Lower Tamar Lake Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB30845324
  • Water Body TypeLake
  • Hydromorphological designationnot designated artificial or heavily modified
  • NGRSS2960311083
  • Surface area15.881 ha
  • Mean depth1.7 m
  • Catchment area1699.25 ha
  • Surface area0.159 km2
  • Altitude133 m
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo

Classifications

Classification Item20192022
EcologicalModerateModerate
Biological quality elementsModerateGood
PhytoplanktonModerateGood
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerateModerate
SalinityHighHigh
Total NitrogenModerateModerate
Total PhosphorusPoorPoor
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports goodSupports good
Hydrological RegimeSupports goodSupports good
MorphologySupports goodSupports good
Supporting elements (Surface Water)ModerateModerate
Expert JudgementModerateModerate
Specific pollutantsHighHigh
CopperHighHigh
ChemicalFailDoes not require assessment
Priority hazardous substancesFailDoes not require assessment
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 substancesGoodDoes not require assessment
FluorantheneGood
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessmentDoes 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 managementTotal PhosphorusDetails
RNAGPoint sourceFarm/site infrastructureAgriculture and rural land managementTotal PhosphorusDetails
RNAGOther pressuresInternal nutrient load (lakes only)No sector responsiblePhytoplanktonDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGDiffuse sourceRiparian/in-river activities (inc bankside erosion)Agriculture and rural land managementPhytoplanktonDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationReservoir / Impoundment - non flow relatedWater IndustryPhytoplanktonDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor Livestock ManagementAgriculture and rural land managementPhytoplanktonDetails
RNAGPoint sourceFarm/site infrastructureAgriculture and rural land managementPhytoplanktonDetails
RNAGOther pressuresInternal nutrient load (lakes only)No sector responsibleTotal PhosphorusDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourceRiparian/in-river activities (inc bankside erosion)Agriculture and rural land managementTotal PhosphorusDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationReservoir / Impoundment - non flow relatedWater IndustryTotal PhosphorusDetails

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 management0000030
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Water Industry1000000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total1000030

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
PhytoplanktonGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
SalinityGood2015
Total NitrogenGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Total PhosphorusGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good2015
Hydrological RegimeSupports good2015
Supporting elements (Surface Water)Good2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Expert JudgementGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Specific pollutantsHigh2015
CopperHigh2015
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
FluorantheneGood2015
Other PollutantsDoes not require assessment2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Lower River TamarSWSGZ5015Safeguard Zone
Tamar Lakes Eutrophic lake NVZEL126Nitrates Directive

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
RIVER TAMAR AT LOWER TAMAR LAKE SURFACE 912102892014, 2012, 20132014, 2016, 2015, 2013, 20192022, 2019

Upstream water bodies

    Downstream water bodies