Mortons Leam Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB105032050382
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationartificial
  • NGRTF3430300423
  • Catchment area23.319 km2
  • Surveillance Water BodyYes
  • Length21.228 km
  • Catchment area2331.874 ha

Classifications

Classification Item2019
EcologicalModerate
Biological quality elementsPoor
FishPoor
InvertebratesGood
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos Combined
Macrophytes Sub ElementPoor
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)High
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)Moderate
Dissolved oxygenGood
PhosphateGood
TemperatureHigh
pHHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports good
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Moderate
Mitigation Measures AssessmentModerate or less
ChemicalFail
Priority hazardous substancesFail
Benzo(a)pyreneGood
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good
HexachlorobenzeneGood
HexachlorobutadieneGood
Mercury and Its CompoundsFail
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
Priority substancesGood
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good
FluorantheneGood
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment

Why do all water bodies have a chemical status of fail?

Investigations into classification status

No data to show

Reasons for not achieving good (RNAG) and reasons for deterioration (RFD)

All reasons (RFDs and RNAGs) attributed to the classification elements in this water body.

Reason TypeSWMIActivityCategoryClassification ElementMore information
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor Livestock ManagementAgriculture and rural land managementFishDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationInland boating and structuresLocal and Central GovernmentFishDetails
RFDMonitoring Site Changed (RFD only)Not applicableNo sector responsibleFishDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Agriculture and rural land managementMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGInvasive non-native speciesChinese mitten crabNo sector responsibleFishDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor soil managementAgriculture and rural land managementFishDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationLand drainageAgriculture and rural land managementFishDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Local and Central GovernmentMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails

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 issuePhysical modificationsPollution from waste waterPollution from towns, cities and transportChanges to the natural flow and level of waterInvasive non-native speciesPollution from rural areasPollution from abandoned mines
Agriculture and rural land management2000020
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Water Industry0000000
Local & central government2000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000100
Sector under investigation0000000
Total4000120

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
FishGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedNot assessed2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2015
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)Good2015
Dissolved oxygenGood2015
PhosphateGood2015
TemperatureGood2015
pHGood2015
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Good2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Mitigation Measures AssessmentGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Specific pollutantsNot assessed2015
ChemicalGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority hazardous substancesGood2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Benzo(a)pyreneGood2015
Dioxins and dioxin-like compoundsGood2015
Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxideGood2015
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)Good2015
HexachlorobenzeneGood2015
HexachlorobutadieneGood2015
Mercury and Its CompoundsGood2040Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2015
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority substancesGood2015
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good2015
FluorantheneGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
River Nene NVZS382Nitrates Directive
Nene WashesUK9008031Special Protection AreaNatural England
Nene WashesUK11046Ramsar SiteNatural England
Nene WashesUK0030222Special Area of ConservationNatural England

Monitoring sites which have been used to classify this water body

Shows which sites were used for classification for which years within each cycle.

Monitoring SiteCycle 1Cycle 2Cycle 3
MIDDLE LEVEL SYSTEM/TWENTY FOOT DRAIN/POPLARTREE BRIDGE/ 48722010, 2009, 2011
KINGS DYKE STANGROUND SLUICE 53M012009
MORETONS LEAM ELDERNELL SLUICE MORT050E2011, 2012, 2010, 2009, 20142019, 2016, 2015, 20142019
NENE CATCHMENT/BELOW WANSFORD/STANGROUND BACK CHANNEL/ 61122012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 2011, 20142015, 2013, 2016, 2019, 20142019
MIDDLE LEVEL SYSTEM/BEVILLS LEAM/CHAPEL BRIDGE/ 49022012, 2010, 2009, 2011, 20142015, 2014
157600 1576002014, 2013
56208 562082010, 2009, 2013, 2011, 2012
COUNTER DRN.ACCESS BR.DOG + DOUBLET CDRF080D2009
56168 561682010
93791 937912011, 2014, 20132014, 2013, 2016, 2015, 20192019
R.NENE DOG IN A DOUBLET SLUICE NENE640D2011, 2010, 2012, 2009, 2013, 20142013, 2014
TWENTY FOOT R.HOLLOWAYS FARM 53M532009
BEVILLS LEAM CHAPEL BRIDGE 53M072009
MIDDLE LEVEL SYSTEM/KINGS DYKE/HORSEY TOLL/ 48972012, 2010, 2009, 2011
56172 561722010, 2009
89741 897412013, 2011, 2014, 2012, 2010, 20092015, 2013, 2016, 2014
NENE CATCHMENT/MORETONS LEAM/STANGROUND/ 61142012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 2011, 20142015, 2013, 2016, 2019, 20142019
MIDDLE LEVEL SYSTEM/TWENTY FOOT DRAIN/GOOSETREE CORNER/ 48742012, 2010, 2013, 2009, 20142015, 2013, 2014
MIDDLE LEVEL SYSTEM/KINGS DYKE/WHITTLESEY/ 48992012, 2010, 2009, 2011, 20142015, 2014
55698 556982011
WHITTLESEY DYKE TURNING TREE BRIDGE 53M042009
55493 554932009, 2010, 2011
NENE CATCHMENT/MORETONS LEAM/LITTLE BRIDGE/ 61162010, 2009, 2011, 2014
MIDDLE LEVEL SYSTEM/WHITTLESEY DYKE/ASHLINE LOCK/ 48932010, 2009, 2011, 2014
NENE CATCHMENT/MORETONS LEAM/MARCH FARMERS/ 61192010, 2009, 2011

Upstream water bodies

Downstream water bodies