02/03/2006 - Have you ever stopped to think
where your water comes from? All the water
you use as well as water used by agriculture,
for water bottling and other industry comes
from local rivers and underground sources.
Most people who take water in your local area
must have a licence from Environment Agency
Wales and these ensure that the amount of
water taken out does not cause a significant
impact on the environment, but have we got
the balance right? The river Dee and its tributaries
have played a large part in the development
of some of the beautiful landscape surrounding
it, and they support a diversity of wildlife.
Their fisheries are of a high quality and
angling is popular. They provide domestic
and industrial water supplies and play an
important part in the local economy. It is
vitally important that these important resources
are protected against over use.
Environment Agency Wales is starting work
on the Dee Catchment Abstraction Management
Strategy (CAMS). CAMS are strategies for management
of water resources at a local level and are
being developed throughout England and Wales.
They will make more information on water resources
and abstraction licensing publicly available
and allow the balance between the needs of
abstractors, other water users and the aquatic
environment to be considered in consultation
with the local community and interested parties.
The early stages of the CAMS process involves
identifying what the main concerns and issues
are, and collecting data prior to undertaking
a resource assessment for the catchment.
A leaflet has been produced outlining the
CAMS process and inviting you to become involved
in the development of the Dee CAMS. The leaflet
is available to view on the Agency web site,
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/cams
, where further information about CAMS can
be found. The deadline for receiving responses
from the leaflet is 20 March 2006.
If you would like to receive a paper copy
of the leaflet or discuss CAMS further, please
contact Philip Oliver, CAMS Officer, Tel:
01248 484123 or email cams.walesnorth@environment-agency.wales.gov.uk. |
