Water Resources
Population growth within the catchment coupled with the contrasting climate change impacts of drier summers and increased flooding is highlighting the importance of water resource management.
In 2022/23 UBOCP were awarded a Water Resources Communications & Engagement grant. Managed by the EA and the Rivers Trust the funding has enabled us to raise awareness of and communicate water resource issues through:
- Embedding water resource issues in our citizen science work
- Including water resource issues in a number of farmer-facing events organised by our Agri Working Group; including our flagship Farm Business Resilience event
- Hosting the ‘Water Water Everywhere?’ conference, UBOCP’s first ever water resources conference (suitable link to the event report, as above?)
- Collating and presenting the online water resources related information and case studies available below
Reports and case studies
Water Water Everywhere?
The UBOCP Water Water Everywhere? conference was held on 12th July 2023. Attended by over 70 people, including farmers and landowners, land management advisors, volunteers, water companies and NGO’s; the event highlighted the challenges of – and some solutions to – the contrasting challenges posed by having both too much water and too little water.
Broughton Brook case study
The Broughton Brook has suffered from low flows for some time, and periodically runs dry in its upper reaches as a result of abstraction for water supply from boreholes in this area
causing the water table to drop significantly. It has been identified as a project for intervention by the Environment Agency and Anglian Water.
Alconbury Brook case study
The project’s aim was to reduce flood risk in the catchment, whilst improving water quality and biodiversity, working with Natural England’s Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) programme.Working with farmers and landowners was a key element in achieving this aim and working jointly with Natural England (NE) meant that traditional NFM measures could be installed, whilst also reducing flood risk and improving water quality through CSF schemes and advice.
Water Resource Management Information Sheets
For Farmers and Landowners
Water is vital for life and especially in the agriculture sector for both livestock rearing and the growing of food in the arable system. With longer, drier summers and more frequent heavy rainfall events, drought and flooding are likely to both have increased impacts on our farmland. The following links provide information relating to water resource management issues of relevance to farmers and landowners.
For Homeowners and Gardeners
The availability of cheap, clean water for us to use how we want in our homes and gardens has been accepted as a basic right. With and increasing population and a changing climate, there are things we can all do to reduce our water use and save money. The following links give useful information and water saving tips. Many tips are shared across a range of organisations, demonstrating a consensus that they really can make a difference.