The company is represented on this partnership (launched in 2002) consisting of The Lake District National Park Authority, Environment Agency, English Nature, United Utilities, National Trust, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and the Freshwater Biological Association.
The agreed vision for the group is :
'The Lake District's Lakes & Tarns are collectively an internationally important ecological, aesthetic, recreational and cultural resource; our vision is to protect, and where necessary enhance, this resource by promoting sustainable management and use of these waters and their surrounding catchments.'
Management of these tremendous assets is not a straightforward matter. The problems facing some of the lakes such as Windermere or Bassenthwaite are very complex. Action by United Utilities involving capital expenditure to remove phosphate from wastewater treatment works dicharges is a vital first step which can be very effective, and has resulted in substantial improvements. However, more and more we are beginning to realise the significance for the ecology of lakes of actions many miles away from the lakes themselves, relating to the management of the surrounding and upstream catchments.
That is why we see the promotion of sustainable catchment management as a vital and integral part of the work, involving ultimately not just individual organisations but whole communities.