Ecology & the Middle Level Environment
Some of the most productive agricultural land in the UK can be found in the Middle Level and the Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) ditches and channels are key to supporting this industry. The work of IDBs across the Middle Level to manage water levels also help to support and protect a huge range of critical infrastructure including roads, railways, power networks, industry, and settlements. However, the extensive network of drains and channels are also often the only refuge for Fenland wildlife from this intensively farmed and developed landscape. These watercourses are home to a huge diversity of plants and animals, some of which are only found here in the fens in IDB ditches, because of the way they have been managed for centuries. Balancing the functions that IDB watercourses must deliver is complex, intricate and requires sensitive management and partnership working. However conserving and enhancing biodiversity is a top priority and we work hard to maximise the outcomes for our unique and valuable Fenland nature through all that we do.
Our management approaches aim to promote a mosaic of habitats and create high-quality wildlife corridors through the landscape that support a wealth of terrestrial and aquatic plants and animals, including some of the UK’s most rare and protected species. Eels, fish, otters, water voles, great crested newts, invertebrates, reptiles and a wide variety of birds and plants all thrive in and around the watercourses of the Middle Level.
What We Do
Managing Routine Channel Maintenance for Biodiversity
The approaches to routine management of IDB channels are carefully designed and adapted to conserve and enhance biodiversity across the fens. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) include rotational de-silting of water bodies, outside the breeding seasons of a number of species, which aims to mimic the natural scour processes of rivers in flood. Rotational cutting of bank and channel vegetation, timed to minimise impacts on wildlife, is also standard practice and helps to support a greater diversity of plants by preventing more dominant species from taking over.
Creating diversity isn’t just about supporting greater numbers of species; creating variety in the maturity of vegetation also matters. Rotational cutting allows for mature reed stems, scrub patches and trees to develop and be retained, which are just as vital to the life cycles of many species as new shoots and flowers are on younger plants.
Are you an IDB looking for resources, information or templates? For Environmental Standard Operating Procedures, Environmental Screening Report templates and more click on the button above.
Managing Non-Routine Channel Work for Biodiversity
We assess and design all planned, non-routine IDB channel work so that the opportunity is taken to enhance habitats for wildlife. This could include using green-engineering such as pre-planted coir roll to provide bank stabilisation instead of wood or concrete. This provides diverse marginal vegetation, a vital refuge for so many Fenland species. We encourage the use of hydroseeded wild flower and grass seed mixes to reduce soil erosion after a bank repair and enhance bank flora, and the planting hedges and trees as boundary features. We also install and manage a huge number of barn owl boxes, bat boxes, artificial otter holts and reptile refugia.
Creating diversity isn’t just about supporting greater numbers of species; creating variety in the maturity of vegetation also matters. Rotational cutting allows for mature reed stems, scrub patches and trees to develop and be retained, which are just as vital to the life cycles of many species as new shoots and flowers are on younger plants.
Ecology & Environmental Services
The Ecology & Environment Department are responsible for ensuring that the flood risk and water level management operations of the Middle Level Commissioners remain compliant with a wide range of UK environmental legislation. We also provide the same service to over 30 IDBs within the Middle Level area.
Under the Environment Act (2021) IDBs have a statutory duty to conserve and enhance biodiversity while carrying out their flood risk and water level management functions. We provide advice and guidance and practical support to the IDB Operations Team to plan and deliver compliant routine and non-routine works, including ecological assessment and delivery of ecological mitigation.
(Are you an IDB? – see IDB Portal button below for ESR and other templates & guidance)
Biodiversity Action Plans
Each IDB including the Middle Level Commissioners has a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). The BAP is an audit of the most valuable habitats and species that are found within each IDB district and details what action the IDB will take to conserve and enhance them. These BAPs are regularly reviewed and updated with the support of MLC. The latest versions are available via each IDBs individual landing page but all BAPs are currently being updated so check back soon to see new actions that each IDB have committed to undertake to enhance our natural environment and wildlife.
Protected Species
IDB channels in the Middle Level are a stronghold for a range of protected, rare and notable species. Click the button below to find out more about protected species and how we manage them.
Invasive & Non-Native Species (INNS)
Invasive non-native species (INNS) are one of the leading causes of biodiversity loss worldwide and are thought to cost the UK economy £1.9bn annually (CABI, 2023). INNS can establish quickly and can be devastating to our local wildlife. Some invasive plant species can block our channels and damage our water level management structures, potentially increasing flood risk.
Some invasive species that are unfortunately already established in our waterways include Chinese mitten crabs, American signal fish, Crassula, Zebra Mussels and Azolla (water fern). We manage and control these species as best we can.
We have stringent biosecurity procedures which help us to prevent the spread INNS through our work. Information and how MLC manage their biosecurity can be found here:
For more information on what INNS to look out for and identification, please visit:
Check Clean Dry
We also require all users of MLC waterways to follow the “Check-Clean-Dry” procedures, which can be found here:
Report INNS
If you think you have spotted an invasive non-native species of plant or animal in or around our waterways please let us know ASAP so we have a good chance of controlling the spread as soon as possible.
INNS can establish quickly and can be devastating to wildlife as well as potentially increasing flood risk.
Please send us a photo, location and any information to enquiries@middlelevel.gov.uk so we can check and take prompt action.
Ecology & Environment Lastest News
The annual IDB biodiversity surveys have begun!
Each year we survey a different stretch of channel in each IDB district to improve our biodiversity benchmarking. It helps us to know whether our work in that area is helping wildlife to thrive, or if we have to give it some room or do something differently so it can.
Our first survey, undertaken in Curf & Wimblington IDB, recorded, 13 plant species on the bank top, 16 on the bank face, 3 in the channel margin and 9 species of aquatic plant in the channel as well as signs of water vole. A huge diversity! And some lovely invertebrates:
Lesser Marsh Grasshopper
Interestingly, the vegetation composition and structure was quite different on each bank as well as upstream of a culvert so we will be looking at what the cutting regimes have been in the past few years in the area to see how it has affected sward diversity.
Nettle Weevils
Spotted something?
We love hearing if you have spotted anything exciting. It helps us to know whether our work in that area is helping wildlife to thrive, or if we have to give it some room or do something differently so it can.
Similarly, if you’ve seen something worrying, please let us know. We are very keen for everyone out and about to be vigilant for invasive non-native species (INNS) and report them to us ASAP so we have a good chance of controlling the spread as soon as possible.
Please email us on enquiries@middlelevel.gov.uk with a picture if possible and location (What 3 Words is fine) to tell us what you’ve seen.
Floating Pennywort
One species we currently do not have in our waterways is FLOATING PENNYWORT and we are keen to keep it that way.
Help us to spot Floating Pennywort using the resources below and report any suspected sightings of the plant to us as soon as you can.
The plant is very costly and problematic to eradicate and early control is key to control.
American Mink
Our partnership in the WaterLife Recovery Trust East project aimed to conserve and enhance the drastically reduced water vole populations across our region. The Project has been key in controlling the invasive non-native American Mink. Almost no mink captures have been reported in recent years and we hope our much-loved water voles are thriving in our channels as a result. More information about the project can be found on the WRT’s website:
Waterways Users & Angling
We have developed a wide range of advice and guidance to help users of our waterways to enjoy our watercourses compliantly. MLC waters are some of the best fisheries in the UK and specific guidance for anglers can be found here:
All waterway users including fishermen, boaters, paddle boarders and swimmers should all follow good biosecurity procedures to prevent the spread of invasive non-native species (INNS) (see opposite). We require all users of MLC waterways to follow the “Check-Clean-Dry” procedures, which can be found here:
More Information
You can find further information about the role IDBs play in conserving our natural environment, and guidance on best practice techniques, from the Association of Drainage Authorities’ website:
Some of which has been written by the MLC!