Tidal Dee Catchment Partnership
Catchment partnership vision
Our vision is that the Dee estuary is clean and full of wildlife, enjoyed by people and sustainably managed. Our working long term vision is that the Dee Estuary is managed collaboratively, connecting two countries and their communities, and celebrated for its healthy natural ecosystem and clean water.
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
Physical modifications
Lack of ecological and flow diversity due to physical modifications and water management
Pollution from agriculture and rural areas
Diffuse pollution from rural and urban areas affects river and transitional waterbody status
Pollution from towns, cities and transport
The Tidal Dee transitional waterbody fails on water chemistry which affects its Special Area of Conservation features
Wider water environment challenges identified by partnership
Connecting communities with nature
Improving understanding and appreciation of the wildlife significance of the Dee Estuary
Nature Recovery, designated areas for nature and biodiversity
Work to remove the Dee Estuary from the Montreux Record (an at risk register of Ramsar wetlands)
Reduce storm overflows and drainage system incidents
Stopping waste water discharges directly into the Dee Estuary
Removing plastics/litter from the water environment
Reducing the impact of fly-tipping, plastics and litter in the Dee Estuary environment
Build environmental resilience and adaptation to climate change
Taking a nature based approach to tackling the issues of flooding and coastal erosion
Support Nature Recovery Network and Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Working with stakeholders to integrate the land and sea interface into strategic plans and policies
Future challenges predicted by partnership
Pollution from waste water
Changes to the natural flow and water levels
Pollution from agriculture and rural areas
Future challenges predicted by Environment Agency
Future challenges in 2050
- Invasive Non-native Species
- Pollution from Agriculture and Rural Areas
- Pollution from waste water
Emerging challenges
- Pollution from waste water
- Changes to the Natural Flow and Water Levels
- Pollution from Agriculture and Rural Areas
Partnership success highlights 2016 to 2021
In 2015/16 walkover surveys across Finchett's Gutter, Shotwick Brook and Burton Brook were undertaken and pollution prevention packs produced, raising stakeholder awareness of issues. The packs are now used by other partnerships across the country. In 2016/17 the project extended to Balderton Drain, a total of 36.3km of watercourse (92.5% of the catchment) were surveyed which identified 281 pollution issues or potential issues. The more pertinent instances were followed up with work on the ground. In 2017/18 the Love my Estuary project secured resolutions with landowners in the Balderton Drain area. Following 3 years of development work the Tidal Dee Catchment Partnership successfully secured funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2021. The funding is for a three-and-a-half-year cross border water and wildlife project on the Dee Estuary called Our Dee Estuary / Caru Aber Dyfrdwy. The project is about connecting coastal communities of the Dee Estuary (Wirral, Cheshire West and Chester, Flintshire and Denbighshire areas) with their natural heritage to create a new community of stewardship to protect the unique and spectacular coastal natural heritage. The Dee Estuary has an array of nature conservation designations. As a European Marine Site it comprises the marine areas of The Dee Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA) and Dee Estuary / Aber Dyfrdwy Special Area of Conservation (SAC). It is also designated as a Ramsar site and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Tidal Dee Partners, manage these designated conservation features as well as contributing towards improving river basin planning waterbody status and improving natural capital.
Partnership development plans
We will be increasing our engagement with local communities and exploring funding streams to reconnect people with the Dee Estuary. Our partnership will develop and strengthen over the coming years by working collaboratively on projects around the English and Welsh coasts of the Dee Estuary.
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
- Dee Estuary
Confident
Our Dee Estuary / Caru Aber Dyfrdwy; Connecting Coastal Communities to share heritage, working to improve protected sites and water bodies
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage urban diffuse pollution
- Delivery mechanism
- Heritage Lottery Fund
- Location
- Dee Estuary
Less certain
Chester Wetland Centre, creation of wetland to improve water quality and biodiversity, part of Green Link Project
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage rural diffuse pollution
- Delivery mechanism
- WEIF Water Environment Improvement Fund
- Barriers to delivery
- Funding secured for feasibility study; further funding needed to deliver the project
- Location
- Finchetts Gutter
Less certain
Lache Eyes Nature Reserve, mixed habitat creation to sequester carbon, improve water quality and biodiversity and address mitigation measures
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage rural diffuse pollution
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Barriers to delivery
- Funding secured for feasibility study; further funding needed to deliver the project
- Location
- Balderton drain
Less certain
Deliver farmyard pollution interventions
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage rural diffuse pollution
- Delivery mechanism
- Grant giving trusts and businesses
- Barriers to delivery
- Multiyear funding needed
- Location
- Finchetts Gutter Balderton drain
Wider water environment
Cross border project inspiring communities about the coastal wildlife of the Dee Estuary
- Reason for measure
- Connecting communities with nature
- Delivery mechanism
- Heritage Lottery Fund
- Location
- Dee Estuary
Wider water environment
Improving the condition of coastal wetland habitats
- Reason for measure
- Nature Recovery, designated areas for nature and biodiversity
- Delivery mechanism
- WEIF Water Environment Improvement Fund
- Location
- Dee Estuary
Wider water environment
Using nature based solutions to reduce the risk of flooding to coastal communities
- Reason for measure
- Build environmental resilience and adaptation to climate change
- Delivery mechanism
- Other Public funding
- Location
- Dee Estuary
Catchment Partnership contributors
Partners involved in the creation of this page and the actions of the partnership: