§ Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domerasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Article 2 of the draft Water Framework Directive does not include a definition of wetlands because the wetlands associated with a river are included within the definition of a river; or whether a river is that area of water that is normally between two banks; and [HL5558]
If wetlands are not included within the definition of a river in the draft Water Framework Directive regulations for England and Wales, what status they have. [HL5559]
§ Lord WhittyThe Water Framework Directive defines a river as a "body of inland water flowing for the most part on the surface of the land but which may flow underground for part of its course." The draft England and Wales regulations contain the same definition. The directive does not set environmental objectives for wetlands as such, and this may be why there is no separate definition of this term.
A wetland that is dependent on a groundwater body, that forms part of a surface water body, or that is a protected area, will however benefit from directive obligations to protect and restore the status of water. The draft regulations for England and Wales will provide the framework within which those obligations will be met.