A plan which prioritises the restoration of lakes on the Broads to meet government targets in twenty years time has been produced for the first time by the Broads Authority.
The illustrated Lake Restoration Strategy earmarks those of the 64 broads which have the greatest recovery potential and will give the best returns for investment. It takes into account the current condition of the broads, and the risk of saline incursion in the future and reviews the success of past restoration schemes.
The strategy, which sets out plans to reach Water Framework Directive targets by 2027, targets good quality broads in the upper reaches which are isolated from the main river system and have the greatest chance of retaining freshwater habitat in the face of climate change.
Examples of work which will be carried out include the Trinity Broads, at Ormesby, Filby and Rollesby, which offer sailing, rowing and guided canoe trails to the public, and Norton’s Broad on the Trafford Estate, upstream of Wroxham, which are earmarked for mud pumping to remove nutrients and increase depth in the next couple of years. Norton’s Broad will then be opened up for guided canoe trails.
The challenges for achieving high biodiversity in the poorer quality broads, which are mainly connected to the river network, are greater and recovery will come from working in partnership with farmers, developers and householders.
Andrea Kelly, Head of Conservation and author of the strategy, said:
"The Broads Authority has been undertaking lake restoration work with its partners for 20 years and as a result the water quality on the Broads is steadily improving. But it is a long term project and there’s still a lot more work to be done. The strategy helps us focus on lakes with the highest possibility of success."
The lake restoration will be funded by half the extra National Park grant of £1.3 million which has been provided by the government over the next three years. However the strategy highlights that additional annual budgets of £350,000 are required to achieve Water Framework Directive targets by 2027.
Clive Doarks, Planning and Biodiversity Adviser for Natural England, said:
"By prioritising water bodies of greatest value and those at lowest risk from climate change the strategy represents an excellent example of adaptive management in the face of a changing climate."
In tandem with lake restoration the Broads Authority is working with partners such as Natural England and the Environment Agency and farmers to reduce sediment entering the Broads. It is also running a campaign urging boaters and householders to use detergents which do not contain phosphates, which pollute the Broads. A leaflet giving guidance on how to help will be available from the Broads Authority shortly.
Reproduced by kind permission of
Broads Authority.
