The Welsh and UK Government have today announced a new £1 million
joint research initiative to tackle water quality issues in the
River Wye.
The Welsh Deputy First Minister, , and UK Government's Water Minister, , made the announcement during a
roundtable meeting in Monmouth with key stakeholders from both
sides of the border.
The comprehensive cross-border research programme will:
- Investigate the sources of the pollution and pressures
affecting the river
- Study the impacts of changing farming practices and land
management
- Develop and test new ways to improve water quality
- Examine what's driving wildlife decline and water flow – the
movement and quantity of water which is crucial for habitats and
species
Local farmers, environmental groups, and citizen scientists will
play a crucial role in gathering evidence and shaping the
research priorities. The programme will work closely with
established organisations including the Wye Catchment
Partnership, the Nutrient Management Board, and farming
organisations like Herefordshire Rural Hub and Farm Cymru.
Following the visit to Monmouth, the Deputy First Minister of
Wales said:
"This is an important step to protect the River Wye, and we are
committed to continuing to work together to restore our
rivers.
“This research funding will support both nature recovery and
sustainable farming practices to improve the local
environment.
“By bringing together expertise from both sides of the border and
working closely with local groups, we can better understand the
challenges facing the river and find the solutions that will make
a difference.”
Water Minister said:
“For too long, the River Wye has suffered from extreme
pollution, leading to devastating effects on wildlife and
impacting all those who live along its banks.
“That is why we're resetting relationships on both sides of the
border to share our knowledge and make sure this research
translates into real action.
“Our Water (Special Measures) Act has laid the foundations for
cleaning up the water system. As part of the government's Plan
for Change to grow the economy and make Britain better off, over
£100 billion of private sector money is being invested into the
water sector to upgrade and build infrastructure.
“But we must go further, and vital research like this gets us one
step closer to cleaning up rivers like the Wye for good.”
The initiative builds on existing collaboration between the UK
and Welsh governments, including an ongoing £20 million project
addressing soil phosphorus levels through the Land Use for Net
Zero, People and Nature programme.
This new research will support wider government planning on water
quality, nature recovery and farming regulation by identifying
effective interventions that can be implemented at a landscape
scale.
The Minister's visit to Wales is the latest in a series of visits
this week by the Environment Secretary and Water Minister to iconic water sites across
England and Wales as part of the ‘Things Can Only Get Cleaner'
tour, to see where investment in water infrastructure will
underpin the building of new homes, create jobs and turbocharge
local economies – a cornerstone of the UK Government's Plan for
Change.
Notes to editors
- The River Wye flows through both Wales and England, requiring
coordinated action from both governments
- The research programme will be jointly administered by Defra
and Welsh Government
