Yorkshire Water's Biodiversity Action Plan

PROGRESS MEASURES 2006

Yorkshire Water Services Ltd (YWS) has responsibilities for protecting the environment, both as a major regional landowner and through our operational activities, which depend directly on the natural water environment. The Government have made it clear that in their view, all organisations, including private companies such as YWS, have a part to play in protecting biodiversity, and in delivering the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (developed by the government to deliver the UK responsibilities under the Convention on Biodiversity, signed in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit).

The Yorkshire and Humber region contains around 35 UK priority habitats of National or International importance for conservation, including the largest area of lowland raised peat in England, 52% of the UK’s limestone pavement, and 28% of the UK’s upland heathland. Current and historical records are also held for 173 species of national conservation importance within the Yorkshire and Humber region.

We recognise our responsibility regarding the protection of the environment and where the benefits clearly exceed the costs are working to protect and enhance biodiversity both on our landholdings and those linked closely with its activities. YWS’ approach to biodiversity is to integrate practices aimed at protecting and enhancing biodiversity on its landholdings into day-to-day operations.

Following on from the development of our Biodiversity Strategy produced in November 2004, we are currently in the process of developing our Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), which sets out a series of progress measures that we have committed to achieving for the benefit of biodiversity, and will be periodically reviewed.

These progress measures, have been outlined below together with a list of key habitats and indicator species. These habitats and indicator species, have the potential to be affected by our activities, and will therefore be the primary focus for future conservation (and where applicable improvement), should funding become available. However, due to diversity of our activities and the range of habitats and species we come into contact with, we also aim that actions taken by YWS are to benefit biodiversity as a whole.

YWS BAP – Progress Measures

External Text	Measure Date	Progress
YWS to maintain FSC accreditation, which delivers the targets set out in the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme. This will lead to major benefits to woodland habitats and species on YWS land.	April 2006	Y
Woodland management plans to be developed for 75% of woodlands on YWS owned land.	April 2006	Y
Develop and agree more detailed actions and progress measures as part of Yorkshire Water’s BAP, linked to habitats and species.	April 2006	Y
YWS will work in partnership with our independent Environmental Advisory Panel (EAP) to find synergies and deliver greater value to each organisation in our biodiversity work.	Sept 2006	Y
Incorporate biodiversity measures into YWS’s Environment Management System (EMS), to support certification to the ISO 14001 EMS standard.	Nov 2006	Y
Data to be collated for the YWS operational area for key protected and BAP priority species, within a company-wide GIS tool. To include both surveys carried out by YWS and relevant data available from other organisations. Data collected by YWS to be made available to other organisations via Biodiversity data centres.	Dec 2006	Y
YWS will work with environmental organisations within the region to promote the concept of a regional data hub to facilitate the collation and exchange of ecological data between environmental organisations and companies for the benefit of regional biodiversity.	Dec 2006	Y
Complete pilot investigation into changing compensation releases from reservoirs to benefit downstream habitats and species. Second stage of the investigation to be scoped and agreed.	April 2007	Y
Develop a biodiversity risk management tool as part of the company-wide GIS, to embed the need to review biodiversity issues within the business and highlight potential impacts of YWS activities on biodiversity. The tool (which is being developed in 4 stages), will act to identify the need for further surveys (subject to funding in AMP5), management plans, mitigation/enhancement measures where benefits clearly exceed the cost (and subject to funding in AMP5) and to link this tool to other business processes.	Stage 2: April 2007 Stage 3: April 2008	Ongoing
YWS to establish the number of tenant farmers currently in agri-environmental schemes to assess the links with biodiversity and SSSI improvements.	Dec 2006	Y
Develop an ongoing programme of internal communication to make all YWS employees aware of the BAP targets, and increase our awareness of protected habitats and species and biodiversity issues, as part of the EMS education and awareness programme.	Dec 2008	Ongoing
For those remedies we have control over, YWS will aim to achieve 95% of YWS owned SSSI, SAC and SPA sites in recovering or favourable condition.	Mar 2010	Ongoing
Complete investigations into flow or water level sensitive sites and watercourses, to assess potential impacts of YWS abstractions. Potential to deliver benefits for a range of habitats and species dependant on wetland habitats.	Mar 2010	Ongoing
Implement AMP4 Water Quality investment programme to deliver identified capital improvements across Yorkshire, delivering a benefit to a wide range of habitats and species dependant on river water quality.	Mar 2010	Ongoing
YWS will deliver its AMP5 funded obligations in support of the Water Framework Directive, thus improving the quality of the ecology and chemistry of surface waters in the Yorkshire region, thereby assisting them to achieve ‘good ecological’ status.	Dec 2015	Ongoing
Investigate the new Humber estuary habitats designation, to better understand what impacts our activities may have on a site, and what we consequently may need to change. Communicate the findings of these studies to the Environment Agency and collaboratively identify what approach should be taken at sites with adverse impacts.	2008	Ongoing
Conduct investigations to better understand what impacts our activities may potentially have on specific SSSIs. Studies to be completed at Fairburn Ings, River Moss, River Wharfe (Buckden) and Askham Bog.	2007	Ongoing
Reduce the level of nutrients that we discharge to Potteric Carr SSSI from our Balby STW to achieve the new consented nutrient nutrient values (under the WFD??)	2009	Ongoing
Reduce the level of phosphorous that we discharge to the river Derwent from our STWs at Malton, Seamer, Melbourne, Pickering and Stamford Bridge.	2010	Ongoing

Biodiversity Activities

• We are an active partner in Pennine Prospects – the south pennines rural regeneration company, comprising 9 local authorities whose objectives include developing a more coordinated approach to access.

• Little ringed plovers, and other ground nesting birds have successfully nested at our Tophill Low Nature Reserve this year and have also attracted broad-bodies chaser due to our work on wetland and mink management at ponds and marshes.

• Nightjars, buzzards, warblers and various species of dragonfly have been spotted in the Washburn Valley, largely due to how we manage our woodlands, creating ponds on the back of capital schemes and working in partnership with Nidderdale AONB & local wildlife groups.

• We are investigating the feasibility of creating ancient oak woodland on a current plantation site at Dallowgill (north of Pateley Bridge) in collaboration with the Millenium Trust, Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Natural England, the Forestry Commission and others. We have also begun planting 130,000 trees across the region to replace windblown conifers.

• We carry out actions to fight fire on the moors at Rishworth and Black Hill

• Through our involvement with the Defra Major Landowners Group, we are working in collaboration with others to influence how land can be managed to the benefit of water quality.

• We also continue to encourage applications for Landfill Tax Credits funding for biodiversity related projects.