Witherslack Main Drain Water Body

Moderate ecological status

Attributes

  • Water Body IDGB112073071290
  • Water Body TypeRiver
  • Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
  • NGRSD4486981535
  • Catchment area13.19 km2
  • Catchment area1318.97 ha
  • Length2.597 km
  • Surveillance Water BodyNo

Classifications

Classification Item2019
EcologicalModerate
Biological quality elementsGood
InvertebratesGood
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedHigh
Phytobenthos Sub ElementHigh
Physico-chemical quality elementsModerate
Ammonia (Phys-Chem)High
Dissolved oxygenModerate
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
RNAGmeasures delivered to address reason, awaiting recoveryNot applicableNo sector responsiblePolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)Details
RNAGPoint sourcePrivate Sewage TreatmentDomestic General PublicDissolved oxygenDetails
RNAGPhysical modificationOther (not in list, must add details in comments)Sector under investigationMitigation Measures AssessmentDetails
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 management0000000
Industry0000000
Mining and quarrying0000000
Navigation0000000
Urban and transport0000000
Water Industry0000000
Local & central government0000000
Domestic general public0000000
Recreation0000000
Waste treatment and disposal0000000
Other0000000
No sector responsible0000000
Sector under investigation1000000
Total1000000

Objectives

Classification ItemStatusYearReasons
EcologicalGood2027 - Low confidenceDisproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
Biological quality elementsGood2015
InvertebratesGood2015
Macrophytes and Phytobenthos CombinedGood2015
Physico-chemical quality elementsGood2015Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens
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
Morecambe Bay And Duddon EstuaryUK9020326Special Protection AreaNatural England
Morecambe BayUK11045Ramsar SiteNatural England
Morecambe BayUK0013027Special Area of ConservationNatural England
Witherslack MossesUK0030302Special Area of ConservationNatural England
Morecambe Bay PavementsUK0014777Special 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
WITHERSLACK MAIN DRAIN @ HIGHSTOCK BDG 880225372012, 2013, 20142015, 2013, 2016, 2014
160772 16077220142015, 2016, 2014
RIVER GILPIN AT SAMPOOL BRIDGE 880044042011, 2010, 2009
RIVER WINSTER AT TIDAL DOORS 880044662011
MEATHOP MARSH DRAIN BY SUNNYSIDE COTTAGE 880044432009
QUICKSANDS POOL AT CRAG FOOT 880044682009

Upstream water bodies

    Downstream water bodies