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Consultation outcome

Significant water management issues: river basin management plans

Applies to England

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Detail of outcome

The consultation response document summarises your responses and outlines how we’ll use this information to:

  • help shape the next river basin management plans
  • guide the actions needed to protect and improve England’s water environment

Original consultation

Summary

We want your views on significant management issues that affect our waters. Your responses will help shape the way we manage the water environment.

This consultation was held on another website.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

The current river basin management plans were published in October 2022. The plans must be reviewed and updated every 6 years.

The second consultation on updating the plans is this ‘significant water management issues’ consultation. We are seeking your views on the challenges our waters face.

By responding to this consultation you will be helping to shape the management of the water environment. The information gathered through this consultation will help us update the current river basin management plans.

We will also use your responses to help us consider how some of the current approaches to the management of water in England will need to change in response to a changing climate.

We carry out strategic environmental assessments during the update of the river basin management plans. These consider environmental risks and opportunities and develop a plan that delivers better environmental outcomes. There is a strategic environmental assessment scoping report for each river basin district. This consultation also allows you to provide feedback on these reports.

Updates to this page

Published 20 November 2025
Last updated 12 August 2026 Show all updates
  1. Added the consultation response summary.

  2. First published.

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