10.5061/DRYAD.J9F6M
Jones, John Iwan
Queen Mary University of London
Murphy, John F.
Queen Mary University of London
Anthony, Steven G.
Agricultural Development Advisory Service (United Kingdom)
Arnold, Amanda
Queen Mary University of London
Blackburn, John H.
Queen Mary University of London
Duerdoth, Chas P.
Queen Mary University of London
Hawczak, Adrianna
Queen Mary University of London
Hughes, Greg O.
Agricultural Development Advisory Service (United Kingdom)
Pretty, James L.
Queen Mary University of London
Scarlett, Peter D.
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Gooday, Richard D.
Agricultural Development Advisory Service (United Kingdom)
Zhang, Yusheng S.
Agricultural Development Advisory Service (United Kingdom)
Fawcett, Laura E.
Agricultural Development Advisory Service (United Kingdom)
Simpson, Diane
Agricultural Development Advisory Service (United Kingdom)
Turner, Anthony W. B.
Agricultural Development Advisory Service (United Kingdom)
Naden, Pamela S.
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Skates, James
Welsh Government
Scarlett, Peter M.
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Data from: Do agri-environment schemes result in improved water quality?
Dryad
dataset
2017
diffuse agricultural pollution
policy evaluation
Axis II
Common Agricultural Policy
River Invertebrate Classification Tool
Tir Gofal
LEAFPACS
output measures
Tir Cynnal
2017-08-16T00:00:00Z
2017-08-16T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12780
23678 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Improved water quality, through a reduction in diffuse pollution from
agricultural sources, is an expected benefit of agri-environment schemes,
but this has yet to be demonstrated in practice. Here, we evaluate the
impact of Welsh agri-environment schemes on water quality and freshwater
ecosystem condition through a combined monitoring and modelling framework.
To determine the influence of the agri-environment schemes on ecosystem
condition, spatially independent catchments dominated by a single scheme
(>40% of catchment) were compared to control catchments dominated
(>70%) by agricultural land that was not part of any scheme.
Biological indicators of water quality were monitored at the outfall of
each catchment and a spatially explicit modelling framework of diffuse
pollutant emissions applied to each of the 80 catchments. Direct
comparison (scheme/non-scheme) was unable to identify any significant
effect of agri-environment scheme participation. However, derived
biological indicators that reflected organic pollution, eutrophication and
pesticide run-off were strongly correlated with modelled concentrations of
corresponding diffuse pollutants, thus providing a ground-truth for the
models. Scenarios that assessed the correct counterfactuals (i.e. the
influence of scheme entry on pollutant output) were developed for the
whole of Wales. The models indicated an important effect of scheme entry
on water quality, but this effect was not evenly distributed across the
landscape. Synthesis and applications. Our results indicate that
agri-environment schemes can deliver improvements in water quality,
through a reduction in diffuse pollution from agricultural sources.
However, it is not easy to demonstrate scheme effectiveness; the
combination of field survey and modelling used here provides a framework
for addressing these difficulties. A spatially targeted approach for
agri-environment scheme options to protect water resources from diffuse
pollution is likely to be most effective at delivering water quality
improvements.
Jones_JI_et_al_data from Do agri-environment schemes result in improved
water quality_Journal of Applied Ecology.xlsxData describing
physico-chemical parameters, modelled pollutant concentrations and
biological condition of 80 catchments in Wales defined by proportion of
catchment under available agri-environment schemes.
Wales
United Kingdom