ECSFDI Monitoring and Evaluation Framework
Objectives
The main purpose of monitoring and evaluation is to find out whether the ECSFDI is achieving its objectives of raising farmer awareness of diffuse water pollution from agriculture (DWPA) and encouraging early voluntary action to help achieve the objectives of the Water Framework Directive.
We are monitoring farmer engagement, awareness and attitudes and changes in farmer behaviour and practice. We are also carrying out environmental monitoring and modelling. We recognise that water quality responses will not be immediate and that models provide an effective way of predicting environmental improvements resulting from the ECSFDI.
ECSFDI Phase 1 report
- Report on the first phase of the ECSFDI (PDF 170 KB)
Our evaluation of ECSFDI Phase 1 (2006-08) was completed in May 2008 - Full evaluation report (PDF 430 KB)
- Annex 1 – ECSFDI and Associate Catchments (PDF 220 KB)
- Annex 2 – Priority DWPA pollutants within each Priority Catchment (PDF 430 KB)
- Annex 3 – Summary of farmer telephone surveys, self-completion surveys and case studies (PDF 20 KB)
- Annex 4 – Summary of ECSFDI advice delivery activity (PDF 70 KB)
- Annex 5 – Summary of advice delivery activity through the ECSFDI-VI partnership (PDF 15 KB)
- Annex 6 – Some key organisations, projects and initiatives that have engaged with the ECSFDI(PDF 20 KB)
- Annex 7 – ECSFDI events - counts of recommended DWPA mitigation methods (PDF 220 KB)
- Annex 8 – One-to-one advice visits - counts of recommended DWPA mitigation methods (PDF 290 KB)
- Annex 9 – Counts of planned / implemented DWPA mitigation methods (PDF 260 KB)
- Annex 10 – Take-up of selected ELS options (PDF 90 KB)
- Annex 11 – Predicted reductions in DWPA pollutant loadings (PDF 510 KB)
- Annex 12 – Catchment typologies for different DWPA pollutants (PDF 880 KB)
- Annex 13 – Predicted reductions in orthophosphate and total nitrogen concentration and loads (PDF 90 KB)
- Annex 14 – Summary of advice delivery for the Associate CSF Projects (PDF 30 KB)
Monitoring farmer engagement, awareness and actions
A telephone survey to assess changes in farmers’ awareness of the ECSFDI and water pollution from agriculture has been updated.
- England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative Farmer Impact Survey (PDF 700 KB)
- Previous survey: Farmer impact survey 2008 - full report
Environmental monitoring
Environmental monitoring is essential to measure the environmental benefits of the initiative.
Routine Environment Agency monitoring is undertaken in all priority catchments. This includes both water chemistry and biology (e.g. aquatic plants, invertebrates and fish). Water companies also monitor water chemistry at drinking water abstraction points.
We are also undertaking additional environmental monitoring to support our modelling work and to provide a baseline for assessing improvements in the longer-term.
The environmental monitoring provides accurate load estimates for key DWPA pollutants within a representative sub set of the priority catchments. Fourteen river catchments are being monitored.
Nine of the catchments are being monitored for a range of DWPA pollutants. These catchments are representative of the catchment types in the programme:
Catchment |
Pollution issue |
|---|---|
| River Test | Nutrients and sediment |
| Eastern Rother and Walland Marsh | Nutrients and sediment |
| River Yealm and Erme | Nutrients, sediments and faecal indicator organisms |
| Hampshire Avon | Nutrients, sediments and faecal indicator organisms |
| River Wensum | Sediment and pesticide |
| Rivers Deben, Alde + Ore | Nutrients and sediment |
| River Tweed | Nutrients and sediment |
| River Wyre | Nutrients, sediment, organic pollution, faecal indicator organisms |
| River Eden | Nutrients and sediment |
In addition, targeted pesticide monitoring is being undertaken at single sites at the downstream end of six catchments identified as being ‘highest risk’ by the Voluntary Initiative:
- River Lugg
- River Teme
- River Yare
- River Waveney
- River Wensum
- Yorkshire Ouse
We are also funding sediment load monitoring in the Dorset Frome catchment, building on the results of a previous project in this catchment.
Please contact either Phil Smith at phil.smith@environment-agency.gov.uk or Emma Blunden at emma.blunden@environment-agency.gov.uk if you require any further information.
Page last modified:
7 April 2009
Page published 31 October 2006