The Gara Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB108046004930
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationnot designated artificial or heavily modified
  • NGRSX8206947562
  • Catchment area32.272 km2
  • Catchment area3227.19 ha
  • Length15.097 km
  • Surveillance Water BodyYes

Classifications

Classification Item2019
EcologicalModerate
Biological quality elementsModerate
FishGood
InvertebratesHigh
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedModerate
Macrophytes Sub ElementGood
Phytobenthos Sub ElementModerate
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)High
Dissolved oxygenGood
PhosphateGood
TemperatureHigh
pHHigh
Hydromorphological Supporting ElementsSupports good
Hydrological RegimeHigh
MorphologySupports good
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
NonylphenolGood
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Fail
Priority substancesGood
1,2-dichloroethaneGood
BenzeneGood
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good
DichloromethaneGood
FluorantheneGood
TrichloromethaneGood
Other PollutantsGood
Carbon TetrachlorideGood
DDT TotalGood
para - para DDTGood

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 managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor soil managementAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGDiffuse sourcePoor nutrient managementAgriculture and rural land managementMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGPoint sourceSewage discharge (continuous)Water IndustryMacrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedDetails
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsibleMercury and Its CompoundsDetails

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 Industry0100000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation0000000
Total0100030

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
FishGood2015
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately 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)Not assessed2015
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
NonylphenolGood2015
Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS)Good2015
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Good2063Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time
Priority substancesGood2015
1,2-dichloroethaneGood2015
BenzeneGood2015
Cypermethrin (Priority)Good2015
DichloromethaneGood2015
FluorantheneGood2015
TrichloromethaneGood2015
Other PollutantsGood2015
Carbon TetrachlorideGood2015
DDT TotalGood2015
para - para DDTGood2015

Protected areas

PA NameIdDirectiveMore information
Start Bay_EUKSW121Shellfish Water Directive
Slapton Ley Eutrophic lake NVZEL124Nitrates 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
THE GARA AT TORCROSS 708101022015
THE GARA AT HIGHER NORTH MILL 708101442010, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2012, 2013
9308 93082009, 2013, 2011, 2014, 2012, 20102019, 2015, 2016, 2014, 20132019
THE GARA AT OTTER CLIFF 708101282009, 2014, 2012, 20132016, 2014, 2015, 2013
THE GARA/HIGHER NORTH MILL -(SP)/ 289562010, 2013, 2009, 2011, 2014, 20122013, 2016, 2019, 2014, 20152019

Downstream water bodies