Catchments and stakeholders - its not all science in a test tube

Untitled, a photo by Soil & Water Science on Flickr.

My team and I are just back from an informative few days presenting and discussing at the European Geosciences Uniion meeting in Vienna. We mostly took part in a session that explored the challenges and solutions to catchment science problems, working across the boundaries of biophysical science and softer stakeholder interactions. It is my firm believe that the real solutions to diffuse pollution will ultimately be delivered through catchment stakeholders, but I was intrigued as to why so much of this high profile meeting (our session excepted) placed so much emphasis on finessing minute details of biophysical science or model building. Of course I too am a scientist, but it is increasingly obvious that my science will have little impact unless i work with those who know and manage the catchments. Step by step.....

Prof Phil Haygarth on Radio 4's Farming Today

Prof Phil Haygarth on Radio 4's Farming Today, a photo by Soil & Water Science on Flickr.

Yesterday I was interviewed at rather short notice via an ISDN line at Lancaster University by Caz Graham at the Farming today team. The subject was farm pollution following the dry weather; it went reasonably well (you can go to the Radio 4 web and listen yourself http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01dghb3#synopsis) but I was a little perturbed by Caz's edit about 'the sea'. Most of the effects that I was referring to were actually associated with fresh and possibly estuarine waters, they are not commonly sea issues. Nonetheless, good to get the message out there...

The Godfather speaks....

Jerry Lemunyon, the Godfather of the P index, talks about future research needs....a short nterview by Phil Haygarth at the International P Workshhop in Seville

Phil Jordan demonstrates the catchment sampling system.....

Last week I was in Co Mayo to witness Phil Jordan demonstrating the set-up for the sampling of his mini-catchments programme....

Miranda Kavanagh calls for raised awareness

Miranda Kavanagh talks about raising awareness
Originally uploaded by wq0109

The Director of Evidence spoke to me this week at the Windermere FBA summit calling for increased awareness of Environmental issues as a means waking up the nation to solutions. Spot in Miranda…so let’s make it happen…

North Wyke ECSFDI training event

A successful day was enjoyed by all participants (ECSFDI staff and research scientists). This was helped along by glorious sunshine.

Key messages from the day:
1) the need for robust guidance for on the ground staff is critical, 2) we require better ways to get the evidence to farmers to influence behavioural change (currently it is still coming from too many conflicting sources, often commercially funded), 3) simple but scientifically based rules of thumb are vital to help transfer knowledge to farmers and other land managers e.g. 1,000,000 people = 100 sheep in terms of approximate loading of FIOs to the catchment (Dave Kay, CREH), 4) we must learn from existing studies in the UK and around the world (in Ireland establishing the catchment programme has been a great success, but it must continue past 2011 to detect change in water quality due to reducing soil P status and changing farmer's behaviours; in addition they only used catchments with 100% buy in from farmers), 5) we need frameworks that can be used to understand the systems being studied e.g. a farm and be utilised to communicate not only between research scientists, but also between scientists and operational staff and with policy makers (Phil Jordan's (Teagasc) use of the Haygarth et al source-mobilization-delivery-impact continuum to link with environmental standards is an important advance as is the ecosystem service framework), 6) we need more holistic (chemical, biological and physical hazards and biodiversity) scientific studies on the effectiveness of mitigation methods e.g. riparian buffers for multiple functions e.g. diffuse pollution of water, GHG emissions, biodiversity and flood risk (good examples of this are Rich Brazier's research on the Holnicote Estate on Exmoor that is funded by Defra and the National Trust and the multi-agency funded Demonstration Test Catchments) , 7) and we really need to assess if certain mitigation methods are working as expected e.g. subsurface losses from pond systems in England and Wales (these are smaller water bodies than those in Ireland and tend not to have a synthetic liner-as this doubles the cost (Dave Kay)), 8) there is still a dearth of long term data on the effectiveness of many mitigation methods (a classic example from Scotland is the issue of up keep of fencing water courses; fencing of watercourses is very effective for reducing FIO loads (30% livestock exclusion ~ 60-80% reduction- Dave Kay) and last but not least 9) there is a need for robust quantitative models for source apportionment and the effectiveness of mitigation methods.

Loddington ECSFDI training event

Loddington CPD event
Originally uploaded by wq0109

I am just back from running this event, which from my perspective seemed to go quite well. Thanks to the Loddington staff and to my colleagues who helped deliver the course. Here is a short summary of the event by our Loddington host Alastair Leake. A link to other videos and pictures is here. Best Phil