East Suffolk Catchment Partnership
- Catchment HostEssex and Suffolk Rivers Trust
- River Basin DistrictAnglian
- Management CatchmentSuffolk East
- Management Catchment ID3035
Catchment partnership vision
We are working to ensure our rivers, wetlands and water resources are resilient to the changing climate and population growth, are richer in biodiversity, support a thriving economy and contribute to the wellbeing of the citizens of Suffolk. Over the next ten years, we will work as a partnership to ensure:
- rivers and wetlands will have been restored at priority sites
- water resources can meet human and business demands without compromising the needs of wildlife and habitats in a changing climate
- the challenges and impacts of climate change and population growth are being addressed through innovative adaptation and mitigation initiatives
- everyone in East Suffolk is more conscious of the pressures on the water environment in the changing climate and are actively engaged in co-operative efforts to reduce demand, reduce pollution, improve water quality and increase biodiversity.
Related websites
Find out more about the activities and ambitions of this catchment partnership and how you can get involved to help improve the water environment in the catchment.
Catchment challenges
Current challenges identified by partnership
Pollution from agriculture and rural areas
East Suffolk's free draining soil is farmed for cereals, vegetables and pigs which can cause sedimentation and pollution
Pollution from waste water
Despite improvements, wastewater from rural septic tanks and public sewer outflows still pollutes our rivers
Changes to the natural flow and water levels
Evidence has shown a predicted water deficit for the region which will impact the local environment
Wider water environment challenges identified by partnership
Build environmental resilience and adaptation to climate change
East Suffolk is one of the driest areas in the UK, enabling resilience for the environment and local business is key
Protect and restore healthy soils and nutrient balance
The area is largely rural with high levels of agriculture, soil and nutrient management is critical to protect our rivers
Reduce storm overflows and drainage system incidents
The area contains two AONB and river quality must reflect the importance of the landscape
Support Nature Recovery Network and Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Supporting nature in a largely rural and agricultural environment is key to nature recovery in East Suffolk
Improved bathing waters (including inland)
The region has many bathing waters and it is important that their quality is of the highest standard
Removing plastics/litter from the water environment
Managing plastics will help reduce harm to the wider environment and the various multiple food chains
Future challenges predicted by partnership
Pollution from agriculture and rural areas
Pollution from agriculture is a major cause of poor water quality and habitat degradation, which seriously impact our rivers
Pollution from waste water
Improvements to waste water asset management and reductions in CSO's will improve water quality for wildlife and recreational participation
Changes to the natural flow and water levels
Evidence has shown a predicted major future water deficit for the region caused by climate change and regional growth, which is likely to impact the local environment
Future challenges predicted by Environment Agency
Future challenges in 2050
- Invasive Non-native Species
- Pollution from waste water
- Changes to the Natural Flow and Water Levels
Emerging challenges
- Changes to the Natural Flow and Water Levels
- Pollution from waste water
- Pollution from Towns Cities and Transport
Partnership success highlights 2016 to 2021
The partnership has undertaken a number of improvement works to rivers in the catchment. Several projects including tree planting and in-channel improvements, fencing, livestock management, INNS control (Himalayan balsam control and Mink Control) and removing barriers to fish movement were completed by Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency and Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust on the Rivers Alde, Ore, Blyth, Deben and Gipping. The development of the Felixstowe Hydrocycle (Managed Aquifer Recharge), which was initiated following the EU funded Interreg Topsoil programme trail at Broxtead, is exploring managed aquifer recharge and also the capture and storage of river water, otherwise lost to sea, for agricultural use. The Water Management Alliance are working in partnership with regulatory and local authorities and communities to deliver a multi-beneficial flood scheme at Benacre. Our partners Suffolk Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group developed a water sensitive farming project to reduce diffuse pollution, East Suffolk Water Abstractors Group, Sustainable Water Solutions undertook a project involving heat maps, which was further supported by the Rivers Trust, Water Resources East and Environment Agency in the Water For Tomorrow Project, which aims to identify and inform water users of water resource shortages in East Suffolk. Groundwork East have continued their focus on the Yellow Fish project to reduce surface water pollution.
Partnership development plans
We want to build on our successes with more partnership initiatives and projects to concentrate on the challenges and priorities in the catchment. We seek to strengthen and extend our relationships and develop an updated partnership action plan which is actively used and reported against. This includes sharing information on project outcomes with the wider partnership so these can be collated, reported and publicised.
Partnership priority actions and measures for 2022 to 2027
Confident
Enhancement/no deterioration measures in 2020-2025 Water Industry National Environment Programme
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage point source discharges
- Delivery mechanism
- Confirmed water industry national environment programme 2020-2025
- Location
- Suffolk East
Confident
Develop more cohesion in the partnership by sharing project data on rural and agricultural catchments
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage rural diffuse pollution
- Delivery mechanism
- Voluntary initiatives
- Location
- Suffolk East
Confident
To work with local authorities, environmental groups and landowner on highlighting the predicted changes to water availability in the region
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage abstractions
- Delivery mechanism
- Voluntary initiatives
- Location
- DEBEN
Confident
Continue to progress Natural Flood Management works throughout the priority sites and catchment
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Grant giving trusts and businesses
- Location
- Deben (u/s Brandeston Bridge)
Confident
Improve in channel habitat in River Deben and River Gipping catchments by promoting flow and habitat diversity
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Location
- Deben (Brandeston Bridge - Melton)
Confident
Working in Partnership to manage INNS and nuisance species throughout the East Suffolk Region
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage invasive non-native species
- Delivery mechanism
- Grant giving trusts and businesses
- Location
- Rattlesden River (u/s confluence with Gt. Finborough) Rattlesden River (d/s Gt. Finborough) Ore
Less certain
Continue existing and develop new trials and projects to address water resource issues and abstraction reform
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage abstractions
- Delivery mechanism
- Potential future water industry programme
- Barriers to delivery
- Lack of resources needs to be addressed by more funding
- Location
- Suffolk East
Less certain
Removal of barriers to passage of fish and other species throughout the catchment
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- WEIF Water Environment Improvement Fund
- Barriers to delivery
- Funding, consents and landowner commitment
- Location
- Suffolk East
Less certain
Work with partners and landowners to address issues of diffuse pollution and water quality throughout the catchment
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage rural diffuse pollution
- Delivery mechanism
- Environment Land Management Scheme (future full-scale roll-out)
- Barriers to delivery
- Improved working with landowners and incentives through e.g. ELM
- Location
- Suffolk East
Less certain
Raise awareness of sustainable river management to prevent damage to rivers and floodplain habitats
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Voluntary initiatives
- Barriers to delivery
- Resources and more partnership working and improved understanding with land managers
- Location
- Suffolk East
Less certain
Identify and tackle priority sites where invasive non native species are impacting our native species and damaging our river diversity
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage invasive non-native species
- Delivery mechanism
- Nature Recovery Network
- Barriers to delivery
- Need to improve surveying, monitoring, voluntary initiatives and more resources
- Location
- Suffolk East
Less certain
Identify and implement opportunities for riparian tree planting throughout the catchment
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Barriers to delivery
- More resources, better incentives and cooperation from land owners
- Location
- Suffolk East
Catchment Partnership contributors
Partners involved in the creation of this page and the actions of the partnership:
- Sustainable Water Solutions
- RSPB
- River Deben Association
- Woodland Trust
- Anglian Water
- Water Management Alliance
- Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB
- River Gipping Trust
- Museum of East Anglia Life
- Dedham Vale and Stour Valley AONB
- Suffolk Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group
- Essex & Suffolk Rivers Trust
- Groundwork East
- Suffolk Wildlife Trust
- Natural England
- East Suffolk Water Abstractors Group
- Essex & Suffolk Water (NWL)
- Felixstowe Hydrocylce
- Environment Agency
- Muntons
- Broxtead Estate
- East Suffolk Catchment Partnership link to partners