Deploying any hydropower system changes the environment in which it is installed. The impacts may appear to be insignificant, small and sometimes beneficial to the environment, potentially improving the survival of species and the condition of habitats. However, occasionally the impacts can be catastrophic, damaging ecological processes and impairing ecosystem services; this may be the case even when the visible change is minimal. As a result, it is important that the environmental consequences are considered in the planning phase, long before deployment begins. The sensitivity of our natural environment to inappropriate development is well known and protected by legislation that demands approval relating to changes through site preparation, installation, operation and decommissioning. The impacts may be simple but can change through time reflecting the dynamics of climate, seasons and other activities on the system. Identifying the possible changes can be time-consuming and requires specialist expertise.

From these sections, it is hoped that the actions needed to assess a potential site can be obtained. The important question usually asked of any scheme is “Is the environment likely to be a showstopper?” and there are several important elements that need to be addressed under that question.

Are you on an over-abstracted river?

To take or impound water from a watercourse in NW England will probably need a licence granted by the Environment Agency. Even if no licence is needed it is still worth contacting the Agency early in the planning phase; they can be extremely helpful! A licence is needed for any abstraction for more than about 20 cubic metres of water a day (4,000 gallons),

One of the main reasons for abstraction licences is to prevent too much water being removed to the detriment of other users and the environment. It is important that you recognise the needs of existing users as they may object to your installation; other users are not only those who abstract water (e.g. industrial and agricultural interests), but also recreational users (including fishing, canoeing, swimming, rambling, etc).

The Environment Agency manages the abstraction through geographically defined Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies (CAMS) dividing NW England into 14 catchments; reports describing the current strategy (updated every 6 years) can be downloaded from the website. The reports will provide the abstraction status of every watercourse (classified as water available, no water available, over-licensed and over-abstracted).

Whatever the status of your watercourse it is worth contacting the Agency. Even where systems are currently over-abstracted, work to remedy the situation and availability at times of high flow (usually winter when energy demands are highest) may still make some development possible.

The Environment Agency are also responsible for water quality which influences both conservation and the use of water (e.g. fisheries); this can be disrupted more during the deployment phase than in the routine operation. They are also responsible for the installation and maintenance of weirs and fish passes. As little money is currently available for new modification of watercourses (e.g. building new weirs) and extensive modification is not generally seen as beneficial to the environment it is better if developments match their existing environment. However, where a modification has been made in the past and an installation includes an existing structure the Agency may look more favourably on the development and even look to restore or maintain elements during development.

Will your proposal affect a designated area?

• Is the site located in a designated area?
• Does it flow out of or into a designated site?
• Is it an ecological designation?
• Was it designated for its freshwater?
• Is it local, regional or national designation?

Land can be identified or designated for special management to protect its environmental quality for several reasons including ecology, geology, geomorphology and archaeology. The designation status of a stretch of water, the land on either side of it, or the area through which it flows, feeds or is sourced can place stringent constraints on development. In Britain, designations are independent of each other with no formal hierarchical structure and sites can be covered by several forms covering similar or different characteristics.It is important that the current status of a site is known, along with the reasons for designation, any management plans and its sensitivity to modification. Planning authorities also will assess the potential for new designation and new designations are not uncommon, so a static look-up table or fixed map is insufficient to define the current status, so links on the following pages take you to the relevant designating authority.

With the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) coming into force the environmental constraints are becoming even more important. The goal is that by 2015 all inland water must reach at least a good status and environmental objectives and ecological targets are set for surface waters. This is done through the development of river basin management plans

The Government supports the MAGIC website which allows sites to be selected using postcodes, grid references and a range of other characteristics. It is possible to define a range of designations and other characteristics presented as a map showing the locations relative to a property.

Depending on location, designations have differing importance and they need not be show stoppers, but it is important that the relevant officials are contacted early in the planning process. The officials may be the same for different designations or may be different individuals in the same organisation as they are now managed by a small group of government agencies. It is best to contact the officer with responsibility for the individual designation, although advice from general administrators can be useful.

Below are the common designations that are usually relevant to hydro developments. The specific objectives of environmental designation are aimed towards conservation rather than preservation and so most will give qualified support to development so long as it does not compromise the value or characteristics of the site.

Does the stretch contain any Priority Habitat?

Is the watercourse or any of the surrounding land covered by Habitat Action Plans (HAP)?

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan was produced in response to the international Convention on Biological Diversity that was signed in 1992. A characterisation of the British landscape in terms of Broad Habitats was created and specific habitats were identified that were considered sensitive and needed targeted management, these are called the Priority Habitats. Habitat Action Plans have been written for each Priority Habitat and these are kept under review.

Both the watercourse and its surroundings can be classed as Priority Habitats with different management plans. Rivers and streams are a Broad Habitat and Rivers are a Priority Habitat. Not all rivers and streams are given Priority status; the MAGIC website will help with the identification of specific locations, but as not all sites have been assessed and their quality can change they may be classified at any time.

The categories that will cause the identification include (after UKBAP):

1. Headwaters – this is where the watercourse is within 2.5 km of its source
2. EU Habitat Directive Annex I habitat (H3260 Water courses containing water crowfoots Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion vegetation). These are often (but not always) designated as SACs. Water crowfoots create floating mats of white-flowered vegetation often filling river channels in early to mid-summer. They may modify water flow, promote fine sediment deposition, and provide shelter and food for fish and invertebrate animals and can be susceptible to changes in flow regimes.
3. Chalk Rivers – as they are not found in NW England, so can be ignored.
4. Active shingle rivers – where the river bed has gravel or pebbles, sometimes with sand. Typical of slow, meandering rivers, although not ideal for power extraction, they may be sensitive to changes in flow regime in their higher reaches.
5. SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest):
1. SSSI designated for river species, riverine features or fluvial geomorphology
2. Rivers designated for other features (e.g. surrounding wetlands), with the exception of severely degraded reaches (see below)
6. Sites identified for fluvial geomorphology through the Geological Conservation Review (GCR) – again may be sensitive to modifications of the flow regime.
7. Species – detailed quantitative guidance is under development but will include:

• Annex II species
• BAP priority species

8. Riverine water bodies of high hydromorphological/ecological status. The Environment Agency is working on criteria and rules to identify such water bodies, which will be added to the UK BAP criteria when they are available.

Disqualifying feature

9. Reaches which are heavily degraded and which have little scope for improvement, for example, because they are heavily canalised, will not be considered for inclusion as BAP priority habitat.

Is the watercourse a fish river?

• Are any of the fish Priority Species?
• Is the site used for recreational angling?

Man has had a long relationship with fish as a source of food and now as a source of recreation. Consequently, the modification of any watercourse in a way that will negatively impact on fish populations is unlikely to be welcomed.

A first check of the fisheries near to the site is to check on the Waterscape website. The Environment Agency is responsible for granting rod licences and its fisheries officers may be able to advise on other fishing clubs that are not on the websites. They may also be able to advise on local bylaws.

The Agency also takes responsibility for fish passes, i.e. structures built to allow fish to migrate upstream for spawning and downstream once emerged. Existing fish passes often require maintenance and the Agency may be interested in linking development with other management tasks.

Does the watercourse have any Red Data Book species?

• Are they resident?
• Are they migratory?
• What part of the habitat do they use?

Protected species are often referred to as ‘Red Data Book’ listed. Since the 1970s, these lists have been published describing groups of organisms that are rare, scarce or threatened. JNCC is responsible for collating some of these lists and provides collated information describing the conservation status of a large number of species.

On top of this there are species identified in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) and EC Habitats Directive includes species in Annex II, those found in Britain are listed on the JNCC website.

The species can be categorised as:

Invertebrates – there are a number of insects, spiders, crustaceans, molluscs and other species that are listed (unfortunately named terrestrial invertebrates). The presence and importance of the watercourse for these species requires expert assessment.

Fish – there are 15 species on the UK BAP list, but not all are river species (e.g. Artic char). The use of the watercourse for migration to spawning sites must be considered; the presence of fish passes and the timing of development and activities in the water may be constrained. Water wheels used to traditionally attract eels, so a development need not always be detrimental.

Amphibians & reptiles – these generally are not associated with running water but need to be considered if they are found in surrounding habitats.

Birds – none of the birds listed by the UK BAP are dependent on flowing water, but their presence may constrain development time and location.

Mammals – water voles and otters are the two British aquatic mammals whose presence must be examined. The impact of development on other listed species must be assessed.

Plants – both vascular and non-vascular plants are recognised as being at risk and must be assessed.

The expertise of a trained ecologist is needed for all the ecological and species assessments.