The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England & Wales) Regulations 2017 (referred to as the WFD Regulations) provide a framework for managing the water environment in England and Wales. The Directive aims for “good status” of all ground and surface water (rivers, lakes, transitional water, and coastal waters). Under the WFD Regulations, a river basin management plan must be prepared for each river basin district. The plan includes environmental objectives and a summary of the programmes of measures required to achieve those objectives.

This dataset shows the boundaries and interim classification, undertaken in 2024, for The Water Framework Directive (WFD) Cycle 3. It is an update in classification for all water bodies in Wales following on from the Cycle 1, Cycle 2, and 2021 Cycle 3 baseline classification rounds.

All waterbodies have been assessed and are included within the local River Basin Management Plan (RBMP). NRW updates the classification every 3 years.

Please note, the dataset does not include a Groundwater update this time.

Attribution statement: Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right.

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Spatial data (7)

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  • Water Framework Directive (WFD) Surface Water Transfer Cycle 3 (interim 2024)

  • Water Framework Directive (WFD) Canal Waterbodies Cycle 3 (interim 2024)

  • Water Framework Directive (WFD) Transitional Waterbodies Cycle 3 (interim 2024)

  • Water Framework Directive (WFD) Lake Waterbodies Cycle 3 (interim 2024)

  • Water Framework Directive (WFD) Coastal Waterbodies Cycle 3 (interim 2024)

  • Water Framework Directive (WFD) River Waterbodies Catchments Cycle 3 (interim 2024)

  • Water Framework Directive (WFD) River Waterbodies Cycle 3 (interim 2024)

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