE18 0BX

John Andrews: Tel: 01480 810866
Diana Ward: Tel: 01954 203326

Chris Spray
Northumbrian Water Limited
Abbey Road
Pity Me
Durham DH1 FJ

Tel: 0191 383 2222