Threats

Tufa springs and streams are important primarily for their bryophyte communities, and can support an unusual vascular plant flora. It is likely that they provide the habitat of specialist invertebrates.

Possible threats to tufa springs and streams are:

movement of the springhead and reduced flow rates caused by the lowering of water tables through groundwater abstraction and quarrying;

1.pollution and eutrophication of groundwater feeding the springs, and of the streams
2.canalisation of streams and flood defence works;
3.use of fertilisers and herbicides, and other forms of agricultural intensification;
4.trampling, poaching, overgrazing and dunging by livestock;
5.shading;
6.slurry spills;
7.removal of tufa, both by the public and commercially;
8.recreational pressure;
9.tipping.

Action Plan Objectives

Action Plan Targets

Maintain as a minimum the existing quality, state and structure of all tufa springs and streams in the district - a no deterioration policy.

Restore degraded tufa springs and streams

The existing resource should be protected from further deterioration and managed to enhance its conservation value. restoration management to be carried out in the next five years, includes, where appropriate:

1.restoration of groundwater and surface water quality and quantity

2.restore natural structure of springs and streams;

3.reduction of poaching and dunging by livestock, possibly by fencing springhead;

4.reduction in shading

Restoration to be prioritised, with springs within or upstream of other action plan habitat SSSIs or County Wildlife Sites to be tackled first

Current Action

[no information currently available]

Proposed Action

Policy and legislation

Authorisation of individual developments and land-use changes

Somerset County Council (SCC) and Mendip District Council (MDC) should alter structure, minerals district and local plans to make the strongest presumption against any development that may alter the hydrology, or adversely affect the nature conservation value of tufa springs and streams.

Agriculture

MDC should target Landscape and Nature Conservation Grants to bring al tufa springs and streams into sympathetic management.

Audit, priorities, monitoring and research

English Nature (EN) and the National Rivers Authority (NRA) should commission a survey to determine the distribution of tufa springs and streams in the district. This should include calling on the public to report any sites they know of. Each spring or stream should be assessed for its conservation value, protected status current management, degree of threat and opportunities for restoration

NRA should monitor discharge rate and quality, and EN the biota, from all tufa springs which are found to be of conservation value, or which feed tufa streams of conservation value

Informing decision makers

MDC or SCC should require a full Environmental Assessment (EA) for all forestry or development proposals affecting SSSI tufa springs and streams or their source aquifers.

Institutions

MDC should call together all managers of tufa springs and streams in a tufa spring and streams forum, to discuss implementation and monitoring of this action plan.

Progress