'98 Update

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Introduction

The State of the Environment Report 1998 provides up to date information on Hertfordshire's environment. Indicators were developed in previous reports to monitor changes and as information continues to be gathered on these we can start to look at trends in environmental conditions. The topics covered this year have been monitored since the first State of the Environment Report in 1992: Air Pollution, Transport, Energy, Waste, Wildlife and Habitats, Water and Land Use. Wildlife and Habitats has a special centre page section this year which includes information on Wildlife Sites, Pond Quality, Great Crested Newt Population and Orchards.

This report aims to improve understanding and raise awareness of environmental issues in the county. This awareness is essential to help the processes of Agenda 21 in the county to succeed.

Most of the indicators in the State of the Environment Report have been monitored for at least three years now and the table below shows generally whether the situation is getting better or worse.

The way some of these indicators are measured has changed considerably so it is not always possible to directly compare each one over the years. For the indicators where information has been collected in the same way it is now possible to show trends as follows:

Air Pollution Nitrogen Dioxide 1993-1997

Nitrogen dioxide air pollution in Hertfordshire has remained about the same over the last six years. The concentration is slightly higher than the National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS) standard of 21 ppb.

Water River Quality 1993/95-1995/97

River quality is classified using three year averages. Over the years 1993/95 to 1995/97 the total length of Hertfordshireís rivers in the very good or good quality bands decreased from 178.5km to 110km. This is thought to be due to the drought conditions in recent years leading to low flows and pooling of water not diluting effluents and reducing dissolved oxygen content.

Waste Per Capita 1995/6-1997/98

Production of waste per person has increased by an average of 0.04 tonnes per person between the financial years of 1995/96 and 1997/98.

Land use Urban Area 95/96-97/98

Over the last three years Broxbourne, Bishops Stortford, Royston and Cheshunt have had the largest percent change of land area to urban activities.

Wildlife and Habitats Water Voles 1989-1998

It is estimated that the water vole population has declined by 47% since the 1980ís. This may be due to a range of factors; a decline in the quality of river water, a reduction or fluctuations in water level, an increase in fragmentation which leads to unsuccessful breeding, or an increase in predation, often by mink.

Transport Vehicle Use 1994-1997

The amount of vehicle kilometres driven per day in Hertfordshire rose from 29.0 million in 1994 to 30.7 million in 1997. Looking at the modal split for transport choice for the past two years between 1996 and 1997, there has been a slight decrease in the proportion of people using their cars.

This State of Hertfordshire's Environment Report has been produced by the Environmental Monitoring Group of the Hertfordshire Environmental Forum.

Further information can be obtained from the contacts at the bottom of each page or contact Helen Saunders in the Environment Department of Hertfordshire County Council on 01992 556296.