Severn Uplands

Catchment partnership vision

Work together across the Anglo-Welsh border to reduce the effects of flooding, drought and pollution in a way that creates a healthy water environment for biodiversity and the local economy.

Severn Rivers Trust

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

  • Pollution from agriculture and rural areas

    Nutrient from rural land management run off is effecting water quality and sedimentation effecting fish spawning areas

  • Pollution from waste water

    Nutrient from waste water impacting on water quality

  • Pollution from towns, cities and transport

    Misconnected drainage, physical modification and highways drainage affect water quality, habitat and biodiversity

Wider water environment challenges identified by partnership

  • Protect and restore healthy soils and nutrient balance

    Nutrient and sediment from rural land management run off impacts river ecology and water quality

  • Support Nature Recovery Network and Local Nature Recovery Strategy

    Taking local action in the farmed landscape could help manage, create or habits

  • Connecting communities with nature

    Raising awareness with local communities is essential to inspiring change

  • Build environmental resilience and adaptation to climate change

    The predicted impacts of climate change need an approach that reduces flood risk, enhances the environment and manages water resources

Future challenges predicted by partnership

  • Pollution from agriculture and rural areas

  • Changes to the natural flow and water levels

  • Invasive Non-native Species

Future challenges predicted by Environment Agency

Future challenges in 2050

  • Invasive Non-native Species
  • Pollution from Agriculture and Rural Areas
  • Changes to the Natural Flow and Water Levels

Emerging challenges

  • Changes to the Natural Flow and Water Levels
  • Pollution from Agriculture and Rural Areas
  • Pollution from waste water

Partnership success highlights 2016 to 2021

Partnership project work has included: REAction 2 project in Shropshire - partnership working with farmers reducing diffuse and direct pollution sources as well as improving rain water harvesting and water conservation measures. Also improving habitats and fish passage solutions. The Welsh Government funded Nant Allen & Cain (Powys) project working with farmers increasing NFM measures, creating habitat and preventing diffuse and direct source pollutants entering rivers. Also fish habitat restoration planning works with funding from Natural Resources Wales to fund extensive catchment walkovers to assess conditions for fish passage, habitat enhancement, recovery of biodiversity, invasive non-native species management and agricultural opportunities e.g. cattle poaching river banks. Collaboration and contribution to the development of the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme which will adopt a range of measures to reduce flood risk, support the green recovery and deliver environmental improvements.

Partnership development plans

Improving balanced partnership working and representation across the border of Wales and England including with local communities. Better joint funding by Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales across border. Sustainable and consistent development of the whole River Severn Basin catchment partnership, engaging more effectively at strategic level whilst reinforcing the value of local operational catchment partnerships.

Partnership priority actions and measures for 2022 to 2027

  • Confident

    REAction Project – Continuation of this multi partner, multi beneficial, whole catchment approach in the Rea Brook

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage rural diffuse pollution
    Delivery mechanism
    WEIF Water Environment Improvement Fund
    Location
    Rea Brook

  • Confident

    Establish a multi partner, multi beneficial, whole catchment approach on the Morda

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage rural diffuse pollution
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Location
    Morda and Severn North Shropshire

  • Confident

    Establish a multi partner, multi beneficial, whole catchment approach on the Cound

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage rural diffuse pollution
    Delivery mechanism
    Confirmed water industry national environment programme 2020-2025
    Location
    Cound Brook

  • Confident

    Work with the River Severn Partnership in identifying measures to reduce flood risk downstream

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage regulated flows
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Location
    Severn Uplands

  • Confident

    Cross border working - Work with NRW to address failing catchments that cross the Anglo Welsh border

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage rural diffuse pollution
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Location
    Severn Uplands

  • Confident

    Support continued implementation of projects on the Welsh side of the catchment Nant Allen & Cain projects

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage rural diffuse pollution
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Location
    Severn Uplands

  • Less certain

    Manage INNS

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage invasive non-native species
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Barriers to delivery
    Specific emphasis and funding targeted at INNS
    Location
    Severn Uplands

  • Less certain

    Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage rural diffuse pollution
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Barriers to delivery
    There needs to be appropriate regulations in place to stop gravel loss
    Location
    Severn Uplands

  • Less certain

    Reduce the impact of agricultural practices on water quality

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage rural diffuse pollution
    Delivery mechanism
    Environment Land Management Scheme (future full-scale roll-out)
    Barriers to delivery
    Appropriate regulations and funding to support improvements
    Location
    Severn Uplands

  • Wider water environment

    Peatland Restoration in the Upper catchment

    Reason for measure
    Protect and restore healthy soils and nutrient balance
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Location
    Severn Uplands

  • Wider water environment

    Collaborate, contribute and support the Natural Recovery Network and Local Nature Recovery Strategy

    Reason for measure
    Support Nature Recovery Network and Local Nature Recovery Strategy
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Location
    Severn Uplands

  • Wider water environment

    Understand the wider impacts of soil health on the wider catchment.

    Reason for measure
    Protect and restore healthy soils and nutrient balance
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Location
    Severn Uplands

Catchment Partnership contributors

Partners involved in the creation of this page and the actions of the partnership: