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!!