Morda and Severn North Shropshire Operational Catchment

About

The River Morda arises in the hills above the market town of Oswestry passing through Trefonen and Morda. To the south of Oswestry it receives inputs from sewage works and industrial estates. The river passes through Maesbury Marsh then meanders through Morton and Maesbrook before the confluence with the River Vyrnwy on the Welsh border. The catchment is predominantly agricultural with sheep and beef farming in the upper reaches. Land use diversifies to include dairy and arable in the middle and lower reaches. The catchment south of Oswestry is designated Nitrate Vulnerable Zone and is managed to reduce flood risk.

River Morda at Tyn-y-Coed, below Oswestry

Classifications data for Morda and Severn North Shropshire 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 transfers5016
Lake0011
Coastal0000
Estuarine0000
Groundwater0000
Total5027

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 bodies015107
Number of water body elements03884665

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 bodies707
Number of water body elements1598113

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 Morda and Severn North Shropshire 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 management00101100
Domestic general public0000030
Industry0000000
Local & central government0020000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Other0000000
Recreation0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Urban and transport0000010
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Water Industry1000006
Total10301146

Objectives data for Morda and Severn North Shropshire 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 2015000101
By 2021001001
By 2027000505
Total001607

5 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 2063077
Total077

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