Environmental flow setting in England and Wales: Strategies for managing abstraction in catchments

This paper describes the evolution of methods to set environmental flows in England and Wales. Problems and challenges are reviewed in the context of recent legislative developments, and examples are given of different conceptual approaches. Scenario-based approaches have evolved as a pragmatic means to resolve competing uses of water; in contrast, approaches based on ecological objectives aim to meet more consistent goals. Where rivers or associated wetlands have been designated under national or European conservation legislation, broad ecological objectives are already under discussion. Furthermore, the European Water Framework Directive now requires good ecological status, or its equivalent, to be reached in all waters. Recently, the Environment Agency has developed a new process for managing abstractions in England and Wales; this includes a common methodology for the setting of environmental flows using objective methods.