Conservation
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- Land Drainage Act 1991
- Humber Management Scheme
- Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group
- Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
- Water Level Management Plan
- Environmental Inventory and Management Practices
Under the Land Drainage Act 1991 internal drainage boards have certain duties with respect to the environment and recreation. There is a general obligation placed upon IDBs to carry out their various works in such manner as to further nature conservation and to have regard for features of geophysical or archeological interest. Market weighton Drainage Board endeavours to comply with these requirements by carrying out its works in a timely and sensitive manner. However, any civil engineering work cannot be undertaken without causing some degree of disruption while work is in progress. The Board seeks to minimise the impact of such disruption by not carrying out machine work during the spring and early summer breeding and pollinating season as far as is reasonably possible. Work causing significant disruption is normally carried out in relatively short lengths to allow for natural recolonization of distubed areas.
Market Weighton Drainage Board is a Relevant Authority in respect of the Humber Estuary as defined by Regulation 5 of the Habitats Regulations. The Board has worked in partnership with other relevant authorities in preparing a Scheme of Management for the Humber Estuary in accordance with the Regulations.
The Humber Estuary is one of the UK's largest estuaries. It is surrounded by much high-grade agricultural land plus large urban and industrial areas. The ports and wharves handle 14% of the country's international trade. Wildlife on the Humber includes large numbers of waterfowl, along with seals, a variety of fish species and marine and coastal habitats of international importance. Protection is provided by the European Union's Habitats and Birds Directives, which are transposed into UK law by the Habitats Regulations 1994. In addition, the Humber Estuary is designated as a Ramsar site, under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. The Management Scheme is designed to secure compliance with these Regulations.
The Scheme has been produced by a partnership of the 36 Relevant Authorities that have a statutory role in the management of the Humber Estuary. It incorporates English Nature's advice designed to maintain the habitats and species of the estuary in favourable condition. The work is supported by the Humber Advisory Group, which consists of and liases with a wide range of interest groups.
Detailed study was undertaken on over 100 activites taking place in or around the Humber Estuary, in order to compile the comprehensive Management Scheme. These include, water resources and quality, shipping and navigation, fishing, management of high tide roosts, saltmarsh management, recreation and tourism, land drainage and the sea defences needed to provide a safe environment for the homes of some 300,000 people living on the floodplain.
The Management Scheme details these studies and the proposed Management Actions required to ensure the conservation features remain in favourable condition. The appropriate Management Action depends on the effect of the activity on the Humber. The scheme will be reviewed annually and revised as conditions change, and as new information from surveillance, monitoring and research becomes available. The Scheme does not include plans or proposed new projects, nor the impacts of authorised effluent discharges and water abstraction as these are covered by separate provisions given in the Habitats Regulations.
FARMING AND WILDLIFE ADVISORY GROUP
Market Weighton Drainage Board is a long standing member of the East Yorkshrie Farming and Wildlife Advisory group. FWAG is a national charitable organisation dedicated to integrating wildlife and landscape conservation with practical farming and forestry management. The Board is pleased to support the Groups environmental objectives.
FWAG principally offers advisory services to farmers and other land managers. It specialises in producing whole farm plans indentifying opportunities for environmental enhancement within individual farm holdings. Its conservation objectives lead to the creation of a network of linked environmental corridors within which wildlife can become establised and flourish.
Market Weighton Drainage Board has worked in conjunction with FWAG in promoting the field margin concept. The ideal field margin is seen as that situated along the waterside corridor particuarly where a hedge exists on one side. This creates a network of natural interconnecting corridors where a whole range of plants, mammals and aphid eating insects can flourish. It also provides a barrier against invasive weeds and good field management can result in cost savings on pesticides and fertilizers for the benefit of farmers. An established field margin also prevents damage to drain embankments caused by encroachment from heavy agricultural implements. The presence of the endangered Barn Owl species flying the drainside corridor is the high level indicator of successful field margin development.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has an interest in certain sites within the Market Weighton drainage district. Notably North Cliffe historic woodland and the recently created North Cave Wetlands bird sanctuary. Market Weighton Drainage Board is pleased to have been able to cooperate with YWT in the development of the North Cave Wetlands project, surplus water from which discharges into the Boards pumped drainage system. Water levels are controlled within the wetland site to provide appropriate habitat for a wide variety of breeding and seasonally migrating birds.
The Board is also cooperating with YWT in its regional project to survey for water vole activity. Information collected is used in planning the Boards programme of works.
Market Weighton Drainage Board is the operating authority responsible for production of a Water Level Management Plan covering a catchment area extending over some 2120 Ha served by Seavy Carr Pumping Station. Enclosed within this area is the South Cliffe Common site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) together with a number of other managed conservation areas including both North Cliffe historic woodland and North Cave Wetlands. The purpose of the plan is to assess the existing situation and to endeavour to balance the various requirements of agriculture, flood defence, conservation and amenity in establishing an agreed management plan for the ongoing operation of Seavy Carr pumping station and the land drainage system in general within the catchment area. Consultation took place with all interested parties in preparing this plan. The plan has been agreed with English Nature and will be next reviewed in year 2009. Incorporated within the WLMP is a management agreement for Cliffe Common drain which passes through the SSSI.
ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORY AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Market Weighton Drainage Board has prepared an Inventory of environmental sites and features which exist within the drainage district together with a statement of management practices. Sites listed as being of environmental interest are shown as follows:
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Humber Flats and Marshes - SPA and International Wetland
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Humber Flats and Marshes - Upper Humber SSSI
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South Cliffe Common - SSSI
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Blacktoft Sands - RSPB reserve
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North Cliffe Wood - YWT ancient woodland
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North Cave Wetlands - YWT bird sanctuary
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Holme House moated site - SAM
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Faxfleet moated site - SAM
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Weighton Lock - SAM
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Brough Roman Settlement and Fort - SAM
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138 other ancient sites and monuments
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49 other sites of nature conservation interest
Management practices have evolved intended to minimise disturbance to the natural environment and to provide environmental enhancement. These are shown as follows:
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Most machine work is carried out in late season after harvest. To allow wildlife to flourish during the growing and breeding season.
- Drainsides are flailmowed during autumn after harvest. To control nuiscance growth and to allow lesser species to flourish leaving tufty growth for small mammals.
- Removal of weed by hand in sensitive areas. To avoid undue disturbance to wildlife.
- Adjoining green lanes are mowed one breed on bank top. To provide properly graded margins for wildlife.
- Application of herbicide for channel bed weed control is timed to reduce de-oxygenation of water. To minimise impact on invertebrate and fisheries.
- Flow of water in drains is maintained at all times. To create a healthy waterside environment for wildlife to exist.
- Burning of banks is not permitted. To avoid eradication of natural habitat.
- Hedgerows are left in place on one side of drain wherever possible. To provide shelter and habitat for wildlife.
- Encroaching trees are selectively pruned or coppiced as required. To encourage proper growth of trees.
- Farmers are encouraged not to plough right up to the bank top. To leave a natural field margin for wildlife corridor. (This is now a requirement under the SPS)
- Maintain continuity of existing wide variety of sites and habitats alongside watercourses. To maximise wildlife apportunites.