5 investigative assessments. donal daly
TRANSCRIPT
The Role of Investigative Assessments
Donal Daly, Jenny Deakin & Marie Archbold
Catchment Science & Management Unit EPA
Steps in the ICM Process (adapted from USEPA (2008)
Integrated Catchment Management (ICM)
Steps in the Integrated Catchment Management Process 1 1. Build Partnerships
• Identify key stakeholders • Identify issues of concern • Conduct public outreach
2. Create and communicate a vision of ICM • For example: A healthy, resilient, productive and valued water
resource, that supports vibrant communities. 3. Characterise the Catchment
• Gather existing data and create a catchment inventory • Identify data gaps & collect additional data, if needed • Analyse data • Identify causes and sources of pollution • Estimate pollutant loads • Evaluate hydromorphological pressures • Undertake risk assessments
4. Undertake Further Characterisation • Collect and evaluate local information • Locate critical source areas (CSAs) • Undertake investigative monitoring • Undertake catchment walks • Estimate load reductions needed
5. Identify & Evaluate Possible Management Strategies • Evaluate existing measures • Get stakeholder input • Take account of ecosystem and geosystem services, water value,
pollution sources and CSAs • Develop possible management options • Undertake SEA and Habitats Directive Assessment, as appropriate • Undertake economic analysis • Rank the measures
6. Design an Implementation Programme • Set environmental objectives • Select appropriate mitigation measures • Develop an implementation schedule with milestones • Develop the monitoring component • Develop an engagement strategy • Identify technical & financial assistance needed • Prepare RBMP
7. Implement the River Basin Management Plan
• Prepare a work plan with short- and long-term outcomes • Implement the measures • Use metrics to track progress • Integrate with planning process • Conduct engagement, including awareness raising, consultation &
collaboration 8. Measure Progress and Make Adjustments
• Analyse trends and outcomes • Give feedback to stakeholders • Make adjustments, if necessary
1 Adapted from USEPA (2008)
Characterisation & Analysis Tools
GIS Databases Statistical
packages Numerical
models Flow estimations Load estimations Monitoring
Catchment Information
Tool
River Basin
Management Plan
Step 5: Identify & evaluate possible management strategies and measures
Potential Strategies and Measures
1. Local (field-scale) mitigation measures 2. Engagement & Partnership 3. Incentives, e.g., GLAS 4. Innovation & new technology 5. Licensing of discharges to water 6. Compliance checking 7. Integration of WFD objectives into the
planning process 8. ????
But …… these have to be based on good information & knowledge and therefore are not
enough on their own.
What does the initial subcatchment & catchment characterisation process provide for “At Risk” & “Review” water bodies?
For majority of situations, it is a good guide to:
The parameters causing the problems (P. &/or N. &/or etc) The pressures causing the problems, including the %age of
pollutant loads coming from each pressure The likely locations of the significant pressures & CSAs
But this is not enough on its own to justify use of resources – time, staff & money.
Therefore, further assessment necessary ……..
Where pressure is a large point source or a detailed evaluation has already been carried out, or the measure is in place, no further assessment needed, but this is an uncommon situation for most WBs.
So, what is needed? Detective work to get further evidence
of : The parameters causing the problems (P. &/or N.
&/or sediment, etc.) The pressures causing the problems. The locations of the significant pressures
We are calling this “INVESTIGATIVE ASSESSMENT”
In most situations, only with this ‘investigative assessment’ approach can appropriate measures be considered, fully costed, prioritised and decided on.
Potential Strategies and Measures
1. Investigative assessment 2. Local (field-scale) mitigation measures 3. Engagement & Partnership 4. Incentives, e.g., GLAS 5. Innovation & new technology 6. Licensing of discharges to water 7. Compliance checking 8. Integration into the planning process
Investigative assessments (1) Focus on subcatchments with “At Risk” and “Review”
water bodies.
Focus on subcatchment scale critical source areas (delineated by the EPA pollution impact potential (PIP) maps) in the case of likely diffuse pressure impacts.
Focus on locations of small and large point sources, e.g., farmyards, silage pits/clamps, cattle stream access/crossing points, farm roadways, WWTPs, etc.
Therefore, process enables targeting of further characterisation & ultimately targeting of measures
Investigative assessment (2) Step 1
Desk study, based largely on information in the WFD App, LA and/or other public body datasets and, if necessary, other readily available information, such as at www.gsi.ie , www.opw.ie and/or http://gis.epa.ie/Envision Gives essential background information
and helps focus the work
Investigative assessment (3) Step 2 “Boots on the ground” IA consists of some or most of the following:
Catchment walks and visual assessment Talking to local people, particularly farmers (can be part of engagement &
of resolving problems) Soil sampling and testing results, with NMP evaluation. Noting potential pollution sources, land-use, vegetation indicators of water
movement Soils mapping/checking & evaluation of role of ditches & land drainage &
slope & drainage density. Field measurements of water conductivity, temp, DO and pH in local
streams Physico-chemical and chemical sampling & analysis Small stream risk score assessments Analysis of information and conceptualisation of the situation, followed by
conclusions.
All undertaken in the context of water quality outcomes All undertaken mainly by LA staff
Investigative assessment (3) Step 3 Comprehensive Investigations:
Numerical modelling Drilling & testing boreholes Stream flow measurements Determining Q values Etc
Recording work & results
RMCEI It will be necessary to record
Investigative Assessment work undertaken by local authorities
Recording work & results
On-going EPA/LA monitoring
The Future – an Opportunity
We have/will have information readily available in the WFD App We have the required knowledge and expertise in
public bodies & consultancies We have a holistic, effective approach – integrated
catchment management (ICM) LA scientists have a critical role…. But, LAs must
have adequate resources There is not only the necessity, but also the
momentum and enthusiasm to succeed. However, words won’t make it happen; only actions
will. We have to be unselfish …..
This opportunity is our challenge.
Investigative Assessment
But, it is interesting, exciting, rewarding & even perhaps fun!!