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BackgroundTayside has a rich heritage of water and wetlandhabitats and their associated species. This diversityis due in large part to a complex geology and variedlandscape. The division of the area by the HighlandBoundary Fault is one feature which gives rise tosome of the most valuable habitats in the region.Tayside is dominated by the River Tay catchmentwhich drains the largest area of any river inScotland. It has the largest mean average annualflow of any river in the UK in terms of volume atnearly 200 cubic metres per second.
The rivers and burns in Tayside tend to be fastflowing and nutrient poor and hold a wealth ofhabitats and rare wildlife. As important wildlifecorridors, they enable dispersion and migration ofspecies, interconnecting fragmented populations.They are particularly valuable in Tayside with atotal length of over 5,000km not only making themessential to wildlife but also a familiar andimportant part of everyone’s environment. Nine ofthese important waterways have been labelled“Freshwater Fish Protected Areas” under the WaterFramework Directive.
1Water & Wetland Ecosystems
Loch Tummel, Perthshire © CAG Lloyd
Associated with these river networks are a largenumber of standing waters from the very large,deep highland lochs to small ponds and lochansand flood plain habitats such as wet woodlands,swamp and marshes, flood meadows andreedbeds. Wetlands, and particularly runningwaters, contribute to valuable habitat mosaics withthousands of kilometres of burns linking wildlifecorridors between other terrestrial habitats. Themargins of rivers and standing waters form thetransitional zone between the aquatic andterrestrial environment.
Objectives1 Endeavour to reduce the direct pressures on water
and wetland ecosystems by implementing projectsto protect and restore ecosystem health.
2 Safeguard water and wetland ecosystem speciesand genetic diversity by enhancing connectivityand where possible preventing their decline.
3 Mainstream biodiversity conservation action byraising awareness and the enjoyment of waterand wetland ecosystems.
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Loch Clunie (SSSI, SPA)
Loch of Drumellie or Marlee(SSSI, SPA)
Loch of Lintrathen (SSSI)
Long Loch of Lundie (SSSI)
Crombie Reservoir
Loch Monzievaird
Drumore Loch (SSSI)
Laird’s Loch (SSSI)
Loch Leven (SSSI, SPA, SAC)
Rescobie Loch (SSSI)
Balgavies Loch (SSSI)
White and Fingask Lochs
Monk Myre
Loch Kinnordy (SPA)
PondsLochindores (SSSI)
Kingoodie Quarry Ponds
Vane Farm Ponds
Bloody Inches/Meiklour (SSSI)
Barry Mill Ponds
Barrie Buddon Ponds
Pitmedden Forest
Wetlands (all arepart/whole SSSIs)Carsebreck Lochs
Dunalistair Reservoir
Dun’s Dish
Loch Leven
Loch of Craiglush
Loch of the Lowes (SPA)
Butterstone Loch
Loch Clunie (SPA)
Loch of Drumelli or Marlee (SPA)
Loch Moraig
Laird’s Loch
Rescobie Loch
Restenneth Moss (SSSI)
Balgavies Loch
Meikleour Area
Monk Myre
Loch of Kinnordy
Lochindores
Raised BogsCairnleith Moss
Glenquey Moss
Portmoak Moss
Methven Moss
Shelforkie Moss
Crook of Devon Moss
Balloch Moss
Egnomoss
Priority Habitats • Rivers and Burns
• Lochs and Standing Water
• Ponds and Pools
• Wetlands
• Lowland and Raised Bogs
• Transition Fen
Key Sites Rivers and BurnsNorth Esk
River Tay (SAC)
South Esk (SAC)
Craighall Gorge (SSSI/SAC)
The Den of Airlie (SSSI)
The Lunan Burn system(SSSI, SAC)
Meikleour (SSSI)
Shingle Islands (SSSI, SAC)
Montrose Basin (SSSI/SPA &RAMSAR)
Lochs and StandingOpen Water Loch Laidon
Loch Tay
Loch Brandy
Carsebreck Lochs (SAC)
Loch Con
Dunalastair Water
Dun’s Dish (SSSI)
Mesotrophic LochsLoch Moraig (SSSI)
Black Loch, Cleish (SSSI)
Loch of Craiglush
Loch of Lowes (SPA,SSSI)
Butterstone Loch (SSSI, SPA)
Key Species • Salmonid species
• Riparian mammals
• Wading, wetland and divingbirds
• Freshwater invertebrates
• Riparian, peatland andwetland plants
Wetland, Glen Prosen © Kelly Ann Dempsey
Otter © SNH
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Integrated Catchment Management in Practice
The River South Esk Catchment Partnership leads inthe delivery of ecosystem scale environmentalimprovement initiatives in the Angus area. One ofonly a handful of river catchment partnerships inScotland, the partnership has implementedinnovative work in this relatively new strategicpartnership approach.
Main areas of success have been improvingcommunity access to the river (an SAC for Atlanticsalmon and Freshwater pearl mussels and an SPAand RAMSAR site for migratory birds) and thecontrol of the spread of invasive non-native speciesincluding Japanese knotweed, Giant hogweed,Himalayan balsam and American mink.
River restoration projects to aid in flood mitigationfor affected towns such as Brechin, economic audits
allowing sustainable development of the ecosystemservices we derive from the catchment, landscapescale planning to mitigate the effects of climatechange: all have played an important part in thesuccess of the partnership.
The partnership carries out its objectives through thededication of its stakeholders and increasing levels ofcommunity participation. Local and national PR andawareness raising, sharing good practice, citizenscience and community volunteering raise theprofile of the important species and habitats in thecatchment. The work of a few improves the quality ofthe Angus environment for all of its residents.
Rottal Burn © Kelly Ann Dempsey
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Riverbank erosion and sediment transfer © Kelly Ann Dempsey
EcosystemServices &Ecosystem ScaleProjects Ecosystem Services • Flood management andnatural attenuation
• Regulation and improvementof water quality
• Carbon sequestration(wetlands, bogs and treeplanting)
• Water for irrigation
• Water and wetland-basedrecreation and tourism
• Climate regulation
• Health and wellbeing
• Renewable energy
Ecosystem Scale Projects • River South Esk CatchmentPartnership invasive non-native species project.
• Glen Clova Contour PlantingProject.
• Tayside Lochs Project -project improving the waterquality of Taysidemesotrophic lochs.
• Tayside SUDS and PondsInitiative – increasingwetland habitat connections.
• Scottish Mink Initiative -local organisations assumingresponsibility for minkcontrol.
• Tayside Amphibians inDrains - developing wildlife-friendly road systemsincorporating amphibianladders, wildlife kerbs andamphibian migration hotspotmapping.
• River Basin ManagementPlans - protecting andimproving Tayside’s waterenvironment in a way whichbalances costs and benefitsto the environment, societyand economy.
Pressures AcidificationAcidification happens in areaswhere there is little underlyingalkaline bedrock (such aslimestone) to neutralise acids.Unnatural causes include acidrain from dissolved sulphuricand nitric acid, livestock wasteand nitrogen fertilisers. Naturalcauses include coniferousforests close to a water body oracid rain caused from CO2dissolving.
Toxic or OrganicPollution These types of pollutants canbe point source or from diffusesources. Organic pollution canincrease the concentration ofnutrients within a water body,often leading to eutrophicationand algal blooms which canremove the oxygen in a watersystem; Slender Naiad, Najasflexilis is particularlysusceptible to changes innutrient levels.
Drainage and DredgingThese activities can change thefluvial properties of watercourses and surroundinghabitat, forcing out key species.
Abstraction of WaterRemoving large amounts ofwater from a river or waterbody for use in arable farmingand renewable energy schemescan endanger many protectedand priority species.
SedimentationAs a natural phenomenon,sedimentation decreases thecarrying capacity of rivers.However, unnatural levels canoccur after activities such asriver works which can de-stabilise banks. This can have anegative effect on the riparianzone particularly fish spawninghabitat and Freshwater PearlMussels Margaritiferamargaritifera.
Climate Change Changing patterns in weatherwill have far-reaching adverseeffects on our wetlands.Countering this is a highpriority.
Invasive Non-Nativespecies (INNS)INNS pose a growing seriousthreat as they can out-competenative species, resulting inserious changes and imbalancein ecosystem processes.
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SUDS pond at the North Inch Community Campus in Perth © D Williamson
SUDS, or Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems, arelegally required for new developments and assistin the active mitigation of flooding, erosion andpollution without compromising the downstreamwater quality. Swales, detention basins, wetlandsand ponds, as well as rain gardens, are the morevisible aspect of urban drainage management andcan be easily designed to enhance biodiversity, aswell as safeguarding existing populations. Otherdrainage includes manufactured permeablesurfaces, filter strips and underground storage.
SUDS, swales, wetlands and ponds can create anoasis for wildlife in the middle of a developmentarea. They are regularly populated by amphibians,including toads, frogs and newts, and can supporta high abundance of invertebrates. These mini-ecosystems can therefore also support birds and
bats, making them an important haven for wildlifeand a vital aspect in creating landscape-scalegreen corridors.
The SUDS allow for a natural drainage system thatcan also reduce the amount of roadside gullypotswhich need to be created, kept and maintained.These gullypots are natural traps for amphibiansand other wildlife which are attracted to water. ATayside study has shown that thousands ofanimals are entrapped over the course of a year.Whilst active mitigation in the study area helpswhere gullypots are present (in the form of wildlifekerbs and the experimental amphibian ladders), injust one local authority area there is still anestimated loss of 44,000 animals (mostlyamphibians) from drain entrapment.
SUDS and Biodiversity
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Maintaining & Improving Habitats
Action Action breakdown Who takes the action Timescale
1 Support thecreation, restorationor enhancement ofponds acrossTayside to provideconnectivity of thishabitat across theregion.
Pond Doctor Community ProjectsCreate, restore and enhance 3 ponds orwetlands per year from 2017.
Amphibian Management PlansCollate SUDS audits, mapping ofponds/SUDS within 1km of roads.
Map amphibian migration routes andhotspots to ensure wildlife kerb, droppedkerb/amphibian ladder installation ismainstreamed.
Tayside BiodiversityPartnership
Perth & Kinross Council
Angus Council
Scottish GreenInfrastructure Group
TayARG
Short/medium
2 Reduce nutrientenrichment andpollution.
Improve or maintain the water qualityclassification of all lochs in Tayside.
Scottish EnvironmentProtection Agency
Scottish Water
Perth & Kinross Council
Angus Council
Landowners and landmanagers; developers;angling clubs.
Long
3 Promote adoption ofbiodiversity-managed SUDS indevelopments.
Encourage SUDS audit and proactivemanagement of SUDS and swales forbiodiversity.
Increase terrestrial habitat for amphibianspecies.
Decrease eutrophication and point sourcepollution.
Provide habitats for other wildlife.
Support a Tayside Community SUDS Pondproject.
Scottish Water
Perth & Kinross Council
Angus Council
Scottish EnvironmentProtection Agency
Tayside BiodiversityPartnership
Scottish GreenInfrastructure Group
ARC Trust
TayARG
Long
4 Minimise pollution ofwatercourses from toxicsubstances and organicenrichment from poorfarming practice.
Priority Catchment work – ensure bestpractice advice is available throughdedicated projects and websites.
Scottish EnvironmentProtection Agency
Scottish GovernmentRural Payments andInspections Directorate
National Farmers UnionScotland
Landowners and LandManagers
Scottish Land & Estates
Long
Water & Wetlands Actions ScheduleKey for timescale Short: 1-3 yrs Medium: 4-6 yrs Long: 7-10 yrsActions will be input into the UK Biodiversity Action System (UKBARS)where Lead Partners will be outlined
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Maintaining & Improving Habitats
Action Action breakdown Who takes the action Timescale
5 Encourage betterbiodiversitymanagement andprotection ofwatercourses onfarmland andforestry.
Explore follow on projects from the Pearls inPeril LIFE Project (Freshwater Pearl Mussel)within Tayside.Expand the UK Green Shoots initiative intoTayside.Support collaborative projects at all spatialscales which focus on riverine habitats andspecies.Promote awareness of appropriate treeplanting approaches and best practiceschemes.Maximise the use of social media to engage aswide an audience as possible.
Scottish Natural HeritageBritish Association forShooting andConservationScottish EnvironmentProtection AgencyScottish Rural UniversityCollegeForestry CommissionScotlandRiver South EskCatchment PartnershipNational Farmers UnionScotlandScottish Land and Estates North East Green Network
Long
6 Maintain currentmesotrophic lochs inTayside.
Continue the Tayside Lochs Project, includingthe Lintrathen Loch Enhancement Project.
Scottish EnvironmentProtection AgencyTayside BiodiversityPartnershipTayside Lochs PartnershipScottish Natural Heritage
Medium
7 Support floodalleviation schemesthat improve habitatconnectivity throughnatural landscapingor native treeplanting.
Encourage strategic planting of broadleaftrees along watercourses to assist with floodattenuation and the creation of habitatcorridors. Support ongoing projects e.g. Glen Clova Contour Planting SchemeBrechin Flood Prevention SchemeAlmondbank Flood Prevention SchemeStrathallan Project Where appropriate, favour broadleaf againstpine to reduce acidification of watercoursesto safeguard Stonefly and Freshwater pearlmussel.Maintain an awareness of fundingopportunities to instigate further projects.
Forestry CommissionScotlandAngus CouncilPerth & Kinross CouncilUK Scoter Steering GroupLandowners and landmanagers
Long
8 Minimisedetrimental impactsof hydro-powerschemes.
Protect riverine habitats and species,especially Freshwater pearl mussel, salmonidspecies, Otters, Water voles and River jellylichen.Where appropriate, provide fish ladders toallow migration of salmon. Ensure sufficient flows remain downstreamof dams and use freshets to mimic naturalspates.
Scottish EnvironmentProtection AgencySouthern & ElectricScotlandDistrict Salmon FisheryBoardsAngus Council Perth & Kinross Council Cairngorms National ParkAuthority
Medium/long
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Maintaining & Improving Habitats
Action Action breakdown Who takes the action Timescale
9 Restore andenhancewatercoursebiodiversity.
Safeguard existing riparian habitats andenhance wherever possible.
Reduce overfishing of river stocks.
Encourage the removal of weirs to aid fishmigration.
Encourage restoration of watercourses byenhancing urban water quality throughcommunity engagement (especially thePerth Lade and the Dighty Burn).
Identify and facilitate ongoing opportunitiesfor riparian planting, biodiversityimprovements as part of all Tayside FloodPrevention Schemes.
Support the setting up of the Tay WesternCatchment Project.
Angus Council
Perth & Kinross Council
River South EskCatchment Partnership
Tay Western CatchmentPartnership
Scottish EnvironmentProtection Agency
Scottish Natural Heritage
Perth Lade Group
Broughty FerryEnvironmental Project
Long
10 Protect shingle-bankhabitats.
Safeguard Priority Species from INNS.
Control aggregate removal from riverschanging sedimentation.
Explore fixed point photographyopportunities in a range of wetland andriverine habitats.
Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish EnvironmentProtection Agency
Scottish Wildlife Trust
Short/medium
11 Working inpartnership, explorethe implications ofEurasian BeaverCastor fiber in rivercatchments.
Work with Fisheries Boards and CatchmentInitiatives to incorporate flood attenuationinto management plans.
Expand local knowledge of managementtechniques and disseminate lessons derivedfrom UK beaver reintroduction projects.
Encourage studies into added biodiversityvalue from beavers, especially dragonfliesand damselflies, amphibians, otter andwater vole, wetland and riparian birds andnative fish populations.
Research the potential for riparian plantinggrants to mitigate for any beaver damage orthe species entering crop fields, traditionalor community orchards.
Forestry CommissionScotland
Scottish Wild BeaverGroup
Tayside BiodiversityPartnership
Tay LandscapePartnership
Fisheries Boards
Amphibian and ReptileConservation
Mammal Society
International OtterSurvival Fund
British Dragonfly Society
British Trust forOrnithology
River South EskCatchment Partnership
Medium/long
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Surveying & Monitoring
Action Action breakdown Who takes the action Timescale
14 Survey and monitorthe Tayside Watervole population.
Investigate further the Water vole populationin Glen Clova and support actions to protectand enhance habitat for the population.
Investigate the possibility of fissoral Watervole populations in Tayside.
Water Vole GIS Survey (Tayside)Collate the Water vole data from SSE to sharenationally (NBN and SNH) and locally (localauthority GIS).
Loch Leven Water Vole SurveyContinue regular surveys to ascertain statusof Water vole in/around Loch Leven.
Tay Landscape Partnership RiparianMammals SurveyUndertake Mink control throughout TLParea.
Ongoing coppice management and scrubclearance to increase light onto riverbanks.
Control Himalayan balsam to improvefavourable habitat.
Ensure sympathetic pow and ditchmanagement with biodiversity in mind.
Create additional wetland habitat.
Consider Water vole reintroduction and landmanagement for natural reintroduction.
Re-survey medium and low priority surveysites by 2025.
Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Southern Energy
Angus Council
Perth & Kinross Council
River South EskCatchment Partnership
Tay LandscapePartnership
Tayside BiodiversityPartnership
Mammal Society
Medium
Maintaining & Improving Habitats
Action Action breakdown Who takes the action Timescale
12 Research status ofLamprey in Tayside.
Research potential for Lamprey Pow BurnProject.
Support habitat enhancement for Lamprey.
Share good practice for the timing of riverwork where Lamprey is concerned.
District Salmon FisheryBoards
Tayside BiodiversityPartnership
Scottish Natural Heritage
River South EskCatchment Partnership
Medium
13 Mainstreammitigation tosafeguardamphibianpopulations acrossTayside.
Conserve and enhance amphibianpopulations by raising awareness ofmitigation measures including amphibianladders, wildlife kerbs, modified drains, etc.
Expand Amphibians In Drains Projectsacross Tayside.
Encourage the preparation, whereappropriate, of Amphibian ManagementPlans at the design stage of newdevelopments to incorporate droppedkerbs, modified drains and wildlife kerbs.
Tayside BiodiversityPartnership
Tayside Amphibian andReptile Group
Friends of AngusHerpetofauna
Perth & Kinross Council
Angus Council
Amphibian & ReptileConservation
Long
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Education & Awareness Raising
Action Action breakdown Who takes the action Timescale
17 Increase publicawareness of waterand wetlandhabitats and species.
Engage residents groups, communitycouncils and local environment groups incatchment-scale projects.
Perth Lade ProjectUpdate Management Plan.
With the community, prepare a SiteBiodiversity Action Plan.
Undertake conservation tasks to enhancethe Perth Lade.
Undertake interpretation and habitatimprovement along Perth Lade. Providetraining opportunities for volunteers toenhance riparian habitat for priority species.
Wildlife Ways ProjectEnhance the landscapes where the rivers Tayand Earn meet.
Reconnect residents and visitors with thenatural, built and cultural heritage withinthe Tay Landscape Partnership area.
Discuss future pow management with thePow Commission.
Dighty ConnectContinue and expand communitybiodiversity projects along the Dighty.
River South Esk Catchment PartnershipPromote the value of wetland habitats andspecies in all ongong projects and socialmedia and develop restorationopportunities where possible.
Tayside BiodiversityPartnership
Amphibian and ReptileConservation
Froglife
Buglife Scotland
Plantlife Scotland
Tay LandscapePartnership
Broughty FerryEnvironmental Project
Perth Lade Group
River South EskCatchment Partnership
Local Community
Angus Council
Perth & Kinross Council
Medium/long
Surveying & Monitoring
Action Action breakdown Who takes the action Timescale
15 Distribute nationalinformation to pondcreation groups.
Pooling Our Ponds Support the setting up of a Tayside Schooland Community Ponds Project.
Encourage 50 x community surveyors toundertake quarterly pond surveys andexpand the project by 2020.
Undertake regular amphibian and dragonflysurveys of Tayside ponds.
Tayside BiodiversityPartnership
North East ScotlandBiodiversity Partnership
North East of ScotlandBiological RecordingCentre
Tayside Amphibian andReptile Group
British Dragonfly Society
Medium
16 Surveying forUnknowns in TaysideRivers – eDNA nationalResearch.
Undertake research to ascertain populationstatus of Shad in Tayside rivers.
Scottish Natural Heritage
Community groups
Short
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Education & Awareness Raising
Action Action breakdown Who takes the action Timescale
18 Raise awarenessabout freshwaterecology and the roleof the freshwaterfishery in the localeconomy.
Salmon in the Classroom
Continue programme to 2-4 local schoolsper annum.
Expand the project to include Angusschools.
Perth & Kinross Council
Angus Council
District Salmon FisheryBoards – school fieldvisits (electro-fishing andprovision of eggs)
SSE (advice only)
Ranger Services,including Atholl RangerService
Medium
19 Raise awareness ofwater and wetlandissues to LocalAuthorities,CommunityPlanning Partnersand the widerstakeholdernetwork.
Report twice yearly to community planningthematic partnerships on projectcontributions to local and national SingleOutcome Agreement objectives.
Regularly provide biodiversity seminars andworkshops to local authority staff onrelevant legislation and good practice.
Use social media and targeted websites topromote water and wetland issues to aswide an audience as possible.
Tayside BiodiversityPartnership
Angus Council
Perth & Kinross Council
River South EskCatchment Partnership
Long
Invasive Non-Native Species
Action Action breakdown Who takes the action Timescale
20 Endeavour to reducethe direct pressures onriverine and wetlandbiodiversity andecosystem health frominvasive non-nativespecies.
Encourage control and eradication of invasive non-native species (INNS) throughout Tayside:
Support the Montrose Basin and River South EskINNS Projects; expand the River Earn INNS projects.
Monitor for the presence of American SignalCrayfish in the Pow Burn and Dighty Burn and iffound remove in accordance with INNS procedures.
Keep up-to-date the Tay Catchment INNS map androll out similar maps to other Tayside catchments.
Reduce the risk of the introduction of new INNS.
Encourage the use of Plant-Tracker and Riverwatchschemes to detect and monitor INNS.
Promote new INNS initiatives across Tayside e.g. theScottish Invasive Species Initiative.
Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust
Scottish Wildlife Trust
River South Esk CatchmentPartnership
Cairngorms National ParkAuthority
Angus Council
Perth & Kinross Council
Loch Lomond and theTrossachs National Park
Rivers And Fisheries Trusts ofScotland
Landowners and landmanagers
Long
21 Secure multipleadjacent rivercatchments as breedingmink-free areas toprotect significantpopulations of watervole, salmonids, groundnesting birds and othernative riparianbiodiversity.
Scottish Mink Initiative
Continue to recruit and support volunteers whomonitor for and subsequently trap American mink.
Raise awareness of the negative impact Americanmink have on the environment.
Survey and record native wildlife returning topreviously unoccupied areas.
Scottish Natural Heritage
Cairngorms National ParkAuthority
University of Aberdeen
Tay Landscape Partnership
Rivers And Fisheries Trusts ofScotland
Long