Implementing the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003: Updating environmental standards for the water environment
Feedback updated 26 Oct 2021
We asked
We asked for your views on proposed updates to a range of existing environmental standards and new environmental standards aimed at improving the way we monitor, assess and classify the water environment under River Basin Management Planning.
You said
We received a total of 14 responses to the public consultation. Overall, respondents were supportive of the proposals, although there were some concerns raised about the proposed updates for certain environmental standards. A number of respondents offered recommendations for additional work to further develop these standards. Some asked for greater clarification about the process of deriving the standards, their implications and/or how they will be applied in practice.
We did
We have published non-confidential responses to the consultation and an analysis of the consultation responses (link below). Preparations are now underway to introduce the revised environmental standards through directions to SEPA and the feedback received from this consultation help shape the standards and future considerations. These standards will be used to inform the development of the 3rd round of River Basin Management Plans.
The full analysis report can be found at:
Published responses
View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.
Overview
Environmental standards form the foundation of a risk-based approach to River Basin Management Planning. In 2014, prior to the publication of the second River Basin Management Plans, Scottish Ministers directed the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to apply a range of environmental standards in protecting, improving and assessing the condition of the water environment.
Updating environmental standards in the light of improved scientific understanding is important. It helps ensure we protect the water environment without imposing unnecessary constraints on development. It also enables us to refine our understanding of where the water environment is under pressure and the scale of environmental improvements we would need to achieve good ecological quality.
We are proposing to introduce a small number of changes to the 2014 standards and assessment methods, based on the latest scientific understanding of aquatic ecosystems, and taking account of the evidence gained from using the existing standards and environmental monitoring programmes from across the UK.
Our proposed updates are as follows:
- river fish statistical methodology update
- river phytobenthos assessment method update
- loch fish new eDNA assessment method
- loch morphology: bank protection assessment method update
- introduction of spatial standards for fish barrier assessment
- new nitrogen standards for lochs
- invasive non-native species list updates
- river flow standards changes:
- artificially increased flows in high hydrological status waterbodies
- short term abstraction in good hydrological status waterbodies
Why your views matter
We are seeking views on our proposals for new or updated environmental standards for Scotland’s water environment, and updates to some of the assessment methods used for deriving such standards. Scottish Ministers intend to direct the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to apply these proposed standards and assessment methods in River Basin Management Planning and to guide action to protect Scotland’s water environment.
What happens next
Following this consultation Scottish Ministers will take into account the views expressed in making their decision to direct the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (“SEPA”) to apply these proposed standards and assessment methods in River Basin Management Planning and to guide action to protect Scotland’s water environment. A breakdown of responses and how they were addressed will be published.
Interests
- Environment and Climate Change
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