Water Vole Surveys

Scientific Name: Arvicola terrestris

EMEC Ecology have carried out projects relating to water voles throughout the East Midlands. Projects range from water vole surveys of short sections of ditch proposed for dredging upto large scale development schemes affecting long stretches of bankside habitat. Recent projects requiring water vole surveys have been undertaken within Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Staffordshire.

Water voles burrow into the banks of slow moving water bodies, such as ditches, dykes, streams, slow flowing rivers and large ponds. Water voles were previously common throughout mainland Britain; however due to the loss of habitat and predation by the American mink, their numbers have suffered dramatic declines, by up to 90% in some places.

The water vole is now fully protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). This legislation protects against deliberate or reckless killing or injuring and sale, as well as intentional or reckless damage, destruction or obstruction of the access to any structure or place which water voles use for shelter or protection or disturbance to water voles while they are using such a place.

It is therefore important that any works directly affecting or within close proximity to water bodies are preceded by a water vole survey to determine presence or presumed absence of this species and any specific mitigation that will be required by the Local Planning Authority.

How to Book a Water Vole Survey

EMEC Ecology work with many different clients from large council projects to small residential development sites. Each survey will therefore be specific to a site and the costs will change accordingly. EMEC Ecology will be happy to provide a quotation for any water vole survey that will be both efficient and cost effective to the site specifics. Reports are produced as soon as possible however should you have a specific date for submission with a planning application we will do our utmost to accommodate this.

If you require a quotation please send an email to us at mail@emec-ecology.co.uk including any site plans that you have available (or details and photographs of the site if applicable) with details of the proposed development plans of the site, along with your name and contact details. Should you wish to contact us at the office please call 0115 9644828.

Water Vole Survey Methodology

Habitat Assessment

As part of every water vole survey, the habitat suitability for this species will be assessed. This will include an assessment of the foraging resources, the suitability of the banks for burrowing and the presence of adequate cover / shelter.

Surveying for Water Vole Evidence

A water vole survey involves searching the banks of the water course for evidence of water vole, including:

• Burrows
• Latrines
• Footprints
• Runs in the vegetation
• Grazed 'lawns'
• Feeding remains
• Actual sightings

Survey Timings

The water vole breeding season runs from late March to October. This is the ideal time to carry out a water vole survey as during this time water voles are highly active and leave many signs, such as latrines (conspicuous piles of droppings) which can be used to confirm their presence during a survey. Habitat assessments can be undertaken over winter and surveys can determine presence; although absence of water voles can often only be confirmed by spring or summer surveys.

Mitigation

Where water voles are found, the most common recommendation is to ensure all site works remain a suitable distance from the banks of the water body, in order to avoid disturbance / harm to this species. However, when works within the water body or close to the banks cannot be avoided, a number of mitigation options are available.

Displacement

Water voles require adequate cover and foraging resources within their territory. If these are removed, the habitat becomes unsuitable and water voles will move of their own accord. If a small section of a water body is to be directly affected, the water voles can be encouraged to move to a different area of the water body by the strimming of the vegetation and the maintenance of this vegetation at a low height. This is most effective when undertaken during late February to April; however this method is only suitable for very short sections of affected habitat.

Translocation

When a whole water body or significant stretch of bankside habitat will be affected by development, or a large population of water voles is identified during the initial survey, the removal of the water voles from the area of works by translocation may be necessary.

A suitable receptor site would be required, which would be identified by further survey work and habitat assessments. Once a receptor site has been identified, a trapping scheme within the area to be affected would be implemented. This would involve the daily monitoring of the traps, removal of any water voles caught and the release of the water voles into the receptor site. Post-release monitoring would also normally be required.

Examples of Water Vole Survey and Mitigation

EMEC Ecology has experience of water vole surveys and mitigation throughout the UK, including within Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire. These have included;

Water Vole Trapping near Newark in Nottinghamshire

A population of water vole was identified during an initial water vole survey of a ditch, which was to be removed. A trapping scheme was set up and the traps were checked twice daily.

Water Vole Survey and Mitigation in Norfolk

EMEC Ecology was commissioned to survey stretches of ditches to be crossed by a proposed underground electricity cable in Norfolk. During these surveys a ditch supporting water voles was recorded; mitigation measures including directionally digging beneath the ditch were implemented to prevent harm to the water vole population.

Water Vole Maintenance Plan for a Site in Nottinghamshire

A water vole survey was carried out and used to inform a maintenance plan for the site. Its aim was to ensure a continuation of habitat suitable for water vole and to suggest ways management of the site could improve its suitability for water voles.

Water Vole Survey and Mitigation in Derbyshire

A water vole survey undertaken of a river in the Peak District National Park recorded a good population of water voles in the vicinity of a proposed pipeline. EMEC Ecology recommended that the works be re-designed to not affect the bank side habitat and that the pipeline should be directionally dug beneath the river. [more....]

Water Vole Mitigation Research

EMEC Ecology has been at the forefront of water vole mitigation research and completed a major study of mitigation techniques for English Nature (now known as Natural England); resulting in the production of Natural England Report R415 - Water vole mitigation techniques: a questionnaire research project. EMEC also ran a county-wide water vole survey in Nottinghamshire and organised and hosted water vole legislation training days in Bristol and Nottingham, which were attended by statutory agencies, local government staff, developers and consultants.

Water Vole Training

EMEC Ecology has provided training to local Internal Drainage Board (IDB) staff; the training days included 'class-room' based sessions and trips into the field to search for water vole signs.