Ribble Management Catchment

About

The urban areas, such as Preston, Blackburn, Burnley and Clitheroe, have been identified for housing growth and renewal. This growth needs to be planned and delivered in a way that reduces pressures on the water environment. The Ribble and its tributaries provide good habitat for iconic species such as salmon and otters. Significant efforts to increase numbers have been undertaken in recent years, but further action is required to improve habitats and water quality further. The upper Ribblesdale area also supports significant populations of native crayfish. The Ribble Estuary is one of the largest in the UK and its wetlands are home to thousands of overwintering migratory birds, which account for its designation as a Special Protection Area.

Bridges over the River Ribble

Classifications data for Ribble Management 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 transfers4802371
Lake021517
Coastal0000
Estuarine0000
Groundwater0000
Total4823888

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 bodies175723088
Number of water body elements73385139442706

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 bodies88088
Number of water body elements1878931080

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 Ribble Management 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 management00203600
Domestic general public00000159
Industry0030051
Local & central government00150000
Mining and quarrying0001000
Navigation0020000
No sector responsible0000000
Other0060010
Recreation0010000
Sector under investigation0000000
Urban and transport00160038
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Water Industry10400038
Total10491362456

Objectives data for Ribble Management 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 201500120021
By 2021000909
By 202700058058
Total00187088

57 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 206308888
Total08888

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