Suffolk TraC Operational Catchment

About

There are five estuaries along the Suffolk coast (the Stour, Orwell, Deben, Alde/Ore and Blyth) with extensive wildlife-rich intertidal areas of mudflat and salt marsh the importance of which is recognised by their designation as sites of European/National importance. In places, old river mouths have become enclosed by sand and shingle bars, creating large areas of freshwater marshland, much of which is managed as nature reserves. Reclaimed estuarine intertidal areas bounded by river walls are now important agricultural areas. The shoreline consists of predominantly shingle beaches as well as important geomorphological features including shingle structures, such as Orford Ness.

Deben Estuary at Woodbridge

Classifications data for Suffolk TraC 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 transfers0000
Lake0000
Coastal2024
Estuarine0033
Groundwater0000
Total2057

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 bodies006107
Number of water body elements00881228

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 elements145973

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 Suffolk TraC 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 management0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Industry0000000
Local & central government0010000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Other0000000
Recreation0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Water Industry0000000
Total0010000

Objectives data for Suffolk TraC 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 2015004105
By 2027000202
Total004307

2 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

0 of the "by 2027" objectives are low confidence

Summary Statistics data for Suffolk TraC Operational Catchment

Ecological status and potential

Summary statisticRivers, Canals and SWTsLakesEstuariesCoastalSurface Waters Combined
% of water bodies at good or better ecological status/potential0%25%14%
% of biological elements, phys-chem elements and specific pollutants at good or better status78%67%76%
% of water bodies with an objective of good ecological status/potential or better0%75%43%
% of biological elements, phys-chem elements and Specific Pollutants with an objective of good status or better83%67%81%

Chemical

Summary statisticRivers, Canals and SWTsLakesEstuariesCoastalSurface Waters Combined
% of water bodies at good chemical status0%0%0%
% of chemical elements at good status82%80%81%
% of water bodies at good chemical status without uPBT100%100%100%
% of chemical elements at good status without uPBT100%100%100%
% of water bodies with an objective of good chemical status100%100%100%
% of chemical elements with an objective of good100%100%100%
% of water bodies with an objective of good chemical status without uPBT100%100%100%
% of chemical elements with an objective of good without uPBTs100%100%100%