Restoring Surrey’s Rivers
River rehabilitation is currently being driven by the Water Framework Directive. This legislation establishes a framework for the protection of groundwater, inland surface, estuarine (transitional), and coastal waters.
The Catchment-Based Approach (CaBA) is a community-led approach that engages people and groups from across society to help improve our precious water environments. CaBA Partnerships are now actively working in 100+ catchments across England and Wales.
Formation of the Catchment Partnerships in Surrey
In September 2011, DEFRA and the Environment Agency invited submissions to host a partnered approach for achieving the Water Framework Directive (WFD) objectives. They selected 15 pilot catchments across England to join the 10 Environment Agency-led catchments already chosen earlier that year as part of the Catchment-Based (CaBA) approach.
In November 2011 Surrey Wildlife Trust formed the Wey Landscape Partnership (WLP) and in 2012 set up the River Mole Catchment Partnership (RMCP), subsequently the South East Rivers Trust (SERT) joined the RMCP as co-hosts in 2016 and the WLP in 2021. SERT also host the Medway Catchment Partnership, of which Surrey Wildlife Trust are an active member.
Surrey Nature Partnership works with both River Catchment Partnerships as the umbrella organization.
Since their conception, the Catchment Partnerships have delivered a number of River Restoration and Water Quality Improvement Projects.
Ongoing Projects:
- St Georges College, Chertsey River Restoration (Wey)
- Rye To Good (Mole)
- Pipp Brook Restoration Project (Mole)
- Riverfly – Citizen Science Project (Throughout)
Historical projects:
- Chertsey Meads Fish Refuge Restoration (Wey)
- Community River Restoration Projects at Alton, Farnham, Oakhanger and Blackwater (Wey)
- Diffuse Pollution Advice Workshops with key business sectors in the catchment (Golf Courses, Leisure and Equestrian).
Catchment Plans
The Catchment Partnership Storymaps form the catchment plans, are available online and detail the aims and objectives as well as including ongoing or finished projects.
The objectives of the Partnerships are to deliver a healthier, more resilient rivers network in Surrey. Recognising the valuable services to society provided by water and wetlands including clean water, flood mitigation, carbon storage, recreation and amenity.
River Mole Catchment Partnership Catchment Plan
Funding
Partnerships aim to seek investment from public and private sectors to help maintain and enhance rivers so they continue to deliver benefits into the future.
Funding to date has been from sources such as EA Grant-In-Aid, Surrey County Council and Water Companies. Businesses, including water companies and housing developers, have over time invested in the Cranleigh Waters Community River Restoration projects.
The hosting functions provided by SWT and SERT has been enabled through annual Catchment Partnership Funding from the Environment Agency and in recent year additional funding has been received from Thames Water.
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