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10 September 2010  
   
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Action plan details - A Living Landscape - Biodiversity Plan for the Peak District

  

Water Vole
Plan status: Implementation underway

Vision statement
Threatened by habitat destruction and modification, by competition and predation, water voles show a very divergent picture of success across the Peak District with some streams and rivers supporting apparently thriving populations whilst extinction stalks many others. Survey and monitoring work must be used to target and prioritise the habitat management, advisory and policy work which will prove essential if we are to reverse the local declines and conserve the existing populations. This will only be possible through co-ordinated action involving the public, landowners and conservation agencies and by using every opportunity available. Local objectives need to be set based on an assessment of existing survey and monitoring results, coupled with the experiences of a number of recognised naturalists. The hope is that we can once more see our childhood favourite – ‘Ratty’ of the ‘Wind in the Willows’ – in its riverbank home throughout the Peak District.

Targets
Code Text Status Assessment date Latest progress report  
WV T1 Maintain the 2005 range of water vole in the Peak District (199 occupied 1km squares). Some progress (on schedule) 22/05/2007 No report More >
WV T2 Achieve an increase in range by 14 occupied 1km squares by 2010. Progress unknown 22/05/2007 No report More >
WV T3 Maintain or increase existing water vole populations at 27 sample monitoring sites by 2010. Some progress (on schedule) 31/03/2008 Population stable or increasing at 18 out of 25 monitoring sites (72%) More >

Actions
Code Text Start/End date Contacts
(lead shown bold)		 Status  
UUECS06 Protect and enhance water vole population in Longdendale under SCaMP1 by restoration and sympathetic management, restore habitat suitability for Water voles. 01/04/2005 - 31/03/2010 United Utilities,
Natural England		 Underway (on schedule) More >
WPW01 Survey water voles and their habitat in White Peak river catchments. 01/04/2008 - 31/03/2009 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust,
SITA Trust		 Underway (on schedule) More >
WPW02 Monitor water vole sites in White Peak river catchments. 01/04/2008 - 31/03/2011 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust,
SITA Trust		 Not started (for this period) More >
WPW03 Extend area of available water vole habitat in White Peak river catchments. 01/04/2008 - 31/03/2011 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust,
SITA Trust		 Underway (on schedule) More >
WPW04 Reduce the impact of mink predation on water voles in White Peak river catchments. 01/04/2008 - 31/03/2011 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust,
SITA Trust		 Underway (on schedule) More >
WV01 Copy all water vole records to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and/or local record centres on annual basis. 01/01/2006 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV02 Provide annual updates of water vole data to LBAP partners. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV03 Carry out water vole and habitat surveys in the following areas: Upper Etherow, Upper Don, River Wye, Upper Dove, River Derwent (downstream of Derwent Reservoirs). 01/08/2007 - 31/03/2009 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV04 Elicit records from members of the public and angling clubs via dissemination of DWT recording leaflet. Survey all newly identified sites incorporating habitat assessments. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV05 Carry out annual spot check surveys in a minimum of 20 1km squares. In each 1km square target one or more suitable sites where water voles have not been recorded previously. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (behind schedule) More >
WV06 Recruit, train and co ordinate 30 volunteers to undertake surveys and monitoring of water vole sites. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV07 Following national guidance, delineate key areas and suitable sites for expansion. Map and disseminate data to partners. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2008 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV08 Initiate, support and encourage research projects on relevant topics of water vole ecology in the Peak District area by highlighting research opportunities on appropriate websites. Prioritise research into the potential limiting factors for water voles in a local, regional and national context. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV09 Incorporate the results of research into conservation action where appropriate. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (behind schedule) More >
WV10 Agree and implement general and site specific approaches to the management of access to key areas/sites for water voles. 01/06/2007 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV11 Continue to monitor the distribution of mink in the Peak District and identify where mink could be having an impact on water vole populations. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV12 Sustain current mink control schemes in the Derwent, Dove and Etherow catchments and, in liaison with moorland keepers and others, increase trapping efforts on the Peak District Moors where appropriate. Extend control schemes to other areas if appropriate. 01/01/2004 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV13 Ensure, in collaboration with landowners, fisheries managers and moorland keepers, that data on mink distribution is forwarded to DWT and/or local record centres. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV14 Sustain annual monitoring of a minimum of 25 known sites in the Peak District with a minimum of an additional 20 historical sites checked every year. In addition re- survey the national survey sites in 2006-2007. Provide results as short annual report to landowners and managers. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV15 Share information on survey results and the importance and management needs of water vole sites with landowners and managers. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV16 Make local guidance documents widely available for landowners, managers and conservation organisation staff, specifically: Managing Land for Water Voles (DWT); Water Voles in the Uplands (DWT/NT High Peak Estate) 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV17 Raise awareness of the legislation covering water vole habitat amongst relevant agencies, organisations and the general public by: Disseminating information via relevant websites, literature and media releases. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV18 Ensure Peak District wide awareness of the water vole amongst landowners/managers and the public by: Distributing DWTs public leaflet and record form; Issuing a minimum of one media release on water voles in the Peak District; Developing and maintaining water vole pages on the DWT website. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2001 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV19 Disseminate TWTs national leaflet (‘Know Your Vole’) on water voles and rat control to all LAs and local Pest Control Companies. Raise awareness of the availability of local water vole data to LA Pest Control Officers, providing advice on data interpretation where needed. 01/08/2006 - 31/12/2007 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV20 Ensure that information or links to information on water voles in the Peak District are included on the Derbyshire Biodiversity website. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV21 Arrange training days for conservation organisation staff, volunteers and managers (as and when required) in order to increase awareness of water vole ecology and management needs, and to promote proactive targeting of sites for conservation action. 01/04/2001 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Underway (on schedule) More >
WV22 Consider water vole key areas in any programme of acquisition/lease/management of nature reserves including NNRs and LNRS. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Natural England Unknown More >
WV23 Support efforts to give full protection to water voles under the WCA act. 01/01/2002 - 31/12/2007 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Completed More >
WV24 Ensure that the potential of the Entry Level Stewardship Scheme for water voles is maximized (e.g. by promoting use of buffer strips) and that any potentially negative impacts are avoided (e.g. by ensuring ditch management options do not damage water vole habitats or contravene legislation protecting water voles). 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Peak District National Park Authority Underway (on schedule) More >
WV25 Include water voles in targeting statements for the Higher Level Scheme of Environmental Stewardship for all JCAs in which water voles are either present or within dispersal range. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Natural England Unknown More >
WV26 Produce action plans for all water vole key areas: to include condition assessments, actions on habitat management, encouraging expansion, mink control, rat control, public access issues etc. Timetable for production to be agreed by PDWVAG. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Unknown More >
WV27 Design and implement a minimum of four habitat restoration or creation schemes prioritising the following areas: Upper Etherow, Wye sub catchment, Upper Dove. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Completed More >
WV28 Include water vole conservation measures in ESA moorland management plans where appropriate. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Natural England Unknown More >
WV29 Negotiate appropriate agreements with landowners and managers of key areas for water voles, target their management and sites for possible expansion. 31/12/2001 - 31/03/2010 Peak District National Park Authority Underway (on schedule) More >
WV30 Review management of key areas for water voles in existing conservation agreements and where necessary agree revised management regimes with owners/managers. Timetable to be agreed by PDWVAG & NE. 31/12/2001 - 31/03/2010 Natural England,
Peak District National Park Authority		 Underway (on schedule) More >
WV31 Ensure all agreement negotiations consider any existing water vole populations and the potential for water vole conservation and expansion on the whole holding, including: Safeguard of all existing water vole sites; Restoration of degraded riparian habitat; The potential for re creation of valuable riparian habitat, bringing surrounding land into appropriate management where possible. 31/12/2001 - 31/03/2010 Peak District National Park Authority Underway (on schedule) More >
WV32 On land owned by public or conservation bodies ensure that: Management maintains and where possible enhances water vole habitat; Consideration is given to restoration and creation of water vole habitats. 31/12/2001 - 31/03/2010 Peak District National Park Authority Underway (on schedule) More >
WV33 Ensure that the relevant EA River Basin Management Plan, the River Basin Biodiversity Plan and the plans’ Programmes of Measures include information from the Peak District on the status and range of water voles and mink, actions to protect water voles and encourage their expansion and actions to reduce the impact of mink predation. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Environment Agency Unknown More >
WV34 Ensure that all planning applications are adequately assessed in relation to their impact on water vole sites, that loss or damage to these is avoided and that opportunities for enhancement or creation of appropriate water vole habitats are maximised. 31/12/2001 - 31/03/2010 Peak District National Park Authority Underway (on schedule) More >
WV35 Ensure that the legislation covering water vole habitat is enforced. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Environment Agency Underway (on schedule) More >
WV36 Ensure that all works which affect rivers, streams and canals in key areas/sites for water voles are assessed beforehand and licensed if appropriate. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Environment Agency Underway (on schedule) More >
WV37 Ensure that populations of water voles are monitored before and after all works which affect sites supporting populations and ensure that data from monitoring results is made available to PDWVAG as far as possible. 01/08/2006 - 31/03/2010 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Unknown More >


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