8-Jun-2006
- As part of events to mark World Environment
Day ( 5 June), staff from Environment Agency Wales
will be taking part in a voluntary clean up of
the Swinchiard Brook, Flint.
On Monday 5 June Agency staff,
working with Keep Wales Tidy, and other local
stakeholders will clean up a large downstream
section of the brook, which flows directly to
the Dee Estuary.
The brook flows though one of
the areas largest industrial estates and is undergoing
an Agency Pollution Prevention Campaign, in support
of a local regeneration scheme lead by Flintshire
County Council.
It is hoped that the clean up
will increase the recreational value of the local
environment and raise the profile of improvement
works being carried out in the area.
The litter pick is one of a
number of events the Agency is involved in to
mark World Environment Day on Monday 5 June. To
find out how you can do something to help the
planet for World Environment Day and beyond, visit
the Environment Agency’s website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wed
Water abstraction in
the Llyn and Eryri area – have yoursay
8-Jun-2006 - In order to better
manage water resources in the Llyn and Eryri area,
Environment Agency Wales has conducted a study
of the effect of water abstraction on the aquatic
environment. As a result of this study, we will
publish the Llyn and Eryri Catchment Abstraction
Management Strategy (CAMS).
CAMS will make more information
on water resources and abstraction licensing publicly
available and will allow us to balance the needs
of abstractors, other water users and the aquatic
environment.
All the water you use as well
as water used by agriculture, water bottling and
other industry comes from local rivers and from
local 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?
Our study suggests that in the
majority of rivers in the Llyn and Eryri area,
abstraction does not cause significant environmental
problems. This is the case for rivers such as
the Afon Ogwen, Seiont, Dwyfor and Glaslyn. However,
the study has also concluded that there are abstraction-related
pressures on the Afon Gwyrfai, near Waunfawr and
Bontnewydd, the Afon Goedol, near Blaenau Ffestiniog
and the Afon Prysor, near Trawsfynydd. As well
as causing environmental problems, these abstraction
pressures could impact on the local economy –
potentially affecting angling, recreation as well
as preventing future abstraction for industry.
In order to help us decide how
to manage water abstraction in future, we have
put together a consultation document, which outlines
our proposals for the future. Now is the chance
for you to have your say! We are inviting comment
on the provisional strategy between now and the
30 June.
- Copies of the consultation
document will be available in your local library
as well as in the Water Resources section of the
Environment Agency’s website http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/cams).
The consultation period ends on 30June – all comments
need to be made by that date.
- If you would like to receive
a copy of the consultation document or discuss
CAMS further, please contact
Emyr Gareth, CAMS Officer, Tel: 01248 484073 or
email cams.walesnorth@environment-agency.wales.gov.uk