DRAFT RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLANS (dRBMP)
SEPA has produced a dRBMP for the Scotland River Basin District (RBD), and has worked with the Environment Agency to produce a dRBMP for the Solway Tweed RBD. These dRBMPs were subject to extensive public consultation, giving an opportunity to contribute to the RBMP process and help create the final plan to be published by SEPA in December 2009.
The consultation is now closed, but the dRBMPs can still be accessed online at Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
Scottish Government Consultations on the draft RBMPs
The Scottish Government also published two consultation documents relating to the RBMP process:
Scotland's Water: Future Directions
This paper set out proposals intended to promote debate on Scotland's programme of measures to manage the quality of Scotland's water environment during the first and successive river basin planning cycles. They are based on an assessment of the proposed objectives set out in the dRBMPs, and review the gaps in our implementation programme. The proposals focus on identifying cost-effective and proportionate actions to deliver wider improvements.
Restoration of the Water Environment
This paper complemented the existing policy framework by setting out proposals to help SEPA, the responsible authorities, and stakeholders take forward restoration measures aimed at addressing the legacy of adverse impacts on the water environment resulting from past human activities. The paper also explored how well-managed restoration measures might deliver multiple benefits, such as sustainable flood management and improved biodiversity.
Both consultation papers, setting out the Ministers' ambitions for Scotland's water environment, were intended to be read in conjunction with SEPA's dRBMPs and the supporting reports below. The responses received to these consultations (available to view in the Scottish Government Library), will also help inform the final dRBMPs.
Scottish Government Publications supporting the dRBMPs
The following documents support and help inform the consultations on the dRBMPs, Scotland's Water: Future Directions, and Restoration of the Water Environment: A series of Impact Assessments lay out the costs and benefits of implementing the programme of measures set out in the dRBMPs and associated consultations, focusing on the identified key pressures:
Impact Assessment of the River Basin Management Plan for the Scotland River Basin District: Summary Report
Impact Assessment of the River Basin Management Plan for the Scotland River Basin District: Technical Report
Impact Assessment of the River Basin Management Plan for the Scotland River Basin District: Scoping Report
Impact Assessment of the River Basin Management Plan for the Scotland River Basin District: Drivers, Policies and Trends Report
The following project was carried out by ADAS UK Ltd and Halcrow to assess the extent to which available policy mechanisms will tackle rural diffuse pollution in Scotland by 2015 and beyond:
ADAS Report: Initial Evaluation of Effectiveness of Measures to Mitigate Diffuse Rural Pollution