The Environment Agency has today launched a six month-long consultation on the future of the water environment and rivers in England.

The Agency is seeking input from members of the public, businesses and environmental organisations via its Challenges and Choices consultation on how the following eight river basin districts in England will be managed and looked after from 2021 onwards.

• Anglian
• Humber
• North West
• Northumbria
• Severn
• South East
• South West
• Thames

Challenges covered include dry weather, climate change, pollution in our waters and invasive non-native species

The current river basin management plans were published in February 2016. Each river basin district has its own plan, which is now being updated to provide a framework for improvements from 2021.

Launching the consultation, the EA is highlighting the fact that 90 per cent of the UK’s wetland habitats in the last 100 years have already been lost and urgent action is now needed to ensure the protection of what is left.

According to the Agency, better and faster ways must be developed to encourage greater investment in the water environment in order to reverse the damage caused to precious habitats.

Pete Fox, Director of Water, Land and Biodiversity at the Environment Agency said:

“The climate crisis and a growing population are adding to the mounting pressures on our water environment. It is vitally important that we find the right balance between our daily water needs, industry and nature to ensure that it is protected.

“This consultation will provide valuable insight into how we can work together to best manage and maintain this previous natural resource for the future generations.”

Via ‘Challenges and Choices’ the Agency will compile the necessary views to demonstrate what difficult choices must be made to overcome the environmental challenges faced by the whole water environment. It will look at measures on how adaptation to a changing climate and will outline the current challenges the country is facing.

Deadline for responses to the consultation, which is open to any interested parties in the eight river basin districts, is Friday 24 April 2020.

Click here to download a Guide to the consultation and what it covers

Click here to access the consultation online