1. River Basin Management Plans delivery update – North East May 2018
FORESTRY AND DIFFUSE POLLUTION
River Basin Management Plans delivery update – North East May 2018
Carla Ward
RBMP Co-ordinator /
Tel
Jackie McColm
SEPA

2. River Basin Management Planning
Scotland’s second river basin plans (RBMP2)
Objectives for getting as many as possible to at least Good status
SEPA is leading but many organisations are responsible for delivery
North East has some catchments of excellent quality, others where lots of improvement required
HIGH
GOOD
MODERATE
POOR
BAD
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 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)

3. Water Environment Hub
All the information about waterbodies, pressures, measures and when action will be taken is available on-line, publically, through the Water Environment Hub

4. Where is action required?
There is a range of quality in the north-east – as you can see, some catchments are almost fully greyed out – meaning no impacted waterbodies in RBMP2 requiring action. Other areas are almost completely highlighted as requiring action
RBMP2 has objectives for improving 225 water bodies in North East area

5. What is required? By when?
Majority of pressures in NE area are to do with historic straightening and engineering which has changed the shape and functioning of rivers, also from structures which are barriers to fish migration and rural diffuse pollution issues.

6. Next slides Priority catchment work
North east corner, ScW investment, ~half complete
Flows, inc. whisky sector, via CAR regulation
Various, scattered
monitoring
Hydro work, All in Spey
ScW
Waste water pressures are all in the north east corner and include catchments such as Fordyce, Ugie and Youlie-Bronie. This is being dealt with through ScW investment
Acidification pressure was attributed to forestry around Loch Muick but is already complete
Flows pressures are all being dealt with through hydro operators, or whisky, through relevant sectors and CAR regulation. Hydro is all in spey, other industry is Linkwood burn (whisky), River Nairn and Brothock water.
Public water supply in Dee catchment and in Deveron, all ScW Q&S investment, some complete, some on-going
One each of mine water – which is Cowie burn, and urban diffuse, which is Findon burn south of Aberdeen.
Forestry, complete

7. RBMP2 Delivery progress
RBMP2 theme
Complete
Not Started
On-going
blank
Grand Total
BARR 50 18 67 4
139
F&L 40 25 33
102
INNS 1 2
PHYSCOND 19 98 17
135
UNKNOWN 9 28 38 WQ 36 54 51
145
(blank) 3 5
157
196
566
There is lots more detail in the background dataset, which we show part of in this table
We can see here that we’ve almost a third of Barriers work complete,
Three quarters of flows work delivered or underway,
Everything well underway – however Physical condition work has the majority of work not started yet. This is a major challenge!!
There are about 50 barriers that are on-going or not started that are historic or asset – ie. That we ask for help with progressing with partners. The 22 asset ones - report on these specifically as follow up to council meetings

8. Focus of cycle 2 Removing barriers to fish migration
Restoring degraded rivers
Restoration funding increase
WEF priorities for funding
Type of projects suitable
Maximising project development opportunities
Photos: Colin Bull, Stirling University

9. Categories of Fish Barriers
Active barrier
Active Barrier – an impoundment, weir or dam that is a barrier to fish movement and is being operated or maintained (or is planned to be operated or maintained); or, it is a mothballed weir, impoundment or dam (i.e. it is not currently operated or maintained but the owners operate/maintain similar structures for the purposes of their business). Regulatory approach by sector – Hydropower is the priority for this cycle.
Historic Barrier  - an impoundment, weir or dam constructed prior to 1 April 2006 that is a barrier to fish movement and is not operated or maintained. Nor is it owned by a business who operates or maintains similar structures for the purposes of their business. Funded by Scottish Government via the Water Environment Fund, WEF.
 Asset Barrier – a culvert or bridge apron built prior to 1 April 2006 that is a barrier to fish movement. Working with Responsible Authorities.
Historic Barrier
Fish barriers form a main focus of the current river basin plans for Scotland. Over 300 waterbodies in total are downgraded for this reason. To manage this, barriers are split into 3 categories, depending on how we are to deal with them. Active, Historic or Asset (described on slide)
Asset Barrier

10. Historic barriers
ID 3283, Mill of Auchenbadie on Burn of Brydock – bedrock base, natural limit to migration
Improved data – some structures in disrepair naturally become passable over time!
ID409,outlet of Clarack pond, Dee catchment

11. Historic barriers – current projects
ID2554 Garlogie dam, design stage – partial removal expected
Tullynessle
Great that we seem to be moving forward with this one in Dee catchment . Dee trust leading on it to get a design.
No retention value in existing condition – modelling expected to prove this
Aspiration to encourage out of bank conditions through restored reach – informal flood storage
Tullynessle has been in WEF project for years but it looks likely to now be more appropriate for CAR regulations – paused while this is assessed.
Youlie burn/ Bronie burn FBID3406, Ythan,

12. Asset barriers 3 m ID3176, road culvert u/s train station at Huntly
ID496, forestry track culvert removed, R.Nethy
Removing those two culverts improved the Nethy to High for fish barriers (still at moderate for other pressure)
ID3176, road culvert u/s train station at Huntly

13. Asset barriers
Huntly railway station – fish ecology has been out. Decent habitat upstream. Didn’t have two major culverts on our system – now added. Potential to improve through A96 upgrade?? Railway sidings abandoned?? On-going discussions with responsible authorities.

14. River restoration projects
Aberarder, done phase 1
Aberarder phase 2 (post works)
Upper River Nairn

15. Council led/ partnership projects
East Tullos burn, Aberdeenshire
Peffery, Highland
Stane Gardens, North Lanarkshire
Lyne Burn, Fife Council
Tollcross Burn, Glasgow City Council
Others coming through – White cart, Bathgate watercourses…
We deliver the plans as Scotland plc - here are some examples of what councils are doing…
1. Working within a partnership led by Aberdeenshire Council, historical engineering pressures were removed to improve a 1km of the East Tullos Burn and associated green public space.
2. The Stane Gardens project in Shotts, North Lanarkshire, led by North Lanarkshire Council, is now in its construction phase of improving 500m of water course within an urban green space for the local community. This project was short listed for a Sustainable Urban Regeneration Forum award, recognising the community benefits restoration works can have in the urban environment.
3. In partnership with Fife Council and Lothian & Fife Green Networks, the Lyne Burn project is scoping environmental improvements required in part of Dunfermline and starting with the design and build of a section of the water course through Rex Park
4.Work to scope out environmental improvement and multiple benefits has begun on Tollcross Burn. Led by Glasgow City Council, the first phase will focus on the design and build of a section of the water course through Sandyhills Park
Urban projects generally have more constraints and risks and are more expensive but also offer greater opportunities for wider community benefits and with strong partnerships can bring together a variety of funding streams to implement an integrated approach to environmental improvements and community green space.

16. Project development opportunities
WEF priorities to improve ecological status and benefit communities
Funding available through WEF for eligible projects
Screening tool identified candidates
Further information