Measuring water quality should be top priority

“Measuring water quality should be a priority for ELMs as it provides an objective and rapid metric for environmental health,” suggests Lizzie Emmett, Advisor to the Wensum Farmers Test and Trial project for Tier 2 of the Environment Land Management (ELM) scheme.
Wensum farmers is a group of 29 farmers covering 10,000ha along the beautiful River Wensum, in Norfolk. The habitat is vulnerable and so the farmers came together to share best practice, increase biodiversity and improve river quality.
Improving water quality and enhancing biodiversity are core to the ambitions of the UK government’s ELM scheme, particularly in Tier 3 which looks at landscape restoration.
Lizzie has been helping to coordinate collaboration both between the farmers and outwardly with other organisations such the University of East Anglia (UEA).

Independent Testing

Water pollution is a huge issue for fragile environments and the River Wensum is failing its phosphate levels. Phosphate is an important plant nutrient so if it is coming from farmland this is a cost to the farmer. In 2019, the Wensum Farmers purchased their own water testing equipment and collaborated with UEA to test through their laboratory to measure pollutants in run-off and to compare the impact of using cover crops in winter to lock the nutrients into the soil.
“What we’ve shown is that our run-off is infinitely smaller than is assumed by the government using its existing models,” comments Lizzie.  “The results have also demonstrated how use of cultivation techniques such as cover crops can reduce this loss still further, saving the farmer money on inputs. This is a clear indication of the benefits to the farmer of best practice; the change is measurable and the benefits to the environment clear.
“This data is really ground-breaking. It provides a tool in the toolbox to inform policy but also to demonstrate to the farmer the value of a given practice.
“However, it also shows that farmers are just one piece of the jigsaw. The measures show that the majority of the effluent is coming from the sewage treatment works – so improvements by farmers alone are not going to improve water quality.”
In addition to the rivers, there are 20,000 ponds in Norfolk, and the biodiversity levels are monitored before and after restoration. As part of this, Lizzie carries out plant surveys, which demonstrate clearly an improved habitat: “Plant diversity can increase four-fold after pond restoration” she says.
Wensum Farmers are also using water acoustics, an innovative technique that listens to the sounds made by the underwater community. Each creature uses a different pitch, and the system can distinguish between the sounds made by over 20 different arthropod species. This again provides an objective metric and a way to compare quality of biodiversity and measure improvements.

Starting a conversation

Lizzie says capturing the competitive spirit of the farmers is a way to create some friendly rivalry.
“Sometimes it’s as simple as having some fruit-bearing hedges and wildlife strips to provide food and shelter. We have seen farms where a flock of linnets have turned up for the first time in 20 years.
“Every farmer in the group has winter and summer bird data, and I sit down with a farmer to discuss the results.
“I can use the data to suggest habitat improvements. To start a discussion, I might ask something like ‘have you seen linnets on your farm recently?’ or ‘do you want to know how your yellowhammer numbers compare with others in the group?’. This often means they are keen to take action, and measures such as reducing hedge cutting and planting food sources can increase bird populations and create little villages of birds. The following year, if I take a farmer out with some binoculars, they can see the results for themselves.
“This is something tangible – you can see the difference  – and it motivates the farmer to do more. But if this involves a commitment of time and resources there also needs to be a proportional financial reward as well from the government, to show that improving habitats is also valued by the wider community.” Lizzie is concerned that the reverse auction used in their Tier 2 test and trial project which aimed to improve the habitat for Turtle Doves makes the farmers bid against each other for a small pot of money, undermining the collaborative nature of the group.
“There is a risk that there will be a race for the bottom to compete for short-term gain. Trying to set the upper and lower bounds for the auction, and adjust expected payments based on habitat quality, is fraught with difficulties. How do you weigh up the quality of a very diverse habitat, with various types of hedges and varying types of data of where the hedges are?
“I would prefer a system that rewards best practice and collaboration as this will support long term change,” Lizzie concludes.
Lizzie Emmett is talking at the event ‘Agri-TechE and ELMs – the Innovation Enablers’ on Tuesday 22nd March.
Reserve your place here.