Internal Drainage Board

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An Internal Drainage Board (IDB) is a type of operating authority which occur in areas of special drainage need in England and Wales with permissive powers to undertake work to secure clean water drainage and water level management within drainage districts. The area of an IDB is not determined by county or metropolitan council boundaries, but by water catchment areas within a given region. IDBs are geographically concentrated in the Broads, Fens in East Anglia and Lincolnshire, Somerset Levels and Yorkshire.In comparison with public bodies in other countries, IDBs are most similar to the Waterschappen of the Netherlands, Consorzi di bonifica e irrigazione of Italy and Watershed Districts of Minnesota, USA.

Contents 1 Responsibilities 2 Regulation 3 Current Internal Drainage Boards of England & Wales 4 Water Level Management and Flood Risk 5 Maintenance of Watercourses 6 Pumping Stations 7 Emergency Actions 8 Planning Guidance 9 Environmental Responsibilities 10 Drainage Rates 11 Precepts 12 District Drainage Commissioners 13 Association of Drainage Authorities 14 References 15 External Links

[edit] Responsibilities

Much of their work involves the maintenance of rivers, drainage channels (rhynes), ordinary watercourses, pumping stations and other critical infrastructure, facilitating drainage of new developments, the ecological conservation and enhancement of watercourses, monitoring and advising on planning applications and making sure that any development is carried out in line with legislation (PPS25). IDBs are not responsible for watercourses designated as main rivers within their drainage districts, the supervision of these watercourses is undertaken by the Environment Agency.

Internal Drainage Boards date back to 1252, however the majority of today's IDBs were established by National Government following the passing of the Land Drainage Act 1930 and predominantly operate under the Land Drainage Act 1991^[1] under which, an IDB is required to exercise a general supervision over all matters relating to water level management of land within its district. Some IDBs may also have other duties, powers and responsibilities under specific legislation for the district (for instance the Middle Level Commissioners are also a navigation authority). IDBs are responsible to Defra from whom all legislation/regulations affecting them are issued. The work of an IDB is closely linked with that of the Environment Agency which has a range of functions providing a supervisory role over them.

[edit] Regulation

Defra brought IDBs under the jurisdiction of the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) from 01 April 2004, and introduced a model complaints procedure for IDBs to operate. This move was aimed to increase the accountability of IDBs to the general public who have an interest in the way that IDBs are run and operate by providing an independent means of review. At this time Defra also revised and re-issued model statutory rules and procedures under which IDBs operate^[2].

[edit] Current Internal Drainage Boards of England & Wales

There are currently 177 Internal Drainage Boards in the Great Britain, 154 in England and 15 in Wales (2 IDBs cross the board). IDBs cover covered 1.2 million hectares of England (9.7% of the total land area of the country) and 28,500 hectares of Wales (1.4% of the total land area of the country). Areas around The Wash, the Lincolnshire Coast, the lower reaches of the Trent and the Yorkshire Ouse, the Somerset Levels and the Fens have concentrations of adjacent IDBs. In other parts of the country, especially in Norfolk and Suffolk, Sussex, Kent, West Yorkshire, Herefordshire/Shropshire and the northern Vale of York, the majority of IDBs stretch in narrow ‘fingers’ up river valleys, separated by less low lying areas. The largest IDB (Lindsey Marsh DB) covers 52,498 hectares and the smallest (Cawdle Fen IDB) 182 hectares. 24 of the County Councils in England include one or more IDB in their area as do 6 Metropolitan Districts, and 109 Unitary authorities or District Councils.

The Association of Drainage Authorities holds a definitive record of all IDBs within England and Wales and their boundaries.

Internal Drainage Boards of England and Wales
Map of England and Wales showing the area covered by Internal Drainage Boards (blue)
Internal Drainage Boards of England Acaster IDB Airedale DC Alconbury and Ellington IDB Ancholme IDB Appleton Roebuck & Copmanthorpe IDB Armthorpe IDB Ashfields and West Moor IDB Bedale & Upper Swale IDB Bedfordshire & River Ivel IDB Benwick IDB Beverley & North Holderness IDB Black Drain IDB Black Sluice IDB Bluntisham IDB Braunton Marsh IDB Broads IDB (2006) Buckingham and River Ouzel IDB Burnt Fen IDB Caldicot & Wentlooge Levels IDB Cawdle Fen IDB Churchfield & Plawfield IDB Claro IDB Cod Beck IDB Conington & Holme IDB Corporation of the Level of Hatfield Chase IDB Cowick IDB Cuckmere IDB Curf & Wimblington Combined IDB Dearne & Dove IDB Dempster IDB Downham & Stow Bardolph IDB Drysides IDB Dun DC Earby & Salterforth IDB East Harling IDB East of the Ouse, Polver and Nar IDB East Suffolk IDB Euximoor IDB Everton IDB Fairham Brook IDB Feldale IDB Finningley IDB Foss IDB Gainsborough IDB Garthorpe IDB Gravesend Bridge to Sheerness and Penshurst C of S Goole & Airmyn IDB Goole Fields District DB Haddenham Level DC Holmewood and District IDB Hundred Foot Washes IDB Hundred of Wisbech IDB Isle of Axholme IDB Keyingham Level IDB King's Lynn IDB	Kingston Brook IDB Knottingley to Gowdall IDB Kyle & Upper Ouse IDB Ladus DDC Lakenheath IDB Laneham IDB Lindsey Marsh DB Littleport & Downham IDB Lombards Wall to Gravesend Bridge C of S Lower Axe IDB Lower Brue IDB Lower Medway IDB Lower Ouse IDB Lower Severn (2005) IDB Lower Swale IDB Lower Wye IDB Manea & Welney DDC March & Whittlesey IDB March East IDB March Fifth DDC March Sixth DDC March Third DDC Market Weighton IDB Marston Moor IDB Melverley IDB Messingham IDB Middle Fen and Mere IDB Middle Level Commissioners Mildenhall IDB Muston & Yedingham IDB Needham Burial and Birdbeck DDC Nene Wash Lands Commissioners Newark Area IDB Nightlayers IDB Nordelph IDB Norfolk Rivers IDB North East Lindsey IDB North Level IDB North Somerset IDB North Wharfe IDB Northwold IDB Old West IDB Ottringham IDB Ouse & Derwent IDB Over and Willingham IDB Padnal and Waterden IDB Parrett IDB Pevensey Levels IDB Potteric Carr IDB Powysland IDB Preston IDB Ramsey First (Hollow) District IDB Ramsey Fourth (Middlemoor) District IDB Ramsey IDB Ramsey, Upwood & Gt Raveley IDB	Ransonmoor DDC Rawcliffe IDB Rea IDB Reedness & Swinefleet DC River Adur IDB River Arun IDB River Lugg IDB River Ouse (Sussex) IDB River Stour (Kent) IDB River Wiske IDB Rivers Idle & Ryton IDB Romney Marshes Area IDB Rye IDB Sawtry IDB Scunthorpe IDB Selby Area IDB Skeffling IDB Snaith IDB South Holland IDB South Wharfe IDB South West Sussex IDB Southery & District IDB Sow and Penk IDB Stoke Ferry IDB Strine IDB Stringside IDB Sutton & Mepal IDB Swaffham IDB Swavesey IDB Thorngumbald DB Thornton IDB Thorntree IDB Tickhill DB Tween Bridge IDB Upper Axe IDB Upper Brue IDB Upper Medway IDB Upper Witham IDB Upwell IDB Waldersey IDB Warboys, Somersham and Pidley IDB Waterbeach Level IDB Waveney, Lower Yare & Lothingland IDB Welland and Deepings IDB Went IDB West Mendip IDB White Fen DDC Whittlesey IDB Wilberfoss and Thornton Level IDB Winestead Level IDB Witham First District IDB Witham Fourth District IDB Witham Third District IDB Woodwalton IDB	Internal Drainage Boards of Wales Afon Ganol IDD Ardudwy Marsh IDD Borth IDD Caldicot & Wentlooge Levels IDB Dysynni Valley IDD Glaslyn - Pensyflog IDD Harlech & Maentwrog IDD Llanfrothen IDD Lower Severn (2005) IDB Lower Wye IDB Malltraeth Marsh IDD Mawddach & Wnion IDD Powysland IDB River Conway IDD Towyn IDD Key to abbreviations IDB = Internal Drainage Board DB = Drainage Board IDD = Internal Drainage District DDC = District Drainage Commissioners DC = Drainage Commissioners C of S = Commissioners of Sewers

[edit] Water Level Management and Flood Risk

IDBs have an important role in reducing flood risk through management of water levels and drainage in their districts. The water level management activities of Internal Drainage Boards cover 1.2 million hectares of England which represents 9.7% of the total land area. Reducing the flood risk to ~600,000 people who live or work, and ~879,000 properties located in IDB districts. Whilst many thousands of people outside of these boundaries also derive reduced flood risk from IDB water level management activities. Several forms of critical infrastructure fall within IDB districts including; 20 oil refineries and power stations, 68 other major industrial premises and 208 km of motorway.

Although of much reduced significance since the 1980s, many IDB districts in Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire lie in areas of coal reserves and drainage has been significantly affected by subsidence from mining. IDBs have played an important role in monitoring and mitigating the effects of this activity and have worked in close collaboration with the coal companies and The Coal Authority.^[3]

[edit] Maintenance of Watercourses

[edit] Pumping Stations

111 IDB districts require pumping to some degree for water level management and 79 are purely gravity boards (where no pumping is required). 53 IDBs have more than 95% of their area dependent on pumping. This means in England some 635,722 hectares of land in IDB districts rely on pumping, almost 51% of the total. A new pumping station is currently under construction by Middle Level Commissioners at Wiggenhall St Germans, Cambridgeshire. The new pumping station, replaces its 73 year old predecessor and will be vital to the flood risk management of 70,00m² of surrounding Fenland and 20,000 residential properties. Once complete it will be capable of draining 5 Olympic size swimming pools every 2 minutes ^[4].

[edit] Emergency Actions

During times of heavy rainfall and high river levels IDBs:

• liaise with the Environment Agency over developing flood conditions
• check sensitive locations and remove restrictions
• take actions, where possible, to reduce risk of flooding to property
• advise local authorities on the developing situation in order that Local Authorities can execute their emergency
• plan effectively for the protection of people, property and critical infrastructure
• assist where possible in any post-flood remedial and clearance operations
• assess flooding incidents to determine if new works can be undertaken to reduce the effect of future flooding incidents

An IDB's priorities during flooding are:

• ensuring the Board’s systems are working efficiently
• protection of people and residential properties
• protection of commercial properties
• protection of agricultural land and ecologically sensitive sites

Some IDBs are able to provide a 24 hour contact number and most extend office hours during severe emergencies.^[5]

[edit] Planning Guidance

Associated with the powers to regulate activities that may impede drainage, IDBs provide comments to Local Planning Authorities on developments in their district and when asked, make recommendations on measures required to manage flood risk and to provide adequate drainage.

[edit] Environmental Responsibilities

Internal Drainage Boards in England have responsibilities associated with 398 Sites of Special Scientific Interest plus other designated environmental areas, in co-ordination with Natural England. Slow flowing drainage channels such as those managed by IDBs can form an important habitat for a diverse community of aquatic and emergent plants, invertebrates and higher organisms. IDB channels form one of the last refuges in the UK of the spined loach (Cobitis Taenia), a small nocturnal bottom feeding fish that have been recorded only in the lower parts of the Trent and Great Ouse catchments, and in some small rivers and drains in Lincolnshire and East Anglia^[6]. Many IDBs are involved with assisting major wetland biodiversity projects with organisations such as the RSPB, National Trust and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Many smaller conservation projects are co-ordinated with Wildlife Trusts and Local Authorities. Current projects include: The Great Fen Project (Middle Level Commissioners)^[7], Newport Wetlands Reserve (Caldicot and Wentlooge Levels IDB) and WWT Welney (MLC). Middle Level Commissioners launched a three year Otter Recovery Project in December 2007. It will build 33 otter holts and 15 other habitat areas^[8].

[edit] Drainage Rates

All properties within a drainage district are deemed to derive benefit from the activities of an IDB. Every property is therefore subject to a Drainage Rate paid annually to the IDB.

For the purposes of rating, properties are divided into:

• Agricultural Land and Buildings
• Other Land (such as domestic houses, factories, shops etc)

Occupiers of all "Other Land" pay Council Tax or Non-Domestic Rates to the Local Council who then are charged by the Board. This charge is called the "Special Levy". The Board, therefore, only demands Drainage Rates direct on Agricultural Land and Buildings. The basis of this is that each property has been allotted an "Annual Value" which were last revised in the early 1990s. The Annual value is an amount equal to the yearly rent, or the rent that might be reasonably expected if let on a tenancy from year to year commencing 1 April 1988. The Annual Value remains the same from year to year. Each year the Board lays a rate "in the £" to meet its estimated expenditure. This is multiplied by the Annual Value to produce the amount of Drainage Rate due on each Assessment. A breakdown of the rate in the £ is shown on the reverse of the Demand Note to show how money is spent.^[9]

[edit] Precepts

Under Section 141 of the Water Resources Act 1991 the Environment Agency may issue a precept to an IDB to recover a contribution that the Agency considers fair towards their expenses.

Under Section 57 of the Land Drainage Act 1991, in cases where a drainage district receives water from land at a higher level, the IDB may make an application to the Environment Agency for a contribution towards the expenses of dealing with that water.

[edit] District Drainage Commissioners

District Drainage Commissioners (DDCs) are Internal Drainage Boards set up under local legislation rather than the Land Drainage Act 1991 and its predecessor legislation. The majority of the provisions of the Land Drainage Acts, do however, apply to such Commissioners and they are statutory public bodies. The most important in terms of size and revenue is the Middle Level Commissioners.

[edit] Association of Drainage Authorities

Main article: Association of Drainage Authorities

The majority of Internal Drainage Boards are members of the Association of Drainage Authorities (ADA) their representative organisation. Through ADA the collective views of drainage authorities and other members involved in water level management are represented to government, regulators, other policy makers and stakeholders^[10]. At a European level ADA represents IDBs through EUWMA^[11].

[edit] References

[edit] External Links

• Association of Drainage Authorities
• Defra Flood and Coastal Risk Management
• European Union of Water Management Associations

Internal Drainage Board Websites

• Bedford Group of Drainage Boards
• Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board
• Caldicot and Wentlooge Levels Internal Drainage Board
• Downham Market Group of Internal Drainage Boards
• Ely Group of Internal Drainage Boards
• Lower Ouse Internal Drainage Board
• Lower Severn Internal Drainage Board
• Lindsey Marsh Drainage Board
• Market Weihton Internal Drainage Board
• Medway Internal Drainage Boards
• Middle Level Commissioners
• North East Lindsey Internal Drainage Board
• North Level District Internal Drainage Board
• River Stour (Kent) Internal Drainage Board
• Romney Marsh Area Internal Drainage Board
• Shire Group of Internal Drainage Boards
• South Holland Internal Drainage Board
• Vale of Pickering Internal Drainage Boards
• Upper Witham Internal Drainage Board
• Welland and Deepngs Internal Drainage Board
• West Mendip Internal Drainage Board
• Whittlesey Consortium of Internal Drainage Boards
• York Consortium of Drainage Boards