1.2.3. Air, Soil and Water Quality
The region contains a wide variety of soils associated with its diversity and landscape. Some soil types are at significant risk of erosion, particularly thinner soils in upland areas and where this occurs there can be adverse effects on watercourses and adjacent land from increased run-off and siltation. The trampling effect of sheep and cattle leads to banks becoming eroded, which in turn results in topsoil loss and silt being deposited in the river. Eutrophication of watercourses (excessive nutrient build up related principally to phosphorus also poses a threat, especially in lowland rivers. Over the next decade, flood defence schemes will become an increasingly significant factor in the management and landscape of the Humber Estuary and lower reaches of the Rivers Ouse and Trent. The flood prevention and river management schemes involve a range of strategies with far reaching implications, including erosion prevention and riverbank reconstruction, managed retreat, mudflat and saltmarsh development. The Environment Agency`s `Managing the Rising Tides 1999` and the Countryside Agency initiative `Value in Wetness` are looking at ways to integrate rising sea levels and wetland management with farming needs.
Air, soil and water quality issues resulting from agricultural activities, include (Source: Environment Agency):
- Ammonia emissions causing nutrient enrichment (90% of ammonia emissions comes from agriculture);
- Odour from suburban farmsteads, particularly pigs (47% of the complaints, followed by 25% from poultry farms);
- Nutrient losses from free draining soils e.g. chalk;
- Increase in soil erosion due to high stock numbers and changes of farming practices from spring to autumn sown crops leading to larger areas of bare soil;
- Phosphorus-limited eutrophication (also related to sewage treatment).
- Pollution of water courses from sheep dip chemicals is a significant threat in the uplands. New pyrethroid dips are toxic to aquatic life and irresponsible disposal of dips can lead to serious damage to invertebrates and fish in sheep farming areas.
MAFF and other organisations have published a series of Codes of Good Agricultural Practice covering the following:
- Air;
- Water;
- Soil;
- Safe disposal of Agricultural and Horticultural Waste;
- Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Manufacture, Storage and Safe handling of Solid Fertilisers;
- Understanding Rural Land Use;
- Environmental Effects of Agriculture.
Initiatives like the river Esk and river Swale projects, Nitrate Sensitive Areas, Stewardship, ESA`s and Local Environment Agency Action Plans (LEAPS) have all addressed some of the problems but the impacts of agriculture on water and soil erosion, and consequently fish communities, are still considerable. The following data summarises water quality statistics for Yorkshire and The Humber (1993 to 1995). The figures indicate that the Region is still below the national average for water quality largely as a result of the continuing effect of industrialisation and urban pollution.
|
|
|
% |
|---|---|---|---|
| River grade A | Very Good | 1183.7 km | 24.8 |
| River grade B | Good | 1339.2 km | 28.1 |
| River grade C | Moderate | 800.8 km | 16.8 |
| River grade D | Fair | 617.7 km | 12.9 |
| River grade E | Poor | 722.5 km | 15.2 |
| River grade F | Bad | 91.9 km | 2 |
| (Source: GQA 1995). | |||
| NB Totals don't equate to 100% due to rounding. | |||
|
Rivers very good to fair (Grades A to D) | Rivers Poor (Grade E) | Rivers Bad (Grade F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Y&H | 83% | 15% | 2% |
| E&W | 91% | 8% | 1% |
Page last modified:
17 August, 2005
Page published: 1 October, 2000