Water Resource Management

[DrWazzock]

I'm confused.
I was considering applying for a water abstraction licence from one of the watercourses that runs through the farm.
I have read through the EA Abstraction Licensing Strategy for my area (Lincolnshire) and it implies that no licences will be granted as water availability is restricted even at times of maximum flow (Q30) and that the only way to gain any abstraction would be to buy unused rights off a current holder.
How can this possibly make sense when we had massive flows through here for much of the winter and folk downstream living in fear of banks overtopping, plus they have had to build a flood sacrifice area just downstream of us before the town? Surely allowing us to fill a reservoir at times of high flow during the winter would help everybody?
It just doesn't make sense to me, but if that's how it is then that's how it is and I don't want to waste time on an application.

 

[steveR]

Probably one of those occasions where a specialist Agent who knows the buttons to press at the EA, pays dividends?

 

[Hindsight]

I'm confused.
I was considering applying for a water abstraction licence from one of the watercourses that runs through the farm.
I have read through the EA Abstraction Licensing Strategy for my area (Lincolnshire) and it implies that no licences will be granted as water availability is restricted even at times of maximum flow (Q30) and that the only way to gain any abstraction would be to buy unused rights off a current holder.
How can this possibly make sense when we had massive flows through here for much of the winter and folk downstream living in fear of banks overtopping, plus they have had to build a flood sacrifice area just downstream of us before the town? Surely allowing us to fill a reservoir at times of high flow during the winter would help everybody?
It just doesn't make sense to me, but if that's how it is then that's how it is and I don't want to waste time on an application.

Winter storage into a resevoir likely. Speak with the EA licensing folk at Lincoln. They will advise. OK folk.

 

[steveR]

I'm confused.
I was considering applying for a water abstraction licence from one of the watercourses that runs through the farm.

How do the economics stack up... it will need some high value crops??

 

[DrWazzock]

How do the economics stack up... it will need some high value crops??

It would increase the possibility of letting to specialist veg root crop growers though I agree wouldn’t stack up for combinables.

 

[cows sh#t me to tears]

Why wouldn't it?
I cant think of one spring down here where I farm that hasn't seen most croppers irrigate ww or osr.
Some under very very expensive lateral move or pivot irrigators. (Think in excess of £1000 / ac purchase price). Plus the delivery cost of the water, plus having to also purchase water in some years. Yet. These guys are the ones chasing more land. Buying up ex dairies at record land prices to convert back to cropping.
And dont forget our yields aren't what you get historically..... But a crop finished is better than a complete write off.

(Same rules apply here basically.... you want water rights.....you have to buy it from someone else.....)

 

[DrWazzock]

Why wouldn't it?
I cant think of one spring down here where I farm that hasn't seen most croppers irrigate ww or osr.
Some under very very expensive lateral move or pivot irrigators. (Think in excess of £1000 / ac purchase price). Plus the delivery cost of the water, plus having to also purchase water in some years. Yet. These guys are the ones chasing more land. Buying up ex dairies at record land prices to convert back to cropping.
And dont forget our yields aren't what you get historically..... But a crop finished is better than a complete write off.

(Same rules apply here basically.... you want water rights.....you have to buy it from someone else.....)

True, if a bit of water means the difference between a crop and no crop then it's worth it.

 

[fudge]

I'm confused.
I was considering applying for a water abstraction licence from one of the watercourses that runs through the farm.
I have read through the EA Abstraction Licensing Strategy for my area (Lincolnshire) and it implies that no licences will be granted as water availability is restricted even at times of maximum flow (Q30) and that the only way to gain any abstraction would be to buy unused rights off a current holder.
How can this possibly make sense when we had massive flows through here for much of the winter and folk downstream living in fear of banks overtopping, plus they have had to build a flood sacrifice area just downstream of us before the town? Surely allowing us to fill a reservoir at times of high flow during the winter would help everybody?
It just doesn't make sense to me, but if that's how it is then that's how it is and I don't want to waste time on an application.

Do you have a reservoir ATM? I just being nosy, I don’t have any knowledge of the regulations!

 

[Forkdriver]

Damaging abstraction is being tackled by the EA by way of compensation for permanent rights removed or varied. Variation or revocation of time limited abstraction is not compensated as the licence wont be renewed. If winter abstraction can be carried out for storage then it is likely to be approved provided that it does not result in damage. The financial value of a licence to abstract far exceeds it's costs.

 

[DrWazzock]

Do you have a reservoir ATM? I just being nosy, I don’t have any knowledge of the regulations!

I have no reservoir at the moment but during the winter there is a serious flooding risk to the inhabitants downstream. They have done a certain amount to alleviate the flood risk by creating sacrificial flood plain just downstream of us in forestry land but I would have thought a more beneficial solution to all of us would have been a reservoir to fill up during excess winter flow but what would I know?
Anyway I’ll make some enquiries. I don’t think I could justify the entire capital cost myself but there might be some kind of funding available to help out. Anyway, we will see.

 

[cows sh#t me to tears]

If you go ahead with a proposal. Off stream storage would be your best argument. As on stream (I.e. a bank creating a weir pool) would heighten the risk were it to fail.

 

[DrWazzock]

We are in a catchment sensitive area as well. Some sort of desilting scheme might also be incorporated. Really it’s a bigger project than a small farmer can achieve. A big reservoir further downstream from us to catch more tributaries would be the ideal solution. This water could then be used for irrigation more widely. There is one reservoir downstream of us but it holds nothing like enough water to cope with excess winter flow.

 

[DrWazzock]

If you go ahead with a proposal. Off stream storage would be your best argument. As on stream (I.e. a bank creating a weir pool) would heighten the risk were it to fail.

They are very much against in line storage for that reason. I can see why and wouldn’t go down that route though it would provide better silt settling.

 

[cows sh#t me to tears]

We are in a catchment sensitive area as well. Some sort of desilting scheme might also be incorporated. Really it’s a bigger project than a small farmer can achieve. A big reservoir further downstream from us to catch more tributaries would be the ideal solution. This water could then be used for irrigation more widely. There is one reservoir downstream of us but it holds nothing like enough water to cope with excess winter flow.

No better time than when dry to start.....Call a meeting (or else find someone willing and able. And garner support from surrounding farmers.....) irrigation didnt just happen here.....

Irrigation history | Murray Irrigation

Irrigation was initially developed to drought-proof the Southern Riverina region and provide relief to landowners. Read more about the history, conflict and growth of irrigation along the Murray.

www.murrayirrigation.com.au

 

[renewablejohn]

They are very much against in line storage for that reason. I can see why and wouldn’t go down that route though it would provide better silt settling.

We installed our reservoir as a surge pool to protect the Listed farmhouse from flooding. EA helpful on design and application. Local council not so helpful until they realised it had EA backing for flood prevention. Has actually worked so far.

 

[steveR]

We installed our reservoir as a surge pool to protect the Listed farmhouse from flooding. EA helpful on design and application. Local council not so helpful until they realised it had EA backing for flood prevention. Has actually worked so far.

Neat....