RP7: Sediment ponds and traps

This item is part of Capital Grants 2025. You must read the Capital Grants 2025 guidance to understand the rules and how to apply.

If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the CSHT applicant’s guide to understand the rules and how to apply.

How much you’ll be paid

£11.88 per square metre (m2).

How this item benefits the environment

A sediment pond or trap provides an area where muddy run-off from fields or tracks is allowed to prevent sediment entering a watercourse and causing pollution.

This helps reduce the risk of sediment and other pollutants entering nearby watercourses. It provides areas for flood water to temporarily collect and subside more slowly. It improves water resource quality by reducing phosphates and sediment entering the ground in a downslope feature.

This item can help you protect, recover and improve biodiversity on your land.

Where you can use this item

You can use this item either:

• in areas targeted to reduce water pollution from agriculture
• to deliver flood benefits such as enabling flood water to temporarily collect and go down more slowly
• to improve recharge of groundwater – where permeable soils and geology allow for the capture and storage of groundwater

For works in ponds or traps over 25m2 you will need a feasibility study or a Catchment Sensitive Farming water holding structure action plan developed with Natural England.

Catchment Sensitive Farming provides advice where there are water quality or flood risk issues linked to farming.

You’ll need to get relevant advice, permits or consents from the Environment Agency, local council or internal drainage board to check if you need land drainage consent before you start any work.

You must also contact your local planning authority to check if planning permission is needed. You cannot use this item:

• to collect effluents and slurries, contaminated or polluted water
• where it’ll restrict the movement of migratory fish or eels
• on historic or archaeological features identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER)
• on areas of wildlife interest identified on your Farm Environment Record (FER) or on MAGIC

What you must do to use this item

For sediment ponds or traps less than 25m2, you must:

• excavate to an appropriate depth (as agreed with your Natural England adviser) so creating gently sloping banks
• spread any excess soil thinly across the land and away from the excavated pond area

For larger sediment ponds or traps greater than 25m2, you must follow the requirements set out in your feasibility study or a Catchment Sensitive Farming water holding structure action plan developed with Natural England.

You must not place spoil on any historic or archaeological feature or wildlife area identified on your FER, HEFER or on MAGIC.

Evidence you must keep

You must keep and provide with your claim:

• photographs of the site during the different stages of construction or contracts, invoices or other documents confirming the technical specification for the completed works
• photographs of the completed work
• any consents or permissions connected with the work

You must also keep and provide on request:

• receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
• photographs of the site before works start
• a copy of the feasibility study or a Catchment Sensitive Farming water holding structure action plan developed with Natural England for ponds or traps over 25m2

Read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the Agreement holder’s guide: Capital Grants, Higher Tier capital grants and Protection and Infrastructure grants for more information.

If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the CSHT agreement holder’s guide.

Other items you can use with this item

You can use this item with:

RP5: Cross drains

RP9: Earth banks and soil bunds

RP10: Silt filtration dams or seepage barriers

RP11: Swales

Advice to help you use this item

The following advice may help you to use this item, but you do not have to follow it to get paid. It’s not part of this item’s requirements.

British standards

Check to make sure the works meet relevant British Standards.

Using this item with other measures

You should use this item with other farm measures to reduce surface runoff and water pollution. Good soil management will encourage infiltration of surface water and minimise runoff. This reduces the need for sediment ponds on the farm.

Constructing barriers

The feasibility study or a Catchment Sensitive Farming water holding structure action plan developed with Natural England may provide site-specific information. This includes where to place barriers and how to construct them.

Creating multiple ponds or traps

You’ll likely need several ponds or traps to reduce the amount of sediment getting into the watercourse.

Checking ponds and traps for silt

Sediment ponds and traps can collect a considerable amount of silt. You’ll need to check and de-silt them regularly.

Sustainable drainage systems on rural land

Improve the management of water on the land by using rural sustainable drainage systems.