South Essex Catchment Partnership

Catchment partnership vision

The South Essex Catchment Partnership recognises the importance of our rivers and all waters, and the need for these resources to be managed sustainably so that they can be passed on in the best possible condition to future generations. By 2027, the South Essex Catchment Partnership is aiming to meet the objectives of the river basin management plans, whilst providing naturally functioning ecosystems that are a haven for local people, visitors and wildlife. Local communities within the South Essex catchment will recognise the value of water and appreciate the importance of their rivers, acting as a prime destination for recreation and leisure. As a result of an effective catchment based approach it is hoped that, by 2027, the South Essex catchment is recognised as an exemplar catchment, with clear environmental improvements evident on the ground.

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.

• South Essex Catchment Partnership webpage
• Catchment Management Plans on CaBA website

Partnership success highlights 2016 to 2021

Since 2015 the membership of the South Essex Catchment Partnership has expanded, with improvements seen in the level of joined up thinking, collaborative working and discussion between partners. The catchment partnership's work has largely focused on a downstream stretch of the Mardyke, where flow has been improved by the creation of berms and the reconnection of the floodplain. Tree planting projects have been undertaken along with a successful river clean project. Recently, the work on the Mardyke involving the 'Land of the Fanns' project and 5 other partner groups has been a significant success for the South Essex Catchment Partnership. One aspect of this work has focused on the management of the invasive floating pennywort within the Mardyke. Supported by Land of the Fanns, the catchment partnership has facilitated a survey mapping the full extent of pennywort within the river and has begun a removal programme to reduce the species prevalence. This has included securing future funding to continue this management work. Working alongside Land of the Fanns, the catchment partnership is also working to restore the floodplain at Davy Down riverside park. This work involves excavating scrape and pond habitats on the land adjacent to the Mardyke in an effort to improve the availability of habitat for a range of terrestrial and wetland species. Finally, natural flood management techniques are being explored within the catchment in an effort to decrease downstream flood risk.

Partnership development plans

A key area for the partnership to develop over the coming years will be to continue to increase membership and engagement from a wider sector, with particular focus on farmers, landowners and local community groups. Also a clearer practical plan should be developed to identify and scope future projects so they are ready for funding and delivery. These projects should have a wider focus on the whole catchment as well as projects specifically on main rivers.