The second River Basin Management Plans delivery update - Argyll Jenny Davies RBMP coordinator June 2017

Objectives and state of the water environment in Scotland HIGH GOOD MODERATE POOR BAD No deterioration Improve to Good Status by 2027 Protected Areas R e s t o r e RBMPs has two main types of objectives. First is to protect against deterioration in quality – through authorising new activities, land use planning decisions and protecting against the spread of invasive. Second is to improve to good status by 2027 - Ambitious plan – We need to do this unless there is a very good reason not to. The plans also cover protected areas – bathing waters, drinking water, shellfish waters and conservation areas. 5. Objective setting has been lead by the Water unit supported by SEPA sector leads and informed by external sector engagement consultation feedback ecosystems services data PA status (SAC, SPA, NVZ, UWWTD etc) confidence of classification and pressures estimated costs of improvement versus the ££ available (done through scenarios and impacts on use)

What needs done in Argyll? FORESTRY AND DIFFUSE POLLUTION Iterating the importance of the water environment. Jackie McColm SEPA

Hydro reviews 2 second cycle measures; Allt Kinglass has been reassessed – not as bad as we initially thought and so has been put back to the third cycle until we better understand the ecological requirements Abhain Fionain in the Awe catchment is progressing with flow trials to measures the wetted width and assess fish access.

Barriers to fish migration Active - CAR provisions/ licence review Assets - often not associated with a controlled activity but typically responsibility lies with local or national authority. Addressed through asset management programmes. Historic – financial support through WEF Some will require coordinated partnership approach led by a relevant public body or delivery group.

Process for barriers Screening Scoping Options Appraisal Design Build Evaluate

Categories of fish barriers and delivery mechanisms Active barrier Historic barrier Controlled Activities Regulation Asset barrier Water Environment Fund Active - This year, priority is for the hydro sector. This is done through the regulatory process, all these barriers have an associated CAR authorisation and improvements will be delivered through a variation of their authorisation. New Restoration Regulations

Historic Barriers On going projects: 14 barriers to be eased/removed this cycle New projects: 18 “new” barriers to be eased/removed this cycle Internal scoping study Planning phase (2017-2020) Build phase (2019/2021) Re-priotisation to fit with the allocated WEF budget. On going projects: At the build phase: Almond Barriers- 7 barriers phased over 5 years Lugton Water Barriers- 2 barriers to be done next year Water of Glencalvie- 1 barrier to be done next year At the developing stage: Kirk Burn- 1 barrier Tyne Barriers- 3 barriers New projects: Internal scoping studies: To increase understanding of the For SEPA specialists to understand the individual priority barriers for RBMP2 To prepare technical information and understanding prior to engaging consultant to assess or design fish passage. To identify, in general terms, if SEPA believe removal is a realistic option, requiring further investigating To identify if other options should be considered e.g, fish pass, bypass, partial removal. 16 scoping to happen before the end of march and another 15 in the spring. We will scope all historic barriers this cycle. We have very good feedback on the process, have learnt a lot of the barriers and this will allow us to be more efficient in delivering improvements on FBs.

Asset Barriers Active Barriers Engagement with the asset owners Scoping studies Remediation notice Active Barriers Engagement with the responsible person Licence review Engagement with the asset owners: Forestry, council, Network rail, Transport Scotland…. This is to happen this year Scoping study : Same principle than for the historic but will involve the asset owner too. Remediation notice: It is a planning tool that can be used as an enforcement tool if needed. But, we want to engage with the owners first. Developing process internally and raising awareness with asset owner

Barriers progress in Argyll Mingarry Burn, Mull is being progressed by FCS who have agreed to ease fish passage. Allt Sanna, Ardnamurchan is being progressed by Scottish Water who are modifying their drinking water supply to ease fish passage. Feochan Bheag, Kilmore. The landowner is replacing a pipe culvert with a span bridge. Glen Kerran Water, Kintyre has washed out a redundant structure all by herself! Barcaldine barrier is being re assessed as disproportionately expensive as too little US habitat, only 400m of low quality habitat.

Loch Awe Fish Continuity Project Joint project with Argyll Fishery Trust and the Wild Trout Trust This will be in September They’re keen to get interested folks from local authority, BEAR and FCS Let me know if interested

Other projects SEPA are collating information for the diffuse pollution focus area in Kintyre. Catchment visits are likely to take place later in the year. Unknown sources pressures – further monitoring and investigation is underway for these waterbodies.