Isle of Axholme Operational Catchment

About

Three rivers make up the catchment - River Torne, Hatfield Waste Drain and South Level Engine Drain. They flow through the wider Isle of Axholme area before entering the River Trent. Historically the Isle of Axholme was an area of slight elevation above marshy land. A complex network of pumps, drains and straightened channels have been developed over several centuries to drain these wetland areas and manage water levels. Today the catchment contains some of the most agriculturally productive land in the country. The catchment is heavily abstracted for irrigation. Potteric Carr and Hatfield Moors are SSSIs.

River Torne at Auckley looking upstream from roadbridge

Classifications data for Isle of Axholme Operational Catchment

Number of water bodies

The number of water bodies in the river basin district. It shows whether these are natural, artificial (such as canals and reservoirs) or have been modified ('heavily modified') for particular uses.

Water body categoriesNaturalArtificialHeavily modifiedTotal
River, canals and surface water transfers55212
Lake0000
Coastal0000
Estuarine0000
Groundwater0000
Total55212

Ecological status for surface waters

Table summarises the current ecological status of surface water bodies. Water bodies are classified as being at high, good, moderate, poor or bad ecological status or potential.

Ecological status or potentialBadPoorModerateGoodHighTotal
Number of water bodies0390012
Number of water body elements314211275125

Chemical status for surface waters

Table summarises the current chemical status of water bodies. These are classified as being at good or fail.

Chemical statusFailGoodTotal
Number of water bodies12012
Number of water body elements38132170

Why do all water bodies have a chemical status of fail?

Quantitative status for groundwater

Table summarises the quantitative status of groundwater water bodies. These are classified as being at good or poor.

Quantitative statusPoorGoodTotal
Number of water bodies000
Number of water body elements000

Chemical status for groundwater

Table summarises the chemical status of groundwater water bodies. These are classified as being at good or poor.

Chemical statusPoorGoodTotal
Number of water bodies000
Number of water body elements000

Challenges data for Isle of Axholme Operational Catchment

Reasons for not achieving good status by business sector

The issues preventing waters reaching good status and the sectors identified as contributing to them. The numbers in the table are individual counts of the reasons for not achieving good status with a confidence status of 'confirmed' and 'probable', where the latest classification is less than good status. There may be more than one reason in a single water body. Note, table does not include reasons for deterioration.

Significant water management issueChanges to the natural flow and level of waterInvasive non-native speciesPhysical modificationsPollution from abandoned minesPollution from rural areasPollution from towns, cities and transportPollution from waste water
Agriculture and rural land management00110900
Domestic general public0000020
Industry0000010
Local & central government0010000
Mining and quarrying0004000
Navigation0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Other0000000
Recreation0000000
Sector under investigation0010000
Urban and transport00100120
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Water Industry00300019
Total0017491519

Objectives data for Isle of Axholme Operational Catchment

Ecological status or potential objectives for surface water bodies

Table summarises the ecological status and ecological potential objectives set for water bodies in the river basin management plan. Each water body is only counted once in this table. Each water body objective consists of a target status and a date when it was, or is expected to be, met.

StatusBadPoorModerateGoodHighTotal
By 2015002002
By 20270028010
Total0048012

10 of the "by 2027" objectives are low confidence

Chemical status objectives for surface water bodies

Including those with less stringent objectives and extended deadlines

StatusFailGoodTotal
By 206301212
Total01212

0 of the "by 2027" objectives are low confidence

Quantitative status objectives for groundwater

Including those with less stringent objectives and extended deadlines

StatusPoor
GoodTotal
Total000

0 of the "by 2027" objectives are low confidence

Chemical status objectives for groundwater

Including those with less stringent objectives and extended deadlines

StatusPoor
GoodTotal
Total000