Aquatic and wetland

The condition of Aquatic Habitats across Lancashire varies significantly (as does the number of different ways to assess them). However, broadly speaking, they are not in good condition. 88% of Lancashire’s surface water bodies were classified as having ‘moderate’ water quality and all of our waterbodies failed in the Chemical Status of the Water Framework Directive Water Bodies assessment[i].

In respect of aquatic and wetland species, water voles have undergone one of the most serious declines of any wild mammal in Britain during the 20th century having been lost from 94% of places where they were once widespread[ii]. In Lancashire, although oystercatcher have shown an increase of 12%, our breeding curlew, lapwing and snipe are all in decline. The Ribble Rivers Trust use Trout and Salmon as indicators of catchment health, which allows identification of locations in poor condition. Both species are showing a concerning decline across the catchment.

To ensure continuity and integration of efforts to recover aquatic habitats and species, it is important to collaborate with our neighbouring authorities due to our connections with the Yorkshire Dales, South Cumbria Fells, Merseyside Conurbation and Mersey Valley.

Table 4: Pressures and opportunities for recovery (aquatic and wetland habitats)

Pressures

Example habitats affected

Broad species assemblages affected (including example species[1])

Opportunities identified
  • Pollution, sediment deposition and nutrient enrichment
  • Point source pollution
  • Climate change
  • Water quantity extremes such as flood and drought
  • Invasive species
  • Recreational impacts
  • Land management detrimental to biodiversity

 

Canals and ditches

Flood plain meadows

Grazing marsh

Ground water

Lowland fens

Marsh

Standing open water / Ponds

Reedbeds

Rivers

Streams

Upland flushes, springs, fens and swamps

Wet woodland (also considered under the trees and woodland group).

Flushes (including upland, lowland and wetlands)

41 shortlisted species including -

Plants:

  • Green-flowered Helleborine
  • Ivy-leaved bell flower
  • Drepanocladus turgescens (a feather moss)
  • Plagiomnium ellipticum (Marsh Thyme-moss)

Standing open water (including ponds, canals and ditches)

29 shortlisted species including -

Mammals:

  • Water vole
  • Foraging bats

Amphibians:

  • Great crested newt

Plants:

  • Pondweed and water-crowfoot species

Rivers and streams (including riverbanks and riverine sediments)

27 shortlisted species including -

Mammals:

  • Otter

Fish:

  • Numerous fish species

Invertebrates:

  • Numerous crane-fly species
  • Freshwater pearl mussel
  • White-clawed crayfish

Marsh

(including upland, lowland, fen and reedbeds)

10 shortlisted species including -

Birds:

  • Bittern
  • Sedge warbler
  • Snipe

Natural flood management solutions to slow the flow of water and attenuate flow

Creation of wetter areas throughout our catchments

Tree planting in the upper catchments and riparian planting

Sustainable Drainage Systems

Reduce diffuse and point source pollution entering our watercourses

Reinstating our lost pond landscape in low lying areas

Build on the successes of the Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) partnerships

Table 5: Aquatic and wetland priorities, potential measures, and associated benefits

Priority

Measures

Shortlist species benefited[2]

Benefits

AW1. Enhanced existing river, stream and watercourse network and associated floodplains in Lancashire.

 

AW1.1 - Support the expansion of eels across the county for example by:

  • removing barriers to migration such as dams,
  • installing eel and elver passes,
  • improving water quality,
  • protecting key areas from habitat loss.

Fish:

  • Atlantic Salmon
  • Smelt
  • Brown trout
  • Lamprey species
  • Eels

 

 

National objectives and targets:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

Wider benefits:

  • improvements in water quality,
  • local economy and green jobs,
  • climate adaptation,
  • Water flow regulation,
  • reduction in flood risk,
  • social, cultural and educational

Other linked LNRS Priorities:

AW2, AW3. AW4, C1, C2, C3 G1, U1, U2, U4, W2

 

 

AW1.2 - Improve the extent and condition of floodplain habitats including floodplain meadows, damp grassland, grazing marsh, reedbeds, wet woodland and lowland fen.

Flood plain habitats

Mammals:

  • Otter

Birds:

  • Ruff
  • Redshank

Invertebrates:

  • Belted beauty moth
  • Crescent striped moth

Plants:

  • Divided sedge
  • Meadow barley

Reedbeds

Mammals:

  • Harvest mouse

Birds:

  • Sedge warbler
  • Bittern
  • Lapwing

Wet woodland

Birds:

  • Willow tit
  • Sedge warbler

Plants:

  • Dark-leaved willow
  • Bryophytes including Plagiomnium ellipticum (marsh thyme-moss)

AW1.3 - Sensitive management of ditches and other watercourses for biodiversity for example by:

  • Reduced livestock grazing along the water’s edge to reduce trampling.
  • Control the extent of trees and scrub along waterways so other native, non-invasive vegetation important for biodiversity is not shaded out.
  • If bankside cutting is required, cut on a two-year rotation (or longer), leaving one bank uncut each year.
  • De-silting of ditches on a five-year rotation.

Mammals:

  • Water voles
  • Harvest mice

Amphibians

  • Common toad

Invertebrates:

  • Norfolk Hawker dragonfly

Plants:

  • Aquatic and marginal vegetation such as water-crowfoot and pond weed species.

AW2. Natural river processes restored, with habitats connected along water courses and between their flood plains.

 

 

AW2.1 - Increase the multiplicity and structural diversity of water course corridors to include multiple and sinuous channels, the natural supply of sediment, woody material and gravel management.

Mammals:

  • Otter
  • Water voles

Fish:

  • Eels
  • Atlantic Salmon
  • Smelt
  • Brown trout
  • Lamprey species

Invertebrates:

  • Scarce yellow splinter (cranefly)
  • Norfolk Hawker dragonfly
  • Freshwater pearl mussel
  • White-clawed crayfish

National objectives and targets:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

Wider benefits:

  • restore natural hydrology and hydro-geomorphic processes including sediment and nutrient deposition
  • reduction in flood risk to downstream communities
  • climate resilience
  • local economy and green jobs,
  • water attenuation
  • improve natural function,
  • health and wellbeing
  • social, cultural, and educational

Other linked LNRS Priorities:

AW1, AW3, AW4, C1, C2, C3, G1, G2, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, W2, U1, U2, U3, U4

AW2.2 - Remove or redesign artificial structures impacting natural processes of water courses including culverts, weirs, revetments, embankments and installation of fish passage solutions.

AW2.3 - Re-meandering of reaches of straightened and artificial modified channels of rivers and streams.

AW3. A restored and connected healthy freshwater and wetland landscape in Lancashire.

 

AW3.1.1 - Restoration of Lancashire's lost pond landscape

AW3.1.2 – Rotational pond management to preserve marginal, emergent and submerged vegetation.

Mammals:

  • Water voles
  • Foraging bats

Birds:

  • Bittern
  • Sedge warbler
  • Snipe
  • Oyster catcher
  • Curlew

Amphibians:

  • Great crested newt
  • Common toad

Plants:

  • Green-flowered Helleborine
  • Ivy-leaved bell flower
  • Great fen-sedge
  • Golden dock
  • Pondweed and water-crowfoot species
  • Drepanocladus turgescens (a feather-moss)
  • Plagiomnium ellipticum (marsh thyme-moss)

National objectives and targets:

1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16

Wider benefits:

  • natural resources,
  • health and wellbeing,
  • natural processes regulation such as water attenuation,
  • improved water quality
  • climate resilience,
  • local economy and green jobs,
  • reduction in flood risk to downstream communities,
  • improved connectivity
  • social, cultural and educational

Other linked LNRS Priorities:

AW1, AW2, AW4, C1, C2, C3, P1, P2, P3 P4, P5, P6, W1, W2, U2, U3, U4

AW3.2 - Appropriate canal management to protect and maintain bankside, marginal, emergent and submerged vegetation.

AW3.3 – Expand and enhance fens, reedbeds, springs, flushes, marshes, marsh fen and ephemeral waterbodies.

AW3.4 - Restore and reconnect fragmented canal network.

AW4. Catchments resilient to water quantity extremes.

 

AW4.1 - Install woody material, including leaky dams to promote natural processes and provide habitat for a range of aquatic species.

Mammals:

  • Water vole

Fish:

  • Various species

Invertebrates:

  • Riverine invertebrate species such as craneflies and wasps
  • White-clawed crayfish

National objectives and targets:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16

Wider benefits:

  • improved water environment to provide sustainable resources to support a growing population,
  • soil erosion prevention,
  • drought resilience,
  • local economy and green jobs,
  • natural flood-risk management,
  • promote natural processes

Other linked LNRS Priorities:

AW1, AW2, AW3, C1, C2, C3, G3, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, W2, U1, U2, U4

AW4.2 – Create biodiverse sustainable drainage systems incorporating habitats such as swales, ponds, wetlands and reedbeds.

Amphibians:

  • great crested newt
  • common toad

Invertebrates:

  • craneflies

Plants:

  • pondweed species
  • water-crowfoot species

AW4.3 - Sustainable abstraction plan for agriculture and horticulture in Lancashire.

AW4.4 - Bioengineering and nature-based solutions for moderation of water flows, such as reedbed filters, living dams, living revetments, tree and hedge planting and kested hedgerows.

As above, also:

Birds:

For example,

  • Sedge warbler (reedbeds)
  • Corn bunting and tree sparrow (hedgerows)

[1] For the full list of the 534 species that have been identified as the most threatened or locally significant to prioritise for recovery action see the Evidence and Technical Information document – Appendix Ten

[2] For the full list of the 534 species that have been identified as the most threatened or locally significant to prioritise for recovery action see the Evidence and Technical Information document – Appendix Ten

[i] England | Catchment Data Explorer (Environment Agency) and River water quality - Lancashire County Council

[ii] People's Trust for Endangered Species