Lune
- Catchment HostThe Lune Rivers Trust
- River Basin DistrictNorth West
- Management CatchmentLune
- Management Catchment ID3053
Catchment partnership vision
The Living Lune Catchment Partnership is dedicated to the conservation, protection, rehabilitation and improvement of the River Lune throughout its whole length and its associated tributaries in Cumbria, Yorkshire and North Lancashire. We are an all-inclusive partnership with over 30 partners. Our aim is to protect and improve the riverine habitat to encourage the biodiversity of the River Lune and its tributaries. We aim to create a healthy water environment within the Lune Catchment, improving water quality and managing water quantity to bring social and economic benefits for all.
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
Water quality significantly affected by diffuse agricultural pollution rich in nutrients
Physical modifications
Physical modifications detrimentally affect habitat quality and natural processes throughout the catchment
Pollution from towns, cities and transport
Pollution from towns and cities leading to high levels of plastic pollution from both micro and macro plastics
Wider water environment challenges identified by partnership
Connecting communities with nature
Community connection is fundamental to driving sustainable improvement
Nature Recovery, designated areas for nature and biodiversity
Salmon, European eel and White-clawed crayfish are all present within the catchment but populations are in severe decline
Improved bathing waters (including inland)
Multiple popular bathing sites with usage on the increase, these sites are not currently designated
Reduce storm overflows and drainage system incidents
Concerns with smaller rural waste water treatment works and frequency of these overflowing
Support Nature Recovery Network and Local Nature Recovery Strategy
A joined up approach to environmental improvement at Catchment scale is required
Removing plastics/litter from the water environment
Previous project has demonstrated plastics pollution particularly impacted by road network
Future challenges predicted by partnership
Pollution from agriculture and rural areas
Agricultural pollution is our primary cause of waterbodies not achieving the good status
Changes to the natural flow and water levels
Flooding remains an issue for serval key communities and our strategic partners
Physical modifications
Skerton Weir is a major fish barrier at the bottom of our catchment and as such impacts the Salmon population decline
Future challenges predicted by Environment Agency
Future challenges in 2050
- Invasive Non-native Species
- Physical Modifications
- Pollution from Agriculture and Rural Areas
Emerging challenges
- Pollution from Agriculture and Rural Areas
- Pollution from waste water
- Physical Modifications
Partnership success highlights 2016 to 2021
The partnership have had great successes with a concentrated effort on water quality and pollution from agriculture and rural areas, 40 farms have had soil and nutrient plans drawn up with over 40 interventions through Water Environment Grant Funding. 20 full farm infrastructure audits have been completed. Farm advice on countryside stewardship and upcoming funding given throughout the Lune catchment by Yorkshire Dales National Park. A Wholescape Approach to Marine Management project has helped us quantify the amount of micro and macro plastics in the Lune estuary in the hope to secure further funding to tackle this issue. Skerton Weir is a significant barrier for migratory fish, with the support of the Water Environment Grant funding we have now got a suitable design and detailed plans for improving fish access over the weir, a huge step in removing this troublesome barrier. A Cumbria natural flood management project has allowed us to install over 100 leaky woody structures across the catchment having a big impact in reducing flooding in multiple communities. Monitoring stations installed with collaboration with Lancaster University help us understand how the leaky dams work and how effective they are in the battle against flooding. Claver Hill natural flood management project has been a huge success in both flood mitigation and community engagement, working with people of all social classes, ethnic backgrounds and age groups, creating a wonderful outside space for all to enjoy.
Partnership development plans
Have more joint initiatives and collaborative projects. Include more members in the partnership from different organisations across different sectors. Hold more regular meetings in order to keep informed of work across the catchment. More community involvement to promote water based recreation to connect people with nature & improve health and wellbeing. Build into projects focus on improving biodiversity in both species and habitats.
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
- Lune
Confident
Install Rock ramp fish pass at Skerton to allow easier passage for migrating fish
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Marine Habitat Restoration/Fisheries Fund
- Location
- Lune - conf Wenning to tidal
Confident
Extension of help for Forgotten Farms Project, Improving water quality by decreasing diffuse pollution
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage rural diffuse pollution
- Delivery mechanism
- WEIF Water Environment Improvement Fund
- Location
- Lune
Confident
Continuation in Lune catchment of Lancashire Woodland Connect campaign to create 100 km of new or restored woodland
- Reason for measure
- Manage modified habitats
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Location
- Lune
Less certain
Catchment wide data and evidence collection to identify all man made barriers
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Barriers to delivery
- Larger funding resource required, lacking required specific scientific knowledge
- Location
- Lune
Less certain
Catchment wide electro-fishing programme gathering evidence to support targeted intervention and monitor improvements
- Reason for measure
- Feasibility study to build commitment to deliver
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Barriers to delivery
- Staff require Electro-fishing training and equipment needs to be purchased
- Location
- Lune
Catchment Partnership contributors
Partners involved in the creation of this page and the actions of the partnership:
- Morecambe Bay Partnership
- United Utilities
- Cumbria Wildlife Trust
- Carnforth Anglers
- Forest of Bowland AONB
- Lancashire County Council
- Lune Valley Flood Forum
- Living Lune
- National Farmers Union
- Cumbria County Council
- Yorkshire Dales National Park
- Carnforth Town Council
- RSPB
- Lower Lune Catchment Sensitive Farming
- Canoe England
- Lancaster and District Angling Association
- Restoring Roeburn
- Wyre Borough Council
- Lancaster City Council
- Lancashire Wildlife Trust
- Farming Community Representative
- Bentham Anglers
- LEC, Lancaster University
- Lune and Wyre Fisheries Association
- Arnside and Silverdale AONB
- Forestry Commission
- Lune Rivers Trust
- The Woodland Trust
- Tebay Anglers
- Sustainable Eels Group
- Environment Agency
- South Cumbria Rivers Trust - Cumbria Freshwater INNS
- River Keer Regeneration Group