The overall objective is to produce an Environmental Monitoring Plan (EMP) in support of DCWW’s Drought Plan. This entails preparing EMPs for over 30 Drought Order/Drought Permit (DO/DP) sites that have been selected within North, South West and South East Wales. Key studies involve reviewing water resources management issues associated with each site, and undertaking hydrological and environmental assessment. This includes baseline data collation and review (e.g. flows and levels, geomorphology, water quality, aquatic ecology, recreational activities, landscape and visual amenity and archaeology and cultural heritage), gap analysis and a review of potential impacts and mitigation measures. Further to this, a detailed survey programme design is being prepared for each site. 

 

The overall purpose to the approach is to give the regulators confidence in the integrity of the monitoring programmes to support DO/DP applications, should they be necessary. A wide-ranging consultation exercise is being undertaken throughout the project, engaging key statutory and non-statutory organisations including the Environment Agency and the Countryside Council for Wales.