The Environment Agency has launched a new consultation on significant water management issues for river basin management planning - the current river basin management plans were published in October 2022 and must be reviewed and updated every 6 years.
The consultation covers all the river basin districts (RBDs) that are entirely in England, and the Severn and Northumbria RBDs which lie partly in Wales and Scotland respectively.
The Agency is now seeking views on the significant water management issues which present challenges to the health of the water environment. Over the next two years the EA will be reviewing and updating the river basin management plans -information gathered through the consultation will help it update the current plans.
The EA’s work will include reviewing and updating the environmental objectives for every water body and the programmes of measures needed to achieve those objectives.
Legislation requires that the updated plans and programmes of measures for each river basin district will be published by 22 December 2027.
The Significant water management issues consultation is an important step in this process – the Agency will use the responses to help it consider how some of the current approaches to the management of water will need to change in response to a changing climate. The EA have determined the significant management issues with partners based on data analysis, which is detailed in the Evidence section of the consultation.
Navigating the consultation
The consultation has a section dedicated to each of the significant water management issues. Each section has a summary, links to more detailed information and questions the EA would like feedback on – it is not necessary to respond to all questions.
Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Reports
The environmental regulator carries out strategic environmental assessments (SEA) during the update of the river basin management plans. These consider environmental risks and opportunities and develop a plan that delivers better environmental outcomes
Alongside the consultation the EA have also published Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Reports setting out the approach that will be taken for the SEAs in each river basin district in the update to the RBMPs.
The consultation closes at 11:59pm on 20 May 2026 – click here to access the consultation online.
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