Agenda item 5
8 September 2009
A NEW FUTURE FOR THE LAKE DISTRICT STILL WATERS PARTNERSHIP?
Recommendation that:
a. The Lake District National Park Partnership asks the Lake District
Still Waters Partnership to lead on its behalf in ensuring a crucial
role for our lakes and their catchments in the sustainable
development of the Lake District.
b. The Still Waters Partnership provides strategic advice on catchment
management and recommends appropriate indicators of success
with regard to lake water quality, flood risk management and rivers
naturalisation.
Background
In May 2002 the Lake District National Park Authority, Environment Agency,
English Nature (now Natural England), United Utilities, National Trust, Centre for
Ecology and Hydrology and the Freshwater Biological Association came together
to form the Lake District Still Waters Partnership.
Originally established to research the condition of all the lakes and tarns in the
Lake District and take collective action to protect or enhance their quality, the
partnership can now boast a proud track record of achievement. It has been the
catalyst for improvements to our lakes and catchments. And there is no doubt
that through its annual conferences, publications and news releases, the
partnership has ensured that the factors influencing the quality of the waters are
better understood by a wider audience.
In the past few years we have seen its work manifested in the Catchment
Management Programmes for Bassenthwaite Lake and, more recently,
Windermere. The Lake District, through the National Park Authority, is also now a
member of the international Living Lakes Network. Legacies of the Lakes for
Living, Lakes for Life international conference at Windermere in May 2009
include a partnership agreement with the community of Invermere on Lake
Windermere British Columbia, Canada and the prospect of a UK and Ireland
Forum for Lakes.
Integrating Lake Management with delivery of the Vision for the Lake
District
If the Lake District is to be an inspirational example of sustainable development in
action, the effective management of our lakes and their catchments is essential.
For centuries people have recognised that our Lakeland scenery is at the heart of
its attractiveness to residents and visitors. More recently we have begun to
understand the vital role of water and water management both as indicators of
climate change and as offering potential means of mitigation and adaptation. And
there is increasing appreciation of the importance of catchment and water
management as part of the ‘green infrastructure’ in which businesses and
communities can thrive.
Agenda item 5
8 September 2009
The following diagram seeks to clarify the suggested relationship between the
respective roles likely to be required.
Lake District National
Park Partnership
Lake District Still Waters Partnership
Bassenthwaite
Catchment Management
Programme
Windermere Catchment
Management
Programme
Future Catchment
Management
Programmes
Bassenthwaite
Reflections Project
Windermere Reflections
Project
Future Reflections
Projects
Catchment Management Research Group
Suggested reporting arrangements
Four of the Lake District National Park Partnership’s constituent organisations are
already represented on the Still Waters Partnership. Others, such as South
Lakeland District Council and Cumbria Tourism, also play an active role in the
two current catchment management programmes.
The Environment Agency will be the agency responsible for delivering River
Basin Action Plans in compliance with the European Water Framework Directive.
And it manages the two lake catchment programmes and their associated
Heritage Lottery-funded Reflections projects.
If the Partnership is minded to agree a more formal role for the Still Waters
Partnership in integrating catchment-related advice and performance indicators, it
is suggested that the Environment Agency plays the lead role in coordinating
reports.
Authors
Date Written
Bob Cartwright Director of Park Services, Lake District National Park
Authority
John Pinder Lakes Manager, Environment Agency
2 September 2009