Water Resources Management Plan 2014

Attended the first Freshwater Open Forum and part of the new WRMP14, link below

http://www.thameswater.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/corp/hs.xsl/15159.htm

For the first time they are opening this up to wider stakeholder engagement, hence the TAC being invited to be part of the process, also in attendance was Mark Lloyd for Fish Legal and Martin Salter for the Angling Trust.

The forum consists of many stakeholders including local councils, the EA, Ofwat, Defra, London assembly, Canals Trusts and more.

Today there was a high level view of what the 5 year process is towards and outcome of water resource planning for the next 25 years.

Presentations from Thames water, Ofwat, Defra and the EA about the challenges posed in water management strategy, such as dealing with the Water Framework directive and abstraction, household water consumption, reservoirs, clmitae change and much more, I wont bore you. Crucially though a major part was water trading and infrastructure to support this, so getting the water from the wet North, to the dry South. No doubt is going to be the biggest single factor.


There are some smaller sub groups and we will be involved with the Lower Thames Operating Agreement review which is all aspects of the amount of water Thames can abstract, how much is allowed to come over the weirs and all related impacts. They have never had anglers involved before so a real first, a chance to make sure all our interests are represented.

Cheers