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Testing frameworks for collaboration in the Anglian Demo��Steve Lane, The Rivers Trust�CamEO Conference 6th November 2024�

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What is the CaSTCo project?

  • A 3-year Ofwat funded innovation project involving �24 partners across the Demonstration catchments
  • CastCo aims to make sure that people really count, at the heart of rivers’ recovery. And to
    • Bring in new sources of reliable information and share them more widely. 
    • Close the gap that exists now between people, data on their catchments and decisions that affect their rivers. 
    • Help diversify and democratise the data, plus inform better decisions. 

Bishop, I. J et. al. 2021. The Role of Citizen Science in UK Freshwater Monitoring. Earthwatch Europe

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Our vision:

  • Citizen science and community monitoring data are integrated into a local collaborative evidence base in every catchment.
  • Catchment partnerships, communities and citizens are empowered to plan, gather, interrogate, interpret and share this evidence.
  • The evidence helps deliver environmental improvements.

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Challenges…………

Year on year cuts to government agency monitoring budgets leading to less monitoring, poor decisions and misdirection of resources

Risk being unable to target work, measure effectiveness of investment or demonstrate progress against 25 Year Environment Plan

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Challenges…………

LOCAL EVIDENCE

DATA SYSTEMS

DECISION MAKERS

How can local communities collaborate to turn data & evidence into actions that improve river health?

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CaSTCo 3-year project objectives

  1. To deliver an agreed framework for people to monitor rivers and their catchments
  2. A platform (or portal) to openly share river catchment data
  3. A training programme for both volunteers and trainers.�
  4. To demonstrate how this works in the “Demo catchments”
  5. To test the framework and platform across a large area with volunteers
  6. And review how well this worked – ‘Sharing our learning & experiences with others’�
  7. To write a plan to make this type of monitoring, part of business as usual in the future
  8. A plan to ensure that what we’ve achieved becomes part of how the water sector makes its big decisions about the environment.

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Developing a Collaborative Monitoring Plan

  1. What are your objectives and concerns about the river?
  2. What questions do you want your monitoring to answer?
  3. What changes would you like to see as a result of your monitoring?
  4. What parameters do you want to monitor and with what kind of kit?
  5. How will you use the data you have collected?
  6. How will you work collaboratively with partners to maximise your impact?�

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Testing frameworks for collaborative monitoring

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Testing citizen science methods & technology

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Testing how we manage & share data to drive change

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Collaboration and partnership is essential to improve the health of our wonderful rivers��Thank you to everyone that makes a contribution