Pressures on our freshwater and coastal environments

To protect the values identified we need to understand the activities that are placing pressure on our freshwater and coastal environments.

We know in many waterbodies, natural character and natural processes have been degraded from factors such as vegetation loss, contaminant discharges, channel modification and structures. This may be made worse by the effects of climate change and we do not yet understand how our freshwater bodies and coastal areas will adapt, however sea level rise, more droughts and floods will change how we need to manage our freshwater and coastal environments to ensure both our communities and our waterbodies are resilient.

Recent hot, dry summers have shown there is increasing pressure on water availability, and loss of shading affects freshwater habitat resilience. Flood events highlight the need for room for rivers to respond and healthy biodiversity so that species are resilient and able to recolonise disturbed habitats.

For the coastal environment - which includes marine areas and the land along the coast where coastal processes and patterns dominate the land - pressures also include:

• Residential growth – both permanent and holiday accommodation.
• Development areas for recreation and tourism.
• Commercial development use e.g. port development.
• Public and private structures e.g. coastal defenses.
• Growth and protection of infrastructure including roading, pipes, and cables.
• Wastewater treatment plant discharges.