Introduction
In June 2012 the Steering Group approved the involvement of the Solent Forum in a pilot pro ject to test the ‘Catchment based Approach’ in the New Forest.
The aim of this pilot, one of 25 in England and Wales, was to test different collaborative approaches with stakeholders to improve the rivers, streams, lakes, coastal waters and groundwater of selected catchments, working towards the development of a catchment plan. The impetus of the work was largely to achieve the objectives of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) for all waterbodies to meet ‘Good s tatus’ 1 as well as conferring multiple benefits, for example to local fisheries and climate change adaptation. The project ran from June to December 2012 and has concluded with the New Forest Catchment Water Environment Improvement Plan.
The New Forest National Park Authority together with Pond Conservation led the catchment pilot project which covered the streams flowing east into Southampton
Water and south into the Solent but excluding those flowing west into the River Avon.
Over 50% of these streams do not achieve ‘Good Status’ with most of the coastal and estuary waterbodies also failing. A Catchment Development Group (CDG) of local stakeholder organisations and groups was established to collaboratively drive the work forward.
Action Taken
The CDG decided that in order to develop ownership and action on the ground, an approach focusing on individual sub-catchments should be adopted. Initially the pilot focused on three specific sites including Sowley Stream/Pond. The Solent Forum undertook to link any coastal issues to the catchment, looking specifically at the coastal area downstream of Sowley Pond; this involved desk research and a meeting with key stakeholders to discuss an action plan.
Meeting with Stakeholders and Site Visit
A group of experts and local people met in November to contribute their knowledge of Sowley Lagoon / Marsh (the site) and the surrounding coastal area, co-ordinate effort and to engage in and test the pilot approach at sub-catchment level. The meeting also aimed to provide an evidence based update for the WFD classification of the site, upon which future management will depend. The meeting was followed by a site visit, by kind permission of the land owner who was present for part of the meeting.
1 Under the Water Framework Directive,
‘Good status’ means both ‘good ecological status’ and ‘good chemical status’. Assessment of quality is based on the extent of deviation from the reference conditions for ‘High status’, which is defined as the biological, chemical and morphological conditions associated with no or very low human pressure. ‘Good status’ means ‘slight’ deviation from these conditions.
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The group observed that the site, which had been saltmarsh and intertidal habitat until the mid to late 2000’s, is now permanently inundated due to closure of the shingle bank fronting it. A small breach to the west of the site allows for some exchange of seawater.
Whilst the site has always been subject to dynamic coastal influences, its recent transformation into a lagoon had not been fully appreciated by all until this visit. The group agreed to seek further evidence and advice on the classification of the site, which may prove to be a unique example of such dynamic features, and a number of options were discussed.
It was agreed that the dynamic processes at the site are crucial to its special nature and should be allowed to continue. The dynamic processes at Sowley may prove to be unique or, alternatively, the process used for Sowley could be used as a protocol for other sites. Statutory authorities will consider their approach in light of these options.
Advice from Environment Agency Head Office
The following points summarise feedback received in January 2013 from the
Environment Agency Head Office:

The current WFD definition as a saline lagoon under WFD is appropriate, due to the shingle bank and resulting salinity regime.

WFD tools (as they stand) are not suitable for lagoon assessment. It is recommended that direction for management should come from the SAC/SPA requirements.

The delineation of the waterbody may be amended so that it becomes part of the Transitional Solent Water Body if that would facilitate management. It is also permissible to de-delineate (remove the water body from WFD) should that be a preferred option. In either case agreement with Natural England and
Solent Forum would be needed.

Regardless of how the water body is or is not delineated, local management still applies
– i.e. if there is an environmental issue it needs to be addressed.
Desk Research
Data for the coastal zone was collected from key stakeholders by Solent Forum staff and SF’s student placement. A large amount of information exists relating to the site, including aerial photography at regular intervals from 1946, showing that it has been open and closed at different times in the past. Bird counts, habitat surveys, water quality and several other features have been recorded in detail over the years. A list has been compiled as the data is extensive and disparate. A recommendation was made by the group for a Technical Summary to be produced as a communication tool with which to liaise with landowners and other interested parties. Following the advice received from EA Head Office, the visions for the site of individual stakeholders present at the meeting will also be gathered, as the focus for the future is on how to manage the site. A draft specification for this work has been produced
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and it is anticipated that a consultant will be asked to produce a ’Vision Development and Data Collation’ document early in 2013, using the pilot’s funding from Defra.
Resources Spent
The following gives an estimate of the time and money spent (and to be spent) on understanding the way forward at Sowley to achieve good environmental status
Spending in 2012
Staff time and other Costs of Sowley Pilot Total FTE Days Other Costs
Solent Forum Staff and Costs 11
£30
Other Stakeholders 12
Spending Estimated in 2013
Preparation of Technical Summary in 2013 Total FTE Days Other Costs
Overseeing project - Solent Forum Staff
Other Stakeholders
3
2
£2000
Consultant (to be funded by Catchment Pilot)
Total Expenditure Solent Forum
Total Expenditure Other Stakeholders
14 FTE Days
14 FTE Days
£30
£2000
Lessons Learned
The sub-catchment approach chosen for the New Forest Catchment Pilot is labour intensive, deliberately focusing the attention of SF staff and key stakeholders on one fairly small site. However real progress was achieved and through this approach the actual issues and opportunities on the ground were effectively and efficiently identified and addressed.
SF staff also attended a meeting of the East Hampshire Catchment Pilot which has taken a more ‘top down’ approach. By comparison, the work at Sowley has, in a short space of time, had the benefit of enabling action on the ground. It is considered that such knowledge of site detail will inform a more meaningful and appropriate strategic approach to catchment planning in due course.
Current Position and Way Forward
1 The Environment Agency will lead on determining the connectivity of the site to fresh water and sea water inputs and outflows
2 If considered necessary and affordable, a survey of the current habitat will be commissioned
3 A
’Vision Development and Data Collation’ document, including all available information, will be produced (funded by the pilot) to inform the way forward and facilitate stakeholder engagement and site management
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4 The stakeholder group will meet again to agree the way forward and how the site will be managed
The information and views collected, together with this report, will be linked to similar work undertaken by the New Forest National Park Authority and Pond Conservation on the freshwater part of the catchment, and will be taken forward to inform future management.
It is anticipated that the Catchment Development Group, co-ordinated by the National
Park Authority and Pond Conservation, will continue in 2013 extending the work to other catchments within the New Forest.
Evaluation and Recommendations
The Forum may wish to consider the benefits to its members of further involvement in this work. It would be useful to take into account that £2,000 was estimated for
Sowley (plus a few days of Solent Forum time to co-ordinate).. The approach taken at Sowley could be useful at some other sites, and if it were to be replicated along the coast it may need to be costed accordingly. There are many sites around the
Solent that are locally valuable but for which there is little information. What information exists has largely been drawn together already for the Shoreline
Management Plan, together with details of the consultation for flood and coastal defence options.
The approach has proved successful, but it has yet to be decided how it could be rolled out to other areas in the New Forest, and further in the Solent. It is possible that there would be resources available from the pilot for the Forum to roll out this approach and if that was the case staff could be brought in to undertake the task so as not to drain Forum funds.
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