The ambitious project aims to protect the lakes and tarns - smaller lakes - in the Lake District from pollution.

Environment Agency chief executive Barbara Young is due to meet representatives from the Lake District Still Waters Partnership on Thursday.

The group will also use its position to try and raise public awareness of the factors influencing the quality of the waters.

It is important that we take measures to ensure that the waters are as healthy below the surface, as they appear from above

Barbara Young, Environment Agency

The project was first mooted after rare fish in Lake Windermere were almost wiped out several years ago.

Scientists found the rare arctic char of the lake were in trouble because of declining water quality.

The cause was traced to nitrates in sewage works discharges but the lake recovered when new equipment was installed.

Major improvement projects have been and are continuing to be carried out at the waste water treatment plants which feed into the lake.

Michael Bentley, deputy chairman of the National Parks Authority, said: "Lake management is extremely complicated.

The artic char were affected by the water quality

"And the factors affecting the future health of our fresh waters are many and varied.

"Above all, we must maintain the waters in an ecologically healthy state, not just for wildlife and the environment, but also for the public to enjoy.

"The Still Waters Partnership provides an important forum to take a strategic view and promote action."

Barbara Young added: "The lakes and tarns of the Lake District are a beautiful asset; here for everyone to enjoy.

"Whilst their beauty is evident, it is important that we take measures to ensure that the waters are as healthy below the surface, as they appear from above."

Some of the groups involved in the Still Waters Partnership include the Lake District National Park Authority, English Nature, the Environment Agency, the National Trust, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the Freshwater Biological Association.