Select one of the focus areas:

1. Investment in STWs (phosphate reduction)

Progress

• South West Water have plans to invest in sewage treatment works to reduce phosphate level in 48 river water bodies
• The funding for this is agreed in 5-year investment periods; AMP8 is 2025-2030 and is currently being delivered ; there are 5 river water bodies that will see reductions in phosphate from AMP8 investments at an estimated total cost of £15 million
• AMP9 (2030-2035) is still subject to consultation; South West Water are currently planning investment in phosphate reduction in 17 river water bodies in AMP9 at an estimated total cost of £51 million
• Having made these investments, there are 7 river water bodies that will definitely require investment in sewage treatment works to reduce phosphate levels; these should be the priority for any further changes to AMP9, and then for AMP10 (2035-2040); this would cost c.£21 million
• In addition, there are 19 river water bodies where wastewater phosphate forms part of mixed pressure signature, along with agriculture pressures. While sewage treatment works investment is necessary in these catchments, it is unlikely to be sufficient on its own to achieve Good Ecological Status and will need to be combined with agricultural interventions. Investment in these river water bodies in AMP10 (2035-204) would cost an estimated £57 million
• All funding is currently classified as available because a recognised delivery mechanism exists through successive water company investment periods (AMP8, AMP9 and AMP10). While not all funding has yet been formally approved, there is a clear and established route to securing investment through the regulated water industry planning process

Highest Priority, as Predominantly Waste Water Issue

Secondary Priority, as Mixed Waste Water and Agricultural Issues

Others Included in SWW’s AMP8 (2025-2030) or AMP9 (2030-2035) Investment Programme

2. Investment in storm overflows (reduction in spills)

Progress

• South West Water have plans invest in all storm overflows that are regularly spilling, with a target to bring them down to less than 12 spills per year
• These investments are prioritised across investment periods
• AMP8 (2025-2030) prioritises storm overflows impacting shellfish waters, bathing waters and ecologically sensitive stretches of river; this includes 5 river water bodies at an estimated cost of £35 million
• AMP9 (2030-2035) remains subject to consultation and regulatory approval; South West Water are currently planning storm overflow investment affecting 19 river water bodies at an estimated cost of £133 million
• The remaining storm overflows required to achieve the less-than-12-spills-per-year target would then be addressed through AMP10 (2035-2040). We currently identify 9 river water bodies with high or very high spill frequencies that should be prioritised for acceleration into AMP9 where feasible
• All funding is currently classified as available because a recognised delivery mechanism exists through successive water company investment periods (AMP8, AMP9 and AMP10). While not all funding has yet been formally approved, there is a clear and established route to securing investment through the regulated water industry planning process

Priority Because of Impact on Shellfish Waters, Bathing Waters, and Ecologically Sensitive Stretches of River

Secondary Priority Because of Very High or High Spill Duration per Year

3. Regulatory enforcement to drive compliance with Farming Rules for Water

Progress

• The Environment Agency currently has 2 regulatory enforcement officers active in the North Devon Management Catchment, each with a target of inspecting and working with 40 farms per year; this level of activity was started in 2025
• We estimate that inspections and engagements at 645 farms within priority or secondary priority river water bodies will be needed to drive towards Good Ecological Status; with 2 regulatory enforcement officers and 40 farms per year, this will take c.8 years
• We would advocate for investment in a third, and potentially a fourth, regulatory enforcement officer. This would represent a relatively low-cost intervention with the potential to significantly accelerate delivery across agricultural catchments
• We have classified the funding as available because regulatory enforcement forms part of the Environment Agency's existing statutory responsibilities. The current level of resource is sufficient to deliver the intervention over time, although additional officer capacity would significantly accelerate delivery and increase the likelihood of achieving Good Ecological Status within a shorter timeframe

Priority as Predominantly Agricultural Issue

Secondary Priority, as Mixed Waste Water and Agricultural Issues

4. Dairy/beef cattle slurry management support

Progress

• There are generalist farm advisory programmes active across Northern Devon (Natural England, Devon Wildlife Trust, Westcountry Rivers Trust and North Devon Plus), but none are explicitly focused on beef and dairy cattle farms and slurry management. Advisory support is available, but current provision is fragmented and not aligned to the priority river water bodies identified through Catchment Catalyst
• The UK Government has previously funded slurry infrastructure improvements through schemes such as the Slurry Infrastructure Grant, providing capital support for additional slurry storage and associated infrastructure. However, the programme has operated through periodic funding rounds rather than as a permanent open scheme, creating uncertainty around future access to capital funding and making long-term planning difficult for farmers
• Additional support has historically been available through the Countryside Stewardship Capital Grant programme for some pollution reduction and water quality measures. However, access to these grants is often linked to the work of the Catchment Sensitive Farming team, whose resources are limited and currently focused on a small number of priority catchments each year. Demand for capital grants has also frequently exceeded available funding
• There is currently no dedicated North Devon programme focused specifically on slurry management within priority river water body catchments. As a result, support is fragmented across advisory, regulatory and grant-funded initiatives
• Designing and securing funding for a dedicated slurry management programme should be considered a priority. We estimate that approximately 245 priority livestock farms fall within the 14 target river water body catchments. Delivering tailored advice and infrastructure improvements across these farms is likely to require a multi-year programme combining advisory support, grant funding, farmer investment and private finance
• Based on current funding mechanisms, we estimate that approximately 20% of the required investment could potentially be met through existing grant programmes and farm co-investment, leaving a significant funding gap that would require a dedicated catchment-scale funding programme to address

Priority Farms Capital Improvements

5. Poultry manure management support

Progress

• There are generalist farm advisory programmes active across Northern Devon (Natural England, Devon Wildlife Trust, Westcountry Rivers Trust and North Devon Plus), but none are specifically focused on poultry manure management within poultry-intensive catchments
• Existing support is largely targeted at nutrient management and regulatory compliance rather than the systematic management of poultry manure surpluses at catchment scale. As a result, there is currently no coordinated programme addressing the movement, treatment, processing and application of poultry manure across priority river water body catchments
• Some support may be available through existing grant programmes, including Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants, Catchment Sensitive Farming support and wider pollution reduction initiatives. However, these schemes were not designed specifically to address poultry manure pressures and are unlikely to provide funding at the scale required
• Delivery is further complicated by the fact that the environmental impact of poultry enterprises is often concentrated within a relatively small number of holdings, requiring bespoke solutions rather than generic farm advice
• Designing and securing funding for a dedicated poultry manure management programme should be considered a priority. We estimate that approximately 74 priority poultry farms fall within the 10 target river water body catchments. Delivering tailored advice, nutrient planning, manure handling improvements, treatment infrastructure and manure export arrangements across these farms is likely to require a multi-year programme combining advisory support, grant funding, poultry supply-chain investment and private finance
• Based on current funding mechanisms, we estimate that approximately 20% of the required investment could potentially be met through existing grant programmes, farm investment and poultry supply-chain contributions, leaving a substantial funding gap that would require a dedicated catchment-scale programme to address

Poultry Manure Management Support - Priority River Water Bodies

6. Soil health interventions

Progress

• We estimate that support is required at approximately 645 farms within the 48 target river water body catchments, at a total cost of £18.0 million. Delivering soil health and runoff reduction measures across these farms would require a combination of advisory support, environmental land management payments, targeted capital grants and private finance over a number of years
• There are a range of farm advisory programmes active across Northern Devon, including support delivered by Natural England, Devon Wildlife Trust, Westcountry Rivers Trust and North Devon Plus (although some of these programmes require continuation funding). In addition, the Catchment Sensitive Farming team provides dedicated support within two priority river water body catchments each year. Together, these programmes already provide a substantial proportion of the advisory capacity required to support soil health and runoff reduction measures
• Government funding is available through the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), which supports many of the measures identified within this intervention, including cover crops, herbal leys, low-input grassland, buffer strips, nutrient management and soil planning. Additional support has historically been available through the Countryside Stewardship Capital Grant programme for practical runoff reduction measures such as sediment traps, livestock management infrastructure, watercourse fencing and alternative drinking water supplies. However, access to these schemes can be constrained by advisory capacity, eligibility requirements and the fact that demand has often exceeded available funding
• In addition, there is emerging evidence of soil carbon markets providing a potential private-finance route for some farms, creating opportunities to blend public and private funding sources where improvements in soil health can be measured and verified
• The principal challenge is therefore not the absence of funding mechanisms, but ensuring that advisory support and financial incentives are targeted towards the highest-priority farms and river water bodies identified through Catchment Catalyst
• Based on current funding mechanisms, we estimate that c.66% of the £18.0 million investment requirement could potentially be met through existing Government schemes and emerging private-finance mechanisms over a 10-year period, leaving a significant but potentially bridgeable funding gap

Priority as Predominantly Agricultural Issue

Secondary Priority, as Mixed Waste Water and Agricultural Issues

7. Fish data

Progress

• The Westcountry Rivers Trust already undertakes extensive fisheries monitoring across the South West, including electrofishing surveys using methodologies similar to those employed by the Environment Agency
• However, fish classification under the Water Framework Directive is currently based on formal Environment Agency monitoring data. While fisheries data collected by third parties is routinely shared with the Environment Agency and may be used to inform wider fisheries management decisions, it is not generally relied upon directly for Water Framework Directive classification purposes
• As a result, the purpose of this intervention is not to replace statutory Environment Agency monitoring. Instead, it is to generate sufficient evidence to challenge current assumptions, identify where classifications may no longer reflect river conditions, and support the case for updated Environment Agency monitoring during the next Water Framework Directive assessment cycle
• The Environment Agency has already recognised that fish classifications may be unreliable in a number of river water bodies. We have identified nine river water bodies where suspect fish data may be contributing to current classifications and where updated evidence could materially affect ecological status assessments.
• Compared with many other restoration interventions, this represents a relatively low-cost and potentially high-impact opportunity. If updated monitoring demonstrates that fish populations are healthier than current classifications suggest, a number of river water bodies could potentially achieve Good Ecological Status without requiring additional physical restoration measures.
• There is currently no dedicated funding programme for this activity. Delivery would require a relatively modest investment through fisheries programmes, catchment partnership funding, charitable grants, research funding or direct support from the Environment Agency

Fish Data River Water Bodies

8. Removing barriers

Progress

• The Westcountry Rivers Trust and Environment Agency already undertake fish passage and river restoration projects across the South West, meaning the technical expertise and delivery mechanisms are well established
• We have identified seven river water bodies where fish passage appears to be a significant constraint on achieving Good Ecological Status. However, delivery costs remain highly uncertain until individual structures have been assessed and options developed
• Experience elsewhere demonstrates that costs vary considerably depending on the size of the structure, ownership, engineering complexity and consenting requirements. Individual projects can range from relatively simple removals to multi-million-pound engineering schemes
• The immediate priority is therefore assessment, option appraisal and project development. This will create a pipeline of investable projects and improve confidence in future cost estimates
• There is currently no dedicated funding programme for these barriers. Delivery is expected to rely on a combination of Environment Agency funding, river restoration programmes, charitable grants, National Lottery funding, water company catchment investment and private finance

Removing Barriers - Priority River Water Bodies

9. Special case interventions

Progress

• We have identified 8 river water bodies where failure appears to be driven by localised or non-standard pressures that do not fit within the main intervention pathways identified through Catchment Catalyst
• These include issues such as historic mining impacts, specific pollutants, low or no flow conditions, heavily modified channels and other complex ecological pressures that require bespoke assessment and response
• Unlike wastewater, agricultural runoff or fish passage interventions, there is no standard delivery model for these river water bodies. Each case requires investigation to understand the root causes of failure and identify appropriate solutions
• The immediate priority is therefore feasibility, evidence gathering and option appraisal to improve understanding of costs, benefits and delivery mechanisms
• Funding routes are also likely to vary significantly between sites and may include regulatory investment, public-sector funding, environmental grants, charitable funding and private finance, depending on the nature of the pressure being addressed
• Given the complexity and diversity of these cases, cost estimates and delivery pathways remain less certain than for other intervention areas. As a result, further investigation should be considered the first phase of delivery

Special Case Interventions

10. Riparian tree planting

Progress

• The North Devon Biosphere Foundation, through the Devon Woods programme, already has an active delivery mechanism for woodland creation across Northern Devon. This provides an established platform for identifying opportunities, engaging landowners and supporting applications for woodland grants
• Funding is available through the Forestry Commission's England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO), which provides support for woodland establishment and long-term maintenance. As a result, unlike many other interventions, a recognised and funded delivery route already exists
• We have therefore classified the full £2.7 million investment requirement as available, as the principal funding mechanism is already in place. The key challenge is not securing grant funding but generating sufficient landowner participation and targeting woodland creation towards the highest-priority river water bodies
• The priority should be to focus woodland creation within river water bodies where riparian planting can deliver the greatest ecological benefit, including locations affected by nutrient enrichment, elevated algal growth, limited channel shading and poor habitat resilience
• Additional incentives may further increase uptake. In particular, opportunities to combine EWCO support with woodland carbon revenues, biodiversity funding and water-company catchment investment could improve the attractiveness of projects to landowners and accelerate delivery
• While some continuation funding will be required to maintain the advisory capacity provided through Devon Woods, the delivery model, funding route and implementation mechanisms are already established, making this one of the most delivery-ready interventions

Riparian Tree Planting

11. Fish habitat improvement

Progress

• The Westcountry Rivers Trust already delivers fish habitat improvement projects across Northern Devon and the wider South West, including gravel augmentation, woody debris introduction, bank restoration, channel diversification and other measures designed to improve habitat quality for salmonids and other fish species
• As a result, the technical expertise, delivery partnerships and practical methods required to implement this intervention are already well established. The challenge here is securing funding to expand activity within the six priority river water bodies
• There is currently no dedicated long-term funding programme available to deliver fish habitat improvements at scale. Delivery is therefore expected to rely on a combination of Environment Agency fisheries programmes, river restoration funding, water company catchment investment, charitable trusts, environmental grants and private finance

Fish Habitat Improvement - Priority River Water Bodies

12. Private sewerage awareness & improvement programme

Progress

• There is currently no dedicated programme or lead organisation focused on identifying and addressing private sewerage impacts within priority river water body catchments.
• We have identified 18 river water bodies where private sewerage systems may be contributing to water quality pressures. However, further investigation is likely to be required before the scale of the problem, and the most cost-effective interventions, can be fully understood
• Potential delivery partners could include local authorities, the Environment Agency, catchment partnerships, water companies and environmental NGOs. However, no delivery mechanism has yet been established
• At present there is no dedicated funding route for this intervention. Further work is required to identify potential funding sources and delivery partners, although the relatively modest scale of investment required suggests that a targeted awareness and improvement programme may be achievable through a combination of public funding, charitable grants and catchment partnership investment
• Given the relatively low cost of intervention and the potential for cumulative improvements across multiple catchments, a pilot programme focused on a small number of priority river water bodies may represent an effective first step

Private Sewerage Awareness & Improvement Programme