The South Esk Catchment Management Plan

Transcription

1 The South Esk Catchment Management Pan

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3 Foreword The River South Esk catchment covers a arge area of Angus and is drained by the River South Esk and its tributaries. The catchment supports a wide range of economic activity in industries such as farming, forestry, fisheries, tourism and recreation and is a source of private drinking water. The river and the area support a rich variety of widife. The river itsef has been designated a Specia Area of Conservation (SAC) under the European Habitat s Directive as it is home to internationay important popuations of Atantic samon and freshwater pear musse. At first gance this attractive area woud appear to be in perfect condition due to the wide range of widife it supports. However, monitoring and consutation suggest otherwise. The ecoogica status of some tributaries is poor or moderate. Fish stocks and freshwater pear musses, at certain ife stages, are reducing in numbers. Non-native invasive weeds are spreading in the midde and ower areas of the catchment. Fooding is a serious concern in some areas. Long-term economic deveopment of the area is in its very eary stages. Ongoing pressures paced on the area and continua changes in the aw which affect activities carried out in the area have reinforced the need to deveop a more joined-up approach to the way this water resource is managed. We need to deveop ways of protecting and improving the quaity of the water, the widife of the area and the socia and economic we-being of communities aong the river and its tributaries. To tacke these matters, representatives of various organisations have been meeting reguary since 2004 with the aim of deveoping a catchment management pan. Graduay we formed an informa steering group which incuded representatives from The Esk District Samon Fishery Board, Angus Counci, Scottish Natura Heritage, Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Atantic Samon Trust, Scottish Agricutura Coege, Forestry Commission Scotand, Farming and Widife Advisory Group, Cairngorms Nationa Park Authority, Macauay Institute, Scottish Water, Nationa Farmers Union Scotand, Scottish Rura Property and Business Association and the Scottish Government (Rura Payments and Inspections Directorate). The process of deveoping the catchment management pan began in earnest in 2008 when we empoyed a part-time project officer to oversee a dedicated, intensive two-year project which was aunched at the Angus Show in June We aso carried a great dea of consutation with the pubic over the foowing year to capture peope s views on what they considered the main environmenta, socia and economic issues to be. From the initia consutation we drew up an Issues Document which was avaiabe for further pubic consutation before the responses and direction from within the steering group were used to group the issues into seven topics, each of which has a strategic aim and a ist of actions. This pan sets out a framework, which wi hep us protect and improve the quaity of the water, widife and oca area. At the same time, we recognise the opportunities there are to use the river and the area it is in to improve socia and economic we-being we into the future. Perhaps, one of the main strengths which ies behind the success of this pan is in how the steering group have managed to gain the support and invovement of a those with an interest in the River South Esk and its tributaries. Throughout this deveopment phase, organisations, agencies and individuas have a shown they are committed to working together. Future success of this pan wi depend on continuing eves of co-operation and commitment to work towards achieving the strategic aims and actions of the seven topics outined in the pan. We woud ike to take this opportunity to thank a those who have been invoved in deveoping the pan, either in the pubic consutations or by contributing their vaued time or expertise to deveoping the topics in the pan. Unfortunatey we have not been abe to incude every view expressed during the deveopment phase of this pan, some of which may be different from the views given in this document. The opinions in this pan represent a genera agreement reached among those with an interest, through a great dea of enthusiastic and positive co-operation. South Esk Catchment Partnership Steering Group December 2009 The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 3

4 4 CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Why do we need a pan? Timescae and process for competing the fina pan The ega framework Designations and protected areas European Water Framework Directive (WFD) The Cairngorms Nationa Park Authority European Freshwater Fisheries Directive European Nitrates Directive Drinking water protected area Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) Sensitive Area Bathing Water Directive Foods Directive Putting the pan into practice 9 2. CATCHMENT OVERVIEW 2.1 Waters Hydrogeoogy Cimate Land use Peope Cutura history Recreation and tourism Industry and energy Economy ISSUES 3.1 Water quaity Water resources Food management River engineering Habitats and Species Socio-economic ACTION CARDS 4.1 Water quaity Water resources Food management River engineering Habitats and Species Socia and economic factors Deivering the pan 44 APPENDICES A Map of the South Esk catchment 48 B Map of designated areas within the South Esk catchment 49 C Map of the Strathmore and Fife NVZ 50 D Members of the South Esk catchment partnership 51 E Tabe of invasive non-natives species in the catchment 52 F The main aws that are reevant to the pan 56 G The main pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects 57 H Best practice guidance 58 I Ecoogica status assessments for the catchment 59 J Map of the Tay Area Advisory Group area 62 K Map of status of the surface waters in the Tay area 63 L Gossary 64 M Acronyms and abbreviations 65 List of figures Figure 1 Key phases in the deveopment of the South Esk CMP 6

5 1 Introduction The South Esk catchment is the area of and drained by the River South Esk and its tributaries. This incudes its ochs, groundwaters, wetands and the unique encosed estuary of Montrose Basin (see Appendix A - map of the South Esk catchment). The area is very important to Angus and beyond for a variety of reasons,as a source of iveihood (for exampe, farming, forestry, fisheries and tourism), for recreation, as a suppy of private drinking water. It is aso a habitat of great vaue for widife. The River South Esk is of such importance for nature conservation that it has, under the European Habitat s Directive, been designated a Specia Area of Conservation (SAC) for its popuations of Atantic samon and freshwater pear musse. 1.1 Why do we need a pan? Because the area is so important to the rura economy of Angus, as expained above, it must stay a water resource capabe of withstanding the many demands paced on it, whie sti being abe to support vauabe widife habitats. At first gance the area woud appear to be in perfect condition, especiay compared with more heaviy buit-up areas. We can see this from the wide range of widife the area supports from Atantic samon and freshwater pear musses to otters and water voes, to name a few. However, monitoring reports and consutation with those who use the area or reguate the activities that happen in it, suggest otherwise. Fooding is a concern in some parts of the area such as at Brechin; fish stocks and freshwater pear musses are reducing in number; non-native invasive weeds are spreading in the midde and ower areas; and the ecoogica status of some tributaries is poor or moderate rather than the good status it shoud be. (See Appendix I: Ecoogica status assessments for the River South Esk and its tributaries.) Aso, the economy of the area is poory understood which may be imiting opportunities for ong-term economic deveopment. There are aready many organisations, andowners and and managers invoved in managing activities that take pace in the catchment. However, a in a, the area is not currenty being managed in a shared, co-ordinated or joined-up way. The aims of this pan are to: bring together a those who use the catchment to decide the main environmenta, socia and economic issues affecting the area; and agree action that wi guide the way activities are managed in the future in a joined-up and ong-term way. As a resut, the pan shoud act as a usefu framework for managing the catchment over the ong term. 1.2 Timescae and process for competing the pan Athough representatives of some organisations had been meeting reguary since 2004 to move the catchment management pan forward, the process of deveoping the pan ony began propery when a part-time project officer began work in Apri The project officer reports to a steering group who form the South Esk catchment partnership (See Appendix D for detais of the members of the steering group.) The project was aunched at the Angus Show in June 2008 and we produced an introductory eafet and questionnaire to gather peope s views on what they consider to be the main environmenta, socia and economic concerns within the area. We then drew up an Issues Document which was avaiabe for a seven-week pubic consutation period from 30 October to 19 December You can downoad a copy of the issues document at We aso hed two pubic meetings, in the evenings, during the pubic consutation period, on 19 and 20 November 2008 at Memus and Brechin where we gathered peope s views. About 70 peope came to these meetings. We have put the draft pan together using responses to our consutation on the Issues Document, and through discussion with members of the steering group. We hed a workshop for members of the steering group in February 2009, foowed by five further meetings during March and Apri to deveop the strategic aims and actions for each of the main topics highighted in the Issues Document. The topics were: water quaity; water resources; river engineering; habitats and species; and socio-economic. We added two new sections food management, which had previousy been incuded under the water resources section in the issues document, and a seventh section caed deivering the pan. We have summarised the main stages of the process of deveoping the pan in the tabe over the page. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 5

6 6 Phase 1: Consut on main issues affecting the South Esk catchment competed Juy 2008 Phase 2: Deveop an Issues Document competed October 2008 Issues document consutation period cosed on 19 December 2008 Phase 3: Create a draft pan which wi incude strategic aims and actions by topic One-day workshop for steering group members Turning issues into action February 2009 Working groups to deveop topic strategic aims and actions March to Apri 2009 Consut on the draft pan June to September 2009 Phase 4: Launch the fina pan by December 2009 Phase 5: Putting the action in the pan into practice from 2010 onwards Figure 1: The main phases in deveoping the river South Esk catchment management pan. 1.3 The ega framework There is no ega responsibiity to produce a catchment management pan. However, we hope that we can incude outcomes and proposas deveoped during this process in other documents such as the Tay Area Management Pan or codes of practice. This wi, in turn, hep manage the area. We aso hope that the fina pan wi go further than the ega duties of the organisations aready invoved in managing the South Esk and the protection that the many designations aready give as outined beow Designations and protected areas The main Act of Pariament which is centra to managing the catchment is a European directive commony known as the Habitats Directive. This 1992 directive was transated into UK aw by the Conservation (Natura Habitats & c) Reguations The River South Esk is a Specia Area of Conservation (SAC) for Atantic samon and freshwater pear musses, and forms part of a network of SACs across Europe. The main aim of SACs is to protect the habitats and species they are designated for (in other words, the habitat and species covered by the SAC). In the case of the River South Esk SAC, athough it is Atantic samon and freshwater pear musses that are the species covered by the SAC, the habitats that support them are aso essentia in protecting these species. The South Esk SAC is not supported by a Site of Specia Scientific Interest (SSSI), as some other river SACs are. We describe other important designations beow. Montrose Basin Ramsar site, Specia Protection Area (SPA) and SSSI Montrose Basin is a wetand of internationa importance for the widfow and waders it supports, particuary over the winter. It was designated as a SPA in 1994 under the European Birds Directive and in 1995 as a Ramsar site under the Convention on Wetands of internationa importance signed in Ramsar, Iran in Together, Specia Areas of Conservation and Specia Protection Areas form a network of sites designed to protect the most seriousy threatened habitats and species across Europe. The network of sites is known as Natura Caenochan SAC, SPA and SSSI and Corrie Fee Nationa Nature Reserve Caenochan is an area of upand pateau, bog, fen and heath supporting a number of rare arctic-apine pants and birds such as dottere and goden eages, protected under the European Habitats and Birds Directives. Corrie Fee is a gacia corrie with magnificent ciffs.

7 Corrie Fee Nationa Nature Reserve and the Fee Burn, a tributary of the River South Esk. There are a further eight SSSIs within or next to the area (See the map in Appendix B of the designated areas within the South Esk catchment.) These SSSIs are: Red Craig (geoogy); Loch Brandy (mosses, dragonfy and a oigotrophic och which is ow in nutrients); Crossbog Pinewood (native pinewood which ies in what is thought of as the natura extent of the Caedonian Pinewood and is the ony wood of its kind in Angus); Baoch Moss (raised bog); Den of Ogi (wiow and ader carr and vaey fen); Forestmuir (wet heath and species-rich grassand); Rossie Moor (heath and fen); and Dun s Dish (nutrient-rich och, fen, widfow and waders) European Water Framework Directive (WFD) The WFD, which came into force in 2000, created a new ega framework to protect and improve the water environment. The main goa of the WFD is for a rivers, ochs, estuaries and coasta waters (water bodies) to be of good ecoogica and chemica status in other words, as cose to their best natura state as possibe, by Groundwater shoud aso achieve good status for both quaity and quantity. In some cases, achieving this by 2015 woud be too costy or technicay not possibe, so a ater deadine of either 2021 or 2027 is possibe. At the same time, if these water bodies have aready met these eves, we need to maintain them. There must aso be no deterioration of water bodies (see Appendix I for the current ecoogica status assessments for the River South Esk and its tributaries). Two of the main changes that the WFD has brought into practice have been to: introduce new reguations the Controed Activities Reguations (CAR) Apri 2006 covering poution, abstraction (taking water from any source, either temporariy or permanenty), impoundments (a dam, weir or other structure that can raise the water eve of a water body above its natura eve) and engineering contros in and around water bodies and transitiona waters (coasta waters which contain a certain eve of sat ); and introduce pans to manage river basins. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 7

8 8 In Scotand, SEPA have responsibiity for panning how river basins are managed at a nationa eve. There wi effectivey be one river-basin management pan (RBMP) for Scotand, athough there are aso two cross-border RBMPs covering the Soway and Tweed and Northumbrian areas that incude parts of Scotand. We wi further divide the Scotand RBMP into different geographica areas with a network of area advisory groups (AAGs) drawing up their own pans for each geographica area. The Tay AAG is working on river-basin panning for the Tay area, which covers seven major areas ony one of which is the South Esk. (See Appendix J for a map of the Tay AAG area.) The draft Tay Area Management Pan was pubished in December 2008 for a six-month pubic consutation period ending on 22 June You can see a copy at The draft South Esk catchment management pan has simiar goas to the draft Tay Area Management Pan, but the main difference is that, because it is on as it is at a smaer scae, it wi have much more focused action, specific to the area. Aso we have no ega duty to produce the draft South Esk pan, whereas river-basin management pans are covered by the WFD The Cairngorms Nationa Park Authority The Cairngorms were made a nationa park in 2003 under the Nationa Parks (Scotand) Act The aims of the park incude protecting and improving the natura and cutura heritage within it. But, they aso invove promoting the ongterm use of the area s natura resources and promoting the ong-term economic and socia deveopment of the area s communities. The upper reaches of Gens Prosen and Cova are within the park boundary European Freshwater Fisheries Directive The samonid fishery of the South Esk is egay protected as it was designated in 1980 as a samonid water under the EU Freshwater Fisheries Directive. This recognises the economic importance of the fishery. The purpose of the directive is to protect or improve the quaity of running or standing fresh water, which supports fish ife European Nitrates Directive In 2002, the Scottish Executive, under the European Nitrates Directive, designated certain areas as Nitrate Vunerabe Zones (NVZs), the aim being to reduce water poution caused by nitrates from agricutura sources and prevent further poution of this kind. The ower end of the area (from Finavon downstream) is within the Strathmore and Fife NVZ Drinking water protected area These are areas that are used to abstract (take) drinking water of more than 10m 3 a day (on average) or serving more than 50 peope, or water meant for this kind of use in the future. Genogi Reservoir, which feeds into the Noran Water, and the Borrowfied Borehoes, near Montrose, are sources of water that have been identified in the catchment as possibe pubic water backup suppies (for exampe, during a drought). The Noran Water is a drinking water protected area because of this Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) Sensitive Area The UWWTD reguates how wastewater (sewage) is coected and treated. Sensitive areas are those which woud be affected by sewage being reeased. The South Esk is a UWWTD sensitive area from just beow where the Prosen Water meets the South Esk to Montrose Basin Bathing Water Directive The main aim of this directive is to protect pubic heath and the environment from poution from faeces (bowe movements) in bathing water. Montrose is a bathing water site.

9 1.3.9 Foods Directive The European Directive on the Assessment and Management of Food Risks (the Foods Directive) is designed to hep members of the European Union prevent and imit foods and their damaging effects on human heath, the environment, infrastructure (roads, raiways and so on) and property. The Foods Directive came into force on 26 November 2007 and member states have two years in which to turn the directive into aw within their own country. The Food Risk Management (Scotand) Bi was introduced to the Scottish Pariament on 29 September The bi passed stage 1 on 22 January Amendments to stage 2 may now be put forward by a member of the Scottish Pariament (MSP) to the cerks to the Rura Affairs and Environment Committee. Specific measures within the Food Risk Management (Scotand) Bi incude: a framework for co-operation between a organisations invoved in managing food risk; an assessment of food risk and how to prepare pans to manage food risk; new responsibiities for SEPA, Scottish Water and oca authorities in terms of managing food risk; a revised, streamined process for managing food risk; new methods to aow those with an interest and the pubic to contribute to managing food risk; and one enforcement agency responsibe for making sure Scotand's reservoirs are run safey. A Natura Food Management Group was aso set up by Scottish Government in September 2008 to hep them deveop a new poicy for managing foods in a natura way. These measures are currenty being tested to see how much of a roe natura methods can pay in managing foods in the ong term. The aim is to reduce the rate of run-off in the upands, the rate of fow in the watercourse and increase water storage in the owands. It is a process that may work with rivers using natura processes aongside and-use panning measures. It has been defined by the Scottish Government as Working with or restoring natura fooding processes with the aim of reducing food risk and deivering other benefits. However, it wi be some years before we see the resuts of these tests and so measure the possibe effect on food risk and the practica use it can be put to. 1.4 Putting the pan into practice Some action within the draft pan is aready ongoing. However, the continued work and support of the Catchment Partnership shoud hep to make sure they continue to be put into practice. Many of the new actions identified in the draft pan wi need to be put into practice after the intended aunch of the fina pan in December It wi not be possibe to take forward a of the actions at once. As a resut, members of the steering group and the wider catchment partnership wi need to meet to agree the priorities for putting the pan into action and a programme of work. This wi set out timescaes for putting the action into practice. We then hope to create groups which incude members of the steering group and the wider catchment partnership to take forward specific action. This wi aso mean invoving other peope with an interest, such as andowners and and managers, and other organisations within the catchment as appropriate. The fina pan wi be a iving document. As such, we wi need to reguary review and update it.. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 9

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11 2 Overview of the catchment 2.1 Waters The South Esk catchment is on the East coast of Scotand and is entirey within the county of Angus. It rises high above Loch Esk on the sopes of Cairn Bannoch in the Eastern Cairngorms at an atitude of about 975 metres before fowing down into Gen Cova where it is joined by the White Water beow Gen Do. Further down, the Prosen Water significanty adds to the size of the river before it passes through the fertie area of Strathmore and into the unique encosed estuary of Montrose Basin before entering the North Sea at Montrose Harbour. The river South Esk is about 49 mies ong (79 km) from its source to the sea and has the foowing main tributaries. White Water Prosen Water Burn of Genmoye Noran Water Major standing waters in the area are: the hi ochs of Loch Esk, Loch Brandy, and Loch Wharra in the upper area; Den of Ogi and Genogi reservoirs in the midde area; Dun s Dish; and the vast encosed estuary of Montrose Basin in the ower area Hydrogeoogy Angus straddes the Highand Boundary Faut, a geoogic faut that traves through Scotand from Stonehaven on the East coast to Arran on the West coast. It separates two distincty different regions the Highands from the Lowands, but in most paces it is ony recognisabe as a change in the appearance of the and.within Angus, east of the fautine, ie the broad, fat fertie straths (mountain vaeys) of Strathmore, corresponding with soft areas of sandstone mainy from the ower Devonian age and some congomerates (course grained rock), which have been eroded by gaciers. The fertie sois which now cover these areas are the resut of deposits from these gaciers and the materia carried down by rivers from the gens. These sandstone and congomerate areas aso form good aquifers (rock which aows groundwater to pass through it). They are highy permeabe and it is possibe to dri for the water through the borehoes. To the north-west of the faut ine ie the harder rocks of the Daradian age which are generay in the upand areas which support ess fertie soi, and are often covered by heather moorand. 2.3 Cimate Being on the drier and sunnier East coast of Scotand, Angus has comparativey ower rainfa. We receive around 175 days of rain each year compared to 250 days a year in much of the Highands. The Angus Gens sti attract snow and so there is an increased river fow when the snow mets in spring. And, sea fog from the North Sea, known as 'haar' often reaches far inand. We can aready ceary see the effects of cimate change in Scotand when we ook at trends in temperature, rainfa and snow cover, higher river fows eading to food risk and rising sea eves causing erosion. 2.4 Land use Angus is home to 40% of Scotand's cass-1 agricutura and and produces 27.5% of the country's vegetabes (potatoes, peas and beans for canning) (This information comes from the Agricutura Census carried out by the Scottish Government in June 2008 see The fertie sois and mid cimate are idea for growing top-quaity soft fruit, vegetabes, grain and seed potatoes in particuar. Catte and sheep are aso raised in the hi and upand areas. So, it is not surprising that two-thirds of the catchment is used for agricutura production. Improved pasture for grazing on the foodpain is a feature of the upper catchment, whie the midde and ower areas are dominated by arabe (crop) production. Other main and uses in the area are forestry and heather moorand. Heather moor is confined to the sopes of the upper area where it is managed for grouse shooting and deer staking. Montreathmont Forest in the ower area is the argest conifer pantation. Other smaer but sti significant pantations are found in the Angus Gens of the upper catchment, and pockets of semi-natura woodand are found throughout. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 11

12 Peope The South Esk fows through the Angus towns of Brechin (popuation 7199) and Montrose (popuation 10, 845). However, most of the area is within rura Angus, which is sparsey popuated with a number of viages aong its ength. The catchment faces growing pressures for new housing deveopments as the two main towns Brechin and Montrose expand and aso from the deveopment of new singe houses and farm conversions in the countryside which need faciities to remove sewage. 2.6 Cutura history The catchment has a great dea of cutura history. The town of Montrose dates back to about 1140, when the natura harbour and rich agricutura areas aowed Montrose to fourish as a port. Eary exports from the area were skins, hides and cured samon. From the 17th century exports of wheat and mated barey became important whie timber and fax were imported from the Batic and wines, fruit and sat were imported from France and Portuga. The town of Brechin, upstream of Montrose, aso has connections to the river being buit on a hi soping genty back from the river. By the midde of the 19th century, Brechin had a paper mi, two fax mis, five inen factories, two beachfieds, two distieries, a brewery, two saw mis and two nurseries, a of which needed water. There are aso severa historica buidings connected with the river in the area. Inverquharity Caste, just north of Kirriemuir, was home to the Ogivies from It takes its name from the Quharity Burn, which joins the main river by the caste. Further up is Cortachy Caste, the famiy home of the Ear of Airie. Airie Estates is one of the many andowners in the area who manage the and for conservation purposes, and for shooting and fishing. Near Cortachy ies Burnside Cottage, now Burnside Lodge, where Dr Wison, who accompanied Captain Robert Scott on his Antarctic expedition in 1912, wrote his definitive work on diseases of grouse. Just up river is the Douin Haugh mi ade, one of severa former ades (man-made channes) that fed water to sawmis and watermis for grinding grain and processing coth. Haf a mie aong the road from Dykehead ies the hamet of Cuow, where a catte and sheep fair used to be hed. In the 1840s between 8000 and 12,000 sheep were brought in, over Jock s Road, to the head of the White Water and over Cape Mounth to the South Esk, to se at Cuow in Apri and October. In those days the popuation of the parish was much bigger. In 1755 Cortachy and Cova had 1233 inhabitants, and in the 1790s the area supported three smiths, four carpenters, three miers, three shopkeepers and 10 seers of strong drink. Today the popuation has faen to around 380. The Minister's Path, which inks Gen Cova and Gen Prosen takes its name from the fact that the Manse in Cova served both the Gen Cova and Gen Prosen churches, and this is the route the minister woud reguary take. In the eary 19th century there was a commercia fresh-water pear fishery at Gea Bridge. At Miton of Cova, beside the Cova Hote stands a partiay restored mea mi. From Miton of Cova, a singe track road runs a further three mies up the gen, passing what is eft of Cova Caste just the stump of a tower on a ow hi. At the end of the pubic road ies, on the west, the entrance to Gen Do and on the east, the Cape Mounth. This od drove road from Gen Cova to Gen Muick was surveyed in the 1830s with the aim of improving it into a proper road to encourage trade. However, the pan was dropped in favour of a road through Gen Shee. 2.7 Recreation and tourism A wide variety of outdoor activities is avaiabe in the area. The Angus Gens, a popuar tourist destination for waking, cimbing, anging and mountain biking, provide good access to the Eastern Cairngorms a year round. The Forestry Commission car park at the head of Gen Do caters for around 70,000 visitors each year, and a new ranger base with interpretation and educationa faciities has recenty opened (See Towards Sustainabe Prosperity An Economic Deveopment Strategy for Angus.) Athough the Scottish Youth Hoste Association (SYHA) youth hoste and the campsite previousy in Gen Do have now cosed, the nearby Gen Cova Hote heps to cater for this site by providing a restaurant, a hote, a bunkhouse and sef-catering chaet accommodation. The Gen Prosen Cottages hoiday cottages business has a number of sef-catering cottages in Gen Prosen aong with a recenty-opened hoste. Other B&B and hote accommodation is found in the nearby towns of Brechin, Forfar, Kirriemuir and Montrose. There are aso a number of hotspots for picnicking, with the Gen Do picnic site and Gea Bridge being two favourites. Sea trout and samon fishing in particuar, are popuar activities aong much of the main river. There are two trout farms, Loch Heath part of the Gen Cova Hote business and Kinnnaird Mi trout farm, near Brechin. Canoeing takes pace, athough to a much esser extent than on the neighbouring River Tay. Montrose Basin with the Scottish Widife Trust visitor centre is we paced for bird watching, particuary during winter when thousands of geese stop off at the basin on their yeary migration.

13 2.8 Industry and energy Montrose Harbour is the main focus of industria activity within the area. It is a historicay- important port that can be traced back to the 12th century and recent years have seen its further deveopment as an offshore support faciity. It currenty caters for oi-reated and commercia shipping, incuding handing and exporting pup, timber, grain and paper as we as providing significant storage faciities. In times past, the area had a number of sawmis and watermis for grinding grain and producing coth. Athough the need for these mis has mosty now gone, ong-term methods of producing energy are high on the agenda. A sma-scae hydro-eectric scheme is now in pace by the Rotta Burn at the top of the catchment with another panned for further up Gen Cova by the Gen Cova hote. The possibiities for tida generation within Montrose Harbour are aso being investigated. 2.9 Economy Agricuture has aways payed a centra roe in the prosperity of Angus and is estimated to be worth 99.2 miion to the Angus economy. It is aso estimated that the samonid fishery of the South Esk produces about 2-3 miion each year for the oca economy. There is about 60 miion of investment in the forestry sector in Angus every year, which goes into industries incuding processing wood, timber hauage, manufacturing pup and genera forest management. (See the Angus Rura Strategy ) Economic growth in the forestry sector has, however, been sow, due to investment in forestry being ong-term and the market being dominated by ow-cost foreign imports. Fied sports such as grouse and pheasant shooting, together with deer staking, provide extra income for andowners in the upper catchment. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 13

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15 3 Issues 3.1 Water quaity We can consider that there are two main types of poution. Point source poution is poution that can be traced to one specific pace, for exampe, the end of a pipe. Diffuse poution is a gradua and often unnoticed seepage of pouting materia from a number of sources into the environment, making it harder to define, find and contro. On their own these reeases can be of itte significance, but together they can ead to a major deterioration in the quaity of water. As the South Esk does not fow through an industria or heaviy buit-up area, it has escaped from much of the contamination and poution that many urban rivers suffered from in the past. Indeed, the widife that it supports (from samon, otters and water voes, to freshwater pear musses to name a few) shows just how unpouted it is. So, it is not surprising that much of the area has recorded good or high ecoogica status by monitoring carried out by SEPA. (See Appendix I: Ecoogica status assessments for the River South Esk and its tributaries.) However, certain parts of the area have been recorded as being of poor or moderate ecoogica status as a resut of nutrient enrichment which is usuay due to too much of the chemica nutrients nitrogen, phosphorous, or both. This appies at the Pow Burn (moderate), Megund Burn (moderate), Lemno Burn (moderate) and Montrose Basin (poor) a in the ower haf of the catchment. For a of these water bodies, part of the reason for this ower status is diffuse poution caused by a combination of arabe and mixed farming, forestry and eaks from septic tanks. Nutrient enrichment and too much sediment in watercourses from farming and so on can ead to a number of probems such as: harsher treatment needed before the water can be used as drinking water; the threat of diseases carried in water from sewage contamination (anima and human); the smothering of freshwater pear musse beds and spawning graves; and more genera effects on river ife and habitat such as aga booms which happen reguary at Montrose Basin, Athough,here natura causes such as an increase in sat water from the tide can infuence aga growth. Agricuture Diffuse agricutura poution arises from activities such as ivestock grazing causing the riverbanks to wear away, poughing and drainage being carried out too cose to the river, fertiiser and pesticides used to grow crops, and from runoff from farms. These activities can reease potentia poutants such as sediments, nitrates and phosphates, which individuay may not have an effect, but together, at the scae of a river catchment, can affect the quaity of water. Much of this poution is not deiberate and good agricutura practice can hep tacke the probem. However, we know that diffuse agricutura poution is aready an issue in the area. This is cear as the ower haf of the catchment downstream of Finavon, was designated as a Nitrate Vunerabe Zone (NVZ) by the Scottish Executive in June SEPA has aso recorded poor and moderate ecoogica status resuts for the Pow, Megund, and Lemno Burns and Montrose Basin. The aim of NVZs is argey to tacke contamination of groundwater from agricutura sources. NVZs were designated in areas where groundwater (water stored in permeabe rocks beow the surface, known as aquifers) has concentrations of nitrates over a certain eve (> 50 mg/itre nitrate). This aso coincides with the main and use in these areas agricuture. Forestry Diffuse forestry poution can resut from fertiisers that were used in the past that have buit up in soi and in the sediment of watercourses because forestry operations meant that the soi was disturbed. This can be worse on steep sopes and in wet conditions. Forests panted before the 1990s were often panted right up to the river s edge, which is the case in much of the area and has ead to the oss of bankside vegetation and the riverbanks wearing away. Good forestry practice can hep tacke these probems, such as eaving buffer strips between watercourses and areas of new panting. The Pow Burn has been recorded as being of moderate ecoogica status for diffuse poution as a resut of these forestry operations. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 15

16 16 Treating wastewater Wastewater, commony referred to as sewage, is a mixture of water from domestic sources such as baths, sinks, toiets and washing machines, and from industria poution and rainwater run-off from roofs, roads and other hard-surfaced areas. There are different systems for treating wastewater. Surface-water sewers take rainwater run-off from roads, yards and roofs, often reeasing it without treatment back into the environment. Combined sewers carry domestic sewage, trade waste and some rainwater run-off to wastewater treatment works (WwTWs) such as the ones at Brechin and Montrose. This water is then reeased back into the environment. Individua properties that are not served by WwTWs have their own smaer individua systems such as septic tanks with soakaways or secondary treatment systems, a of which can reease wastewater to the and. Scottish Water coects and treats wastewater, whie smaer treatment systems for individua properties are the responsibiity of each owner. Scottish Water has a capita investment programme known as Quaity and Standards, to maintain and upgrade WwTWs across Scotand. Loca authorities are responsibe for drainage systems to dea with run-off from roads. A systems which reease wastewater into water or onto and are now icensed by SEPA under a new reguatory regime, the Controed Activities Reguations (CAR) Apri 2006, as part of the Water Framework Directive. Smaer treatment systems for individua properties are sometimes not maintained we enough and this eads to poution. For exampe, the Lemno Burn has been recorded as being of moderate ecoogica status for diffuse poution due to poution from septic tanks. Under od aws, the Contro of Poution Act 1974 (CoPA), peope did not need to get permission from SEPA to reease sewage into soakaways in most cases. However, the introduction of CAR means that a new reeases of sewage must be authorised. We woud expect that any that are not currenty registered wi be picked up when peope move properties. Point source poution from wastewater can resut from od and poor infrastructure. For exampe the voume of wastewater in combined sewer overfows increases a ot during wet weather. This can sometimes resut in them overfowing and reeasing untreated wastewater into the environment. However, combined sewers are needed to prevent wastewater from backing up in the system during wet weather, and a are icensed by SEPA. Surface-water sewers can aso ead to poution of watercourses, as run-off from roads, roofs and other hard surfaces is generay untreated. New housing deveopments present opportunities for SEPA to promote more ong-term designs for drainage systems (often referred to as sustainabe urban drainage systems (SUDS)). These operate on the principe of reducing the amount of run-off to the environment and incude techniques such as swaes, which hep to fiter the run-off and reduce how fast it fows, removing pouting soids. Industry Much of the focus of industria activity within the area is around Montrose Harbour. Such a busy port fanked by a pharmaceuticas company poses the risk of occasiona poution incidents such as oi spis or trade waste and aso baast (from production of, for exampe, concrete) water being reeased. Dredging the estuary each year to aow ships to pass safey aso wi resut in temporary reeases of sediment. A of these activities can affect the quaity of water and species such as migratory samonids that enter the area at the harbour mouth. The main issues raised during the consutation to do with the quaity of water Diffuse poution caused by agricuture and forestry operations (nutrient enrichment and sediment oading) Point source poution from reeases of pubic wastewater (where od infrastructure may be an issue, for exampe, the wastewater treatment works at Brechin) Point source poution from reeasing private wastewater incuding domestic (from septic tanks and secondary treatment pants), industria and businesses How to encourage the pubic to get rid of chemicas, iquids, ois and soids appropriatey rather than by putting them down sinks, toiets and drains

17 3.2 Water resources Cimate change Overa, Scotand has become much wetter during the winter since 1961 whie areas in the east are becoming drier in the summer months. Rain and snowfa in winter has increased by amost 60% in the north and west. Scotand s yeary average of rain and snowfa has increased by 20%. If we ook at information on Scottish river fow, we can see an increase in high fow frequencies for western rivers over the past 20 years. In contrast, in the east, vaues were highest in the 1950s and 1960s. Average spring, summer and winter temperatures have risen by more than 1.0 C since Over the same period, the number of days of frost (both air and ground frost) across the country has faen by over 20% and the growing ength of the seasons has increased significanty, with the greatest change happening at the beginning of the season (See By the 2080s, scientists predict that: yeary temperatures across Scotand wi rise by up to 3.5ºC in the summer and 2.5ºC in the winter; summers wi become generay drier across Scotand (there may ony be a sight reduction in rainfa in the northwest but as much as a 40% reduction in the south and east); Scotand's sea eves wi rise, perhaps by up to 600 miimetres around the mainand; there wi be more extreme rainfa in the east, with an expected increase every two years of up to 25% of rain faing in 24 hours from storms ; and the average snowfa wi reduce - by up to 90% depending on the area, and winters with no snow may become norma in some parts. (See Significant changes in average temperature, rainfa and snowfa as predicted above, are ikey to have a considerabe effect on water avaiabiity within the area. The need for water is ikey to increase across the East coast, together with the need for a greater pubic water suppy. Abstraction drinking-water suppies Pubic water suppies are generay taken from rivers, ochs, reservoirs and groundwater. Peope who ive within the catchment receive their pubic drinking-water suppy from sources outwith the area (Loch Lee in the North Esk area, and Loch of Lintrathen and the Backwater Reservoir in the Isa area). However Genogi reservoir which feeds into the Noran Water, has been identified as a backup water suppy, for exampe,,during drought conditions. There are some private drinking water suppies within the area. Water is taken for Strathmore Springs botted water from the Devonian sandstone aquifer which crosses the midde and ower sections of the catchment, but this is actuay reativey itte. Attempts to use these aquifers have met with mixed success as much depends on the materias between the aquifer and the surface, which can prevent water from being dried. The Borrowfied borehoe near Montrose was meant to take water direct from the aquifer there, but woud ony be used as a backup suppy. Cimate change coud put even more pressure on drinking water suppies from the area in future years. Abstraction - agricutura purposes Currenty the biggest pressure on the catchment is water taken for agricutura purposes. Water is needed to irrigate crops such as potatoes, athough drinking water is aso needed for ivestock. When river eves are ow during periods of summer drought, taking the water can reduce the fow, which affects the ecoogy of the river. Migrating fish may become trapped in poos, and the effects of poution may become more severe due to the ack of water avaiabe to diute them. SEPA has recenty carried out a review of a abstraction icences under CAR. However, further measures such as storing water in irrigation ponds during times of high fows may be needed if cimate change predictions become reaity. These shoud aim at conserving water to use in times of shortages, recognising that farmers, among others, need water for their iveihoods. The main issues raised during consutation to do with water resources Taking water when it is scarce can affect in-stream ecoogy such as samonids and freshwater pear musses. Existing information on abstraction rates is based on estimated vaues. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 17

18 Food management In recent years, the focus on fooding within the catchment has been in the city of Brechin, which suffered serious fooding in Since then Angus Counci has been carrying out a detaied appraisa of options to dea with foods, incuding: man-made food water storage areas; an over-fow channe which woud by-pass Brechin; and a wa which coud be permanent or be buit when needed, using removabe panes.. The preferred option is to deveop further food defences aong the north bank of the South Esk, and Angus Counci is currenty deveoping the design of this work. The counci is aso considering whether there may be short-term measures avaiabe to dea with the current food risk. There are aso other ocaised areas of fooding, such as at Bridge of Dun and over rura areas, such as in Gen Cova. Some tributaries have been dredged in recent years to try and prevent fooding of agricutura fieds nearby. However, we beieve that the new Food Directive may see a change of emphasis in managing foods towards area-based soutions. The evidence from the fied trias supports the success of these soutions (see section Food Directive). The main issues raised during the consutation to do with managing foods Lack of firm soutions to fooding Continued food risk, for exampe, at Brechin Lack of natura foodpain storage The effect of foodwaters on peope s ives and iveihoods 3.4 River engineering In the past river engineering in the area has been carried out for a number of purposes incuding: to stabiise the banks to prevent erosion and oss of agricutura and; to create canas to move food waters away from areas of fooding; to insta river bed engineering to improve fisheries; to create weirs to divert water for mis and to recaim and for buiding houses on; to buid groynes (ow was) to prevent waves wearing away and; to carry out dredging to aow ships into Montrose Harbour; to buid embankments to protect houses buit on foodpains; and to dig out grave to maintain fishing poos. Drainage activities when managing and use such as moorand, forestry and agricuture are aso ongoing in the area. And, a of these are difficut to reguate. The main method of reguation is the Environmenta Impact Assessment (EIA) reguations for forestry and agricuture. Whie some engineering activities do have a continuing roe to pay in managing rivers, many have ead to changes in the natura processes which happen in the river system. These, in turn affect the widife that the river can support, whie not aways producing the desired soutions. However, a engineering work cose to or on a river is now icensed by SEPA under new reguations the Controed Activities Reguations (CAR) Apri 2006, as part of the Water Framework Directive. The foowing are some exampes where river engineering has been carried out in the area in the past. Upper catchment The Burn of Heughs (Rotta Burn) and the March Burn in the upper catchment are exampes of burns, which have been straightened to try and prevent fooding of nearby agricutura and, athough there are many other burns which have been engineered. Midde catchment The Noran water which has Genogi reservoir and the Den of Ogi reservoir, both man-made structures designed to act as backup pubic water suppies. The river South Esk has had grave extracted and has a number of weirs aong it. The Lemno Burn has aso been straightened. Lower catchment - Many burns have been straightened across the area, with the Pow Burn being the argest. Parts of Montrose Basin have been recaimed for deveopment and are defended with gabions (wire baskets fied with earth and stones). The South Esk Estuary is routiney dredged and the coast is protected at the estuary mouth using groynes and gabions.

19 The main issues raised during consutation to do with river engineering Inappropriate river engineering can affect the natura way river systems work. The physica characteristics of a river that aow it to support the habitats and species it does can be damaged by engineering. Weirs, cuverts and poor drainage practice and so on can prevent fish from migrating. Dredging and digging up grave can destroy in-stream habitats and smother spawning graves and freshwater pear musse beds. Inappropriate river engineering to improve fisheries can have negative effects on the environment. The inks between the hydroogica and geomorphoogica eements and processes of the river, and good ecoogica status or potentia need to be cearer defined. 3.5 Habitats and species This section deas with habitats and species that are threatened within the catchment and non-native species which are starting to invade the area. The catchment supports a wide range of habitats and species, from the upands on the edge of the Cairngorms to the tida wetand area of Montrose Basin with its tens of thousands of widfow which stay here over winter. A number of these habitats are recognised natura heritage designations (see 1C The Lega framework), which highights just how important the area is for nature conservation. However, natura heritage designations ony protect the best exampes of habitats and species that have been recognised because they are important at an internationa, European or nationa eve. There are severa habitats of oca importance within the area that contribute a ot, as we as providing vauabe functions such as heping to contain food waters and break down poutants. Riparian woodands and wet grassands are exampes of habitats that are becoming increasingy broken up across the area. A good exampe is found at the Den of Ogi SSSI, where the Burn of Ogi joins the Noran water. Here wiow and ader woodand contains species such as marsh marigod and ragged robin growing beneath them and are interspersed with sedge-rich areas. These areas have reduced in number across the catchment, where foodpains have been drained for deveopment, agricuture and forestry. Land drainage activities aso ead to more sediment reeased into the catchment, eading to effects on spawning graves and freshwater pear musse beds. There are a number of invasive non-native species in the area that affect our native species and the habitats that support them. These incude invasive weeds such as giant hogweed which take over the riverbank and, when they die back in autumn, eave exposed bare banks that make riverbank erosion worse. Mink threaten water voes, whie the North American signa crayfish eat fish eggs and quicky take over the river. The Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust have recenty produced a bio-security pan (2009) which ooks at ways of managing these invasive non-native species aready in the area and reducing the risk of new invasive non-native species entering the area such as the samon parasite, Gyrodactyus saaris and the Chinese mitten crab. Both of these coud have severe consequences on the economy as we as threatening our native species. Native species Water voe Water voes are native to the UK. They were once pentifu but have been reducing in numbers drasticay, especiay since the 1990s. The two main reasons for this are thought to be oss of suitabe bankside habitat and the spread of the American mink. Sma popuations are thought to exist in the upper areas but these may be ost atogether without active management. Otter After a ong decine in the 1960s and 1970s, otter popuations appear to be thriving across Scotand. Mink, a non-native species in the area can compete with otters for food and territories, athough otter surveys which were ast carried out on the river South Esk in the eary 1990s, showed the presence of otters aong much of its ength. However, despite the protection otters receive, they can sti be threatened by management work such as bankside engineering or forestry operations destroying hots or resting paces if an otter survey has not first been carried out. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 19

20 20 Samon The South Esk and its tributaries are Specia Areas of Conservation SAC for their popuations of Atantic samon. According to Scottish Natura Heritage s SNH) ast assessment of the samon popuation of the River South Esk SAC, competed in 2005, summer and autumn numbers of samon were shown to be doing we. However, spring fish numbers were shown to have dropped, and juvenie samon numbers were aso found to be ow. Overa, samon were assessed to be in an unfavourabe condition. Water quaity, in terms of nutrient enrichment, and in particuar high eves of soube reactive phosphorus, was identified by SNH as one of the possibe issues affecting the samon popuation. Other factors that have been raised during the consutation process incude ow river fows, birds and seas eating the fish, barriers preventing the fish from migrating and mixed-stock netting stations which are nets precisey paced to intercept coasta migratory samon and sea trout from many different catchments. Sea trout Sea trout are a migratory form of the brown trout. The South Esk is quite famous as a sea trout river, athough sea trout numbers are aso reducing, for many of the same reasons as samon, as outined above. Other fish species We do not have much information about the status of other fish species in the area. In particuar, we do not know the status of brown trout even though it is an important resource in terms of fishing. The European ee is now considered to be outwith safe bioogica imits in terms of its popuation size and recent EU reguation says that member states must produce ee management pans to find measures to increase the stock of ees. The Fisheries Research Service has now produced an ee management pan for the Scotand river basin district. Freshwater pear musse The River South Esk SAC was designated for its freshwater pear musse popuations, together with Atantic samon. In 2003 SNH carried out a freshwater pear musse survey of the River South Esk SAC and found that the popuation was not as heathy as it shoud be. It had a ow popuation of musses and, in particuar, ow numbers of young musses (juvenies). Overa, freshwater pear musses were assessed as being in an 'unfavourabe' condition. The survey is being repeated in 2009, and we wi use the resuts to decide how the pear musse popuation has changed since 2003 and to hep us make management decisions in the future. Some of the possibe reasons for the unfavourabe condition are thought to incude: nutrient enrichment and, in particuar, high eves of soube reactive phosphorus; iega pear musse fishing; river engineering in the past that has atered the hydroogica and geomorphoogica eements and processes of the river and may have damaged musse habitat; and ow numbers of juvenie samonids (trout and samon) which act as hosts for freshwater pear musses when they are arva.

21 Non-native species which are invading the area Giant hogweed, Himaayan Basam, Japanese Knotweed. A of these non-native pant species were introduced to Britain as ornamenta pants in the 19th century. Pants that have spread from gardens have now coonised many areas of wasteand and riverbanks. They a grow rapidy and spread easiy, forming dense coonies that prevent native pants and grasses from growing. When they die back in autumn, they eave arge bare areas that can ead to the riverbank being worn away by the water. Giant hogweed is aso a danger to heath as its poisonous sap causes painfu bistering and severe skin irritation. A three invasive pant species are in the area, athough giant hogweed, which can grow up to 5 metres high has become the most common in the midde and ower areas of the catchment as pants spread from seeds washed downstream. At the moment, there is no particuar cooperation taking pace in controing the growth and spread of these invasive pant species in the catchment. Signa crayfish Signa crayfish, a North American species, were introduced in Engand in the mid-1970s and have now found their way into some Scottish river systems. Once introduced, they can take over a river system very quicky due to their rapid reproduction cyce and their abiity to trave over and between river systems. Signa crayfish eat amost anything from vegetation to dead animas and sma fish and fish eggs. They aso hide in the same crevices under rocks which are used as sheter by young fish in winter and during sudden fooding. Unti recenty the nearest known incidence of signa crayfish to the river South Esk was in ponds next to the river, North Esk, near Edze, where they were thought to be first introduced iegay in However, in August 2008, signa crayfish were reported from the Pow Burn, which joins the river South Esk just upstream of Montrose Basin. Once in a river, the crayfish are very difficut to get rid of due to the probems associated with preventing the poisons used to ki them from contaminating the river and kiing off other species. Rainbow trout From time to time peope have caught rainbow trout in the South Esk. Rainbow trout have been introduced into a number of ponds as we as being stocked within the two fish farms within the area. These ponds, together with trout farms can ead to rainbow trout getting out. They then start to breed in the area, threatening native fish. Mink Mink were first brought to Britain in 1929 from North America and were farmed for their fur. However, since 1956, they have been confirmed as having escaped or been reeased into the wid, and are now widespread across Britain. Mink hunt water voes, other sma mammas and birds, and fish. Some individuas and the Cairngorms Water Voe Conservation Project carry out some mink contro. The main issues raised during the consutation to do with habitats and species The riparian woodands and wet grassands have now become fragmented. The number of water voes, samon, sea trout, and freshwater pear musses have reduced.. Iega freshwater pear musse fishing has been carried out. There is poor water quaity (nutrients and sediments) possiby affecting freshwater pear musses and samon. Threats from invasive non-native species. Lack of information reating to the status of other fish species in the area. 3.6 Socio-economic Economic activity - and use, energy and industry Agricutura production has aready been highighted as the main economic activity within the area, together with forestry. Both agricuture and forestry aso appear as issues in terms of how they can affect the quaity of water. Industria activity is focused around the harbour and aso appears as an issue with the potentia to affect the quaity of water. These and and industria uses, together with ideas to create a tida eectricity generation project in the harbour area next to Montrose Basin, and the potentia for future hydro-schemes within the catchment, a may be essentia to the economy of the area. Baancing economic deveopment with environmenta restrictions is no easy task. Long-term economic deveopment is ikey to gain momentum in the years ahead, However, in the ight of the Scottish Government s new overarching purpose, created in 2007, which is to focus government and pubic services on creating a more successfu country, with opportunities for a of Scotand to fourish, through increasing sustainabe economic growth. This catchment management pan has a vita roe to pay in providing a framework for this. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 21

22 22 Recreation and access The area is used by thousands of peope each year, both visitors to the area and ocas, for waking, cycing, anging, camping, canoeing, and bird watching among other outdoor activities. An exampe of the popuarity of the area for wakers is the Angus Gens Waking Festiva. This has taken pace during a May weekend for the past seven years. The festiva provides a range of guided waks in the Angus Gens over a four-day period. However, pressure from the sheer numbers of wakers using the paths in the upper catchment, often as an onward route into the Eastern Cairngorms can ead to probems such as paths wearing away and ittering from camping. A new business group, the Outdoor Angus Group was formed in 2008 to promote outdoor activities in Angus. The Eastern Cairngorms Access Project (ECAP) was a 2.4 miion programme set up in 2003 to deveop countryside access that restored damaged andscapes and improved visitor faciities within the mountains and gens of Angus and Upper Deeside. As part of this, the Jock s Road path, which foows the White Water, and Loch Brandy paths was restored in the upper area. The project aso deveoped a series of waking and cycing eafets which aim to promote responsibe access in the countryside. The new Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) which SNH produced under the Land Reform (Scotand) Act 2003, sets out access rights and responsibiities and heps to dea with any possibe conficts of use. The Land Reform Act aso paced a duty on oca authorities to deveop a core path pan within three years of the act coming into force. The aim of the pan was to aow the pubic reasonabe access throughout the county. We have produced a draft core path pan, which incudes estabished routes within the area. The upper area and ower catchment have a greater network of paths than the midde area. The river South Esk is used by canoeists, athough it has generay a ower eve of use compared to other rivers with more reiabe water eves. Athough argey considered a beginner s open canoeist river, it does offer chaenging canoeing in high water. Canoeing guidebooks ist access points within the main river as Gen Do car park, Cova Bridge, Gea Bridge, Cortachy Bridge, Prosen Bridge, Tannadice Church, Finavon Bridge, Brechin Leisure Centre, Bridge of Dun, Od Montrose, and Montrose Saiing Cub. Access to the river with canoes and car parking can be a probem in some paces, but is generay good. There has been itte confict so far between canoeists and angers on the South Esk, athough it coud become a probem. The Scottish Canoe Association have produced a usefu eafet, Padders Access Code Access Advice for Padders in Scotand. Enjoying the outdoors can improve peope s quaity of ife, eading to a more heathy, active ifestye. Heath and webeing is one of the Scottish Government s five strategic aims (weathier and fairer, smarter, heathier, safer and stronger and greener) that wi deiver the overa purpose of ong-term economic growth. As a resut, there may be more emphasis on exporing opportunities for promoting heath and we-being within the catchment in the years to come.

23 Education and community There are about 15 high schoos and primary schoos and a number of rura communities, spread throughout the catchment. Current education initiatives that have been connected to the river and its environment incude guided waks aong the river in Gen Cova by the Angus Gens Ranger Service and guided waks around Montrose Basin from the Montrose Basin rangers. A Samon in the Cassroom Project puing together the expertise of ranger services, District Fisheries Boards and SNH has been run in primary schoos throughout Tayside since This project aows chidren to earn a about the ife cyce of the samon, and has invoved at east one primary schoo in the catchment. There is no doubt the potentia for more education opportunities or to raise awareness generay about the area. The new ranger base which opened within Gen Do during summer 2008 may provide even more educationa opportunities. Tourism Tourism, which is centra to the Angus rura economy, is a growth sector. It is estimated that Angus currenty ony achieves around 13% of the tourism income that comes into Tayside. The river South Esk has 11 fishing areas aong its ength for samon and sea-trout fishing ranging in price from 15 per rod per day to over 100 per rod per day. There are aso two trout farms. The samonid fishery of the South Esk generates an estimated 2-3 miion each year for the oca economy. However, reducing samonid popuations and measures introduced to hep tacke the probem such as catch and reease does affect returning angers. Tourists come to Angus for many other reasons too. Most reevant to the catchment are the other outdoor activities on offer as described above under access and recreation as we as staking and shooting. Accommodation providers (such as Gen Prosen hoiday cottages and youth hoste, Gen Cova Hote, bunkhouse and chaet accommodation, and rura hotes such as the Roya Jubiee Arms at Dykehead, the Drover s Inn at Gamis, Finavon Hote as we as other providers in the nearby towns of Kirriemuir, Brechin and Montrose) benefit from these visitors. The upper catchment is not we served by pubic transport, athough festivas such as the Angus Gens Waking Festiva do provide opportunities for tourists to be transported to and from organised waks, and often ift-sharing and other types of transport such as community buses, provided as a resut of demand can overcome the ack of pubic transport. The main issues raised during the consutation to do with socia and economic factors Opportunities are restricted by the ack of information on the socia and economic effect of the area. Long-term ways of creating income (farming, forestry, fisheries, industry, renewabe energy and river-reated recreation and tourism) need to continue to deveop. Tourism is affected by the reducing number of fish in the area. There is a ack of pubic transport and communications (sateite teevision, mobie phone, broadband) in some areas. There are possibe gaps in the market for waking, cycing, anging and package hoidays. There is aso a ack of riverside paths, campsite and roadside parking faciities in the midde area in particuar. There is aso a possibe confict over access, such as boundary fencing imiting access for peope visiting the area for recreation. There is an opportunity for more community and schoo use of the river for education purposes. Lack of genera awareness of the history and cuture of the area. Limited accommodation options, which have been accredited, for tourists. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 23

24 24

25 4 Action cards The foowing section contains a series of action cards, one for each of 17 draft catchment objectives that have been drawn up reating to the six topics of: quaity of water; water resources; managing foods; river engineering; habitats and species; and socio- economic factors. There is aso a seventh new topic, deivering the pan. Each of the seven topics aso has a strategic aim, and a ist of actions, making up 65 actions in a. The draft strategic aims and actions were drawn up by the steering group and project officer during a series of action setting meetings hed during February to Apri The main points raised during the consutation on issues (isted in the previous section 3 at the end of each topic) formed the starting point for discussion during the process for setting action. Strategic aims for each of the seven topics were then suggested to cover the main points. These were then drawn up to hep focus where we coud target work to hep dea with the main issues. Each action card sets out the foowing information. The strategic aim The topic aim Why is this aim necessary What are the benefits? Action tabe isting the agreed action Links to other action cards The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 25

26 Action card Water quaity Strategic aim To maintain and improve the quaity of water within the area. Area aim 1. To reduce diffuse and point source poution from agricutura, forestry, pubic wastewater, private wastewater, surface water, road run-off, and industria sources. Why is this needed? Water quaity within the area has been highighted as a main issue in the issues document, and information on monitoring confirms that some watercourses are of significanty ower water quaity than others. For exampe, Pow, Megund, Lemno Burns, downstream of Brechin Waste water Treatment Works (WwTWs), and Montrose Basin. The ower haf of the area is designated as a nitrate vunerabe zone. Many sources have been identified as contributing to poor water quaity agricutura, forestry, pubic wastewater, private wastewater, urban surface-water run-off, and industry. Nutrient enrichment and sediment oading are known to be two of the main issues to do with water quaity. What are the benefits? Good water quaity is centra to how the area functions and the habitats and species it supports such as freshwater pear musse and samonids. Good water quaity is aso needed for the economic uses it serves such as irrigation and drinking water, even as a backup suppy. Tabe of action New actions required. 1 Use baseine information on the quaity of water across the area to identify the source and nature of poution so we can identify priority areas for action. Who needs to impement action (ead in bod) Scottish Environmenta Protection Agency (SEPA), steering group. Who needs to be invoved Landowners and and managers. 2 Investigate other water-quaity monitoring needs across the area. SEPA Academic organisations. 3 Activey encourage peope to use ong-term forest pans across the area. Forestry Commission Scotand (FCS). Landowners and and managers. 4 Activey encourage initiatives that aim to reduce sediment and nutrient inputs to the area. 5 Encourage peope to use best practice and-drainage techniques. Scotand s Environmenta and Rura Services (SEARS). FCS, Scottish Government Rura Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRIPD). Landowners and and managers. Landowners and and managers.

27 Work in progress Who is invoved Samon LIFE project - fencing off 26 mies of riverbank to protect from overgrazing. The work is competed but maintenance and monitoring is ongoing. Scottish Natura Heritage SNH, Esk District Samon Fishery Board (EDSFB), Stiring University. Scottish Water s Quaity and Standards 3b investment programme Brechin WwTWs due for upgrade during Apri 2010 to March 2014 but sti to be agreed by ministers. SEPA and SW are consuting on any infrastructure issues and any need for improvement. Scottish Water, SEPA, Scottish Government. Restoration proposas for the Pow Burn. River South Esk Code of Practice for Deveopers (in draft). Coaborative and individua SRDP appications. Forest Design Pans Gen Do and Montreathmont. New deveopments need sustainabe drainage systems SUDs to be buit for surface-water drainage which wi hep with poution from surface water run-off in urban areas. Priority catchments raising awareness project. Where diffuse poution is known to be causing probems this project wi raise awareness of it, its causes and measures that can be taken. Aso, natura site interests and how these shoud be managed; the ega requirements and opportunities avaiabe under SRDP and the River Restoration Fund. Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust (ERFT), FCS/FE. SNH, Angus Counci, SEPA. SEARS, andowners and and managers. FCS SEPA, deveopers. SNH, SEPA, project officer, steering group. Landowners and and managers incude agents, contractors and others working on behaf of andowners and and managers. Links to other action cards Water resources improvements in water quaity wi protect water used for irrigation purposes and as a back-up drinking water suppy. River engineering and drainage practices have contributed to poor water quaity in some parts of the area. This mainy reates to sediment in watercourse from agricutura and moorand drainage, which has been carried out without any contros. Habitats and species improvements in water quaity shoud benefit the habitats and species they support within the area such as samonids and freshwater pear musse. Socia and economic factors the main sources of income within the area such as agricuture, forestry, fisheries, industry, and riverreated recreation and tourism a rey on good water quaity. Deivering the pan effective communication and working in partnership is essentia in deivering improvements in water quaity. See aso: Appendix F: The main Acts of Pariament which are reevant Appendix G: The main pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects Appendix H: Best practice guidance Appendix L: Gossary Appendix M: Acronyms and abbreviations The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 27

28 Action card Water quaity Strategic aim To maintain and improve the quaity of water within the area. Area aim 2. To raise awareness and understanding of how to avoid poution from agricutura, forestry, pubic wastewater, private wastewater, surface water, road run-off, and industria sources. Why is this needed? There are aready severa Acts of Pariament and best practice guidance designed to prevent the deterioration of water quaity. These incude: Good Agricutura and Environmenta Conditions (GAEL); the Water Framework Directive Controed Activities Reguations; and the Prevention of Environmenta Poution from Agricutura Activity (PEPFAA) Code. However, peope often are just not aware of these aws and guidance. By raising awareness of existing aws and best practice guidance, we can achieve a ot in terms of improvements to the quaity of water within the area. What are the benefits? Raising awareness shoud ead to more peope keeping to the aws and best-practice guidance, and so water quaity wi improve. Good water quaity is centra to how the area functions and the habitats and species it supports such as freshwater pear musse and samonids. Good water quaity is aso needed for the economic uses it serves such as irrigation and drinking water, even as a backup suppy. Tabe of action New actions required 6 Deveop a promotiona strategy for raising awareness of maintaining septic tanks. Who needs to impement action Project officer, steering group. Who needs to be invoved Landowners and and managers. 7 Deveop and pubish a reference guide that wi highight the reevant ega requirements and methods of best practice for improving water quaity. Project officer, steering group. Landowners and and managers. 8 Deveop a varied programme of events to raise awareness of the reevant ega requirements and best-practice methods for improving water quaity among a variety of sectors. Work in progress Project officer, steering group. Who is invoved Landowners and and managers. Samon LIFE project - fencing off 26 mies of riverbank to protect from overgrazing. The work is competed but maintenance and monitoring are ongoing. Produce a website raising awareness of the project. Scottish Natura Heritage SNH, Esk District Samon Fishery Board (EDSFB) Stiring University, andowners and and managers. Various eafets and guidance are avaiabe as hard copy or on the internet, for exampe, SEPA septic tanks important changes when controing sma reease of sewage from private premises. Scottish Environmenta Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Water. Landowners and and managers incude agents, contractors and others working on behaf of andowners and and managers. Links to other action cards Water resources improvements in the quaity of water wi protect water used for irrigation purposes and as a backup drinking water suppy. Habitats and species improvements in water quaity shoud benefit the habitats and species they support within the area such as samonids and freshwater pear musse. Socia and economic factors raising awareness of the area among schoos and within the community shoud hep peope to understand the need for good water quaity. Deivering the pan effective communication and working in partnerships is essentia to deivering improvements in the quaity of water. See aso: Appendix F: Key reevant egisation Appendix G: Key pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects Appendix H: Best practice guidance Appendix L: Gossary Appendix M: Acronyms and Abbreviations.

29 4.2 Action card Water resources Strategic aim To encourage the ong-term use and management of the area s water resources. Area aim 3. To encourage management and use of water for private water suppies, industria and agricutura purposes which wi be effective in the ong term. Why is this aim needed? Low fows can affect the genera ecoogy of the river incuding samonids and freshwater pear musses whose habitats and ife cyces can be threatened by ack of water. The amount of water in the area is affected by the cimate, which is ikey to change in future years as a resut of cimate change. As a resut, there coud be more pressure on existing water resources. Currenty the main use of the area s water resources is for agricutura purposes. This is because the pubic water suppy for those iving in the area comes from outside the area, from Lintrathen and Backwater reservoirs. There are some private water suppies within the area but as these are not icensed, it is impossibe to te how much water is used for private water suppies. Water taken for agricutura purposes is icensed by SEPA, and a recent review of these icences has given us a better picture of the amount being taken. However, current information on these rates is sti inaccurate as water use is not metered at the pump. Some users wi use ess than their abstraction icence rate, and some wi use more. What are the benefits? Storing and capturing water in times of penty for use in times of ow fows can hep reduce the effect on the environment. There coud aso be an economic benefit as crops wi be ess ikey to fai if there is enough water for irrigation in times of need. Increasing storage on foodpains such as through riparian woodand, buffer strips, and wet grassand aso increases biodiversity because when new habitats are created, species wi coonise these and take advantage of food sources and sheter. Tabe of action New actions required 9 Activey encourage peope to record accurate abstraction rates within the area. Who needs to impement action (ead in bod) Scottish Environmenta Protection Agency (SEPA). Who needs to be invoved Land owners and and managers. 10 Promote off-ine winter water storage systems, reservoirs where excess streamfow is diverted to prevent fooding, using existing financia methods (SRDP, SEPA s charging schemes). Scottish Government Rura Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRIPD) SEPA. Land owners and and managers. 11 Promote other, new methods for storing water other than off-ine storage. SGRIPD, SEPA. Land owners and and managers. Work in Progress Who is invoved Peope are aready meeting the controed activity reguations under the Water Framework Directive and Good Agricutura and Environmenta Condition under the singe farm payment. SGRIPD, SEPA, andowners and and managers. Monitoring river eves (avaiabe on the SEPA website). SEPA Landowners and and managers incude agents, contractors and others working on behaf of andowners and and managers. Links to other action card Habitats and species if irrigation ponds or other ponds within the area are no onger used for their origina purpose, they are sometimes then stocked with fish such as rainbow trout, which coud threaten native fish if they then escape. However, icensing contros for introducing new species of fish, which are enforced by the Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory at Pitochry, shoud prevent this from happening. More ong-term use of the water resource wi benefit the genera ecoogy of the river by reducing,as far as possibe, the effects of ow fows on spawning habitats and so on. Socia and economic factors water shortages can affect a of the main industries which generate an income within the area, such as farming, forestry, fisheries, industry, renewabe energy and river reated recreation and tourism. This is because they a use water in some way. See aso: Appendix F: Key reevant egisation Appendix G: Key pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects Appendix H: Best practice guidance Appendix L: Gossary Appendix M: Acronyms and Abbreviations. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 29

30 Action card Water resources Strategic aim To make sure the area s water resources are used and managed effectivey over the ong term. Area aim 4. To raise awareness of methods of best practice reating to managing water resources effectivey over the ong term. Why is this aim needed? Capturing and storing water for use in times of water shortage can hep dea with the demand for water and in turn avoid negative effects on the environment. However, there is currenty imited water storage in the area with ony a handfu of irrigation ponds. It is ikey that peope are not aware of the financia incentives avaiabe for water storage. Catching water such as from poy tunnes is a reativey new technoogy but may be a usefu technique in the future. What are the benefits? Capturing and storing water in times of penty for use in times of ow fows can hep dea with the effects on the environment. There coud aso be direct benefits as crops wi be ess ikey to fai if there is enough water for irrigation. And fisheries are ikey to be more productive if there is enough water to support a the stages of samonid ife cyces. Tabe of action New actions required 12 Produce an information eafet showing methods of capturing and storing water. Work in Progress Who needs to impement action (ead in bod) Project officer, Steering group. Who is invoved Who needs to be invoved Landowners and and managers. Scottish Rura Deveopment Programme Business re-structuring financia packages reates to storing water. Scotand s Environmenta and Rura Services (SEARS), andowners and and managers. Landowners and and managers incude agents, contractors and others working on behaf of andowners and and managers. Links to other action cards Habitats and species if irrigation ponds or other ponds within the area are no onger used for their origina purpose, they are sometimes then stocked with fish such as rainbow trout, which coud threaten native fish if they then escape. However, icensing contros for introducing new species of fish, which are enforced by the Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory at Pitochry, shoud prevent this from happening. More ong-term use of the water resource wi benefit the genera ecoogy of the river by reducing,as far as possibe, the effects of ow fows on spawning habitats and so on. Socia and economic factors water shortages can affect a of the main industries which generate an income within the area, such as farming, forestry, fisheries, industry, renewabe energy and river reated recreation and tourism. This is because they a use water in some way. See aso: Appendix F: Key reevant egisation. Appendix G: Key pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects. Appendix H: Best practice guidance. Appendix L: Gossary. Appendix M: Acronyms and Abbreviations.

31 4.3 Action card Food management Strategic aim To make sure, where possibe, we use a ong-term approach to managing foods, recognising the effect on peope s ives and iveihoods. Area aims 5. To be aware of the risk of fooding and encourage consutation from the appropriate agencies. Why is this aim needed? Fooding was raised as a major issue within the area at both pubic meetings during the issues document consutation period. This was because of the effects they have on peope s ives and iveihoods. Fooding can ead to financia osses from food damage and a drop in property prices, and can be a significant heath and safety risk. Brechin ast suffered serious fooding in 2002 and is waiting for a food aeviation scheme. Other areas have aso suffered from fooding in the past (incuding Bridge of Dun, Finavon and agricutura and in Gen Cova). Being aware of food risk and the measure that peope can take is centra to reducing as far as possibe the effect fooding can have. However, it is aso necessary that in areas prone to fooding, food aeviation measures are put in pace to reduce the risk of fooding. And, consutation shoud take pace between the appropriate agencies and the peope who are affected at a stages of the process of deveoping measures to dea with fooding. What are the benefits? Raising awareness of measures individuas can take in food-prone areas shoud hep to reduce the effect that fooding has on peope s ives and iveihoods. Good communication and consutation between agencies and the pubic wi aso hep to improve understanding of both the probems of fooding and the possibe soutions. Tabe of action New actions required 13 Activey encourage good communication between reevant authorities and the pubic over fooding at Brechin and other areas prone to fooding. Who needs to impement action (ead in bod) Steering Group. Who needs to be invoved Genera pubic. 14 Activey encourage the use of current fooding information sources (SEPA s Foodine and food maps) that provide information on protection against fooding. Work in Progress Steering Group. Who is invoved Genera pubic. SEPA s Foodine and Food Maps provide information. See Brechin food scheme pubic meetings have been hed to et the pubic know about progress towards deveoping a food aeviation scheme. Scottish Environmenta Protection Agency (SEPA). Angus Counci, Scottish Natura Heritage (SNH), SEPA, genera pubic. Landowners and and managers incude agents, contractors and others working on behaf of andowners and and managers. Links to other action cards River engineering some engineering of rivers has been carried out in the past to try and sove the probem of fooding. However, often the probem of fooding reates to ack of foodpain storage due to how the foodpains have been deveoped and used. Creating more foodpain storage within the area and restoring some engineering channes shoud hep to dea with fooding probems. Deivering the pan buiding on better working reationships between agencies, organisations and the genera pubic is a centra aim that we hope to achieve with the pan. See aso: Appendix F: Key reevant egisation Appendix G: Key pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects Appendix H: Best practice guidance Appendix L: Gossary Appendix M: Acronyms and Abbreviations. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 31

32 Action card Food management Strategic aim To make sure, where possibe, we provide a ong-term approach to managing foods, recognising the effect on peope s ives and iveihoods. Area aim 6. To hep promote ong-term methods of managing foods and new technoogy if this is appropriate. Why is this aim needed? Fooding is a common probem to most areas, and the South Esk area is no exception. The new Food Directive wi bring about changes in how the risk of fooding is managed and the fooding itsef, with a much greater emphasis on ong-term soutions. This wi incude an area-based approach. This pan has an important roe to pay in heping promote this kind of management, recognising that a management in the area shoud be considered in context, rather than in isoated units. What are the benefits? Managing foods over the ong term incudes natura food management, which is an area-based approach, that aims to: reduce the rate of run-off in the upands; reduce the rate of fow in the watercourse; and increase water storage in the owands. This approach is ikey to benefit the peope in the area who are affected by fooding, though how significanty is currenty being investigated. It wi aso benefit the genera environment by moving away from hard engineering soutions, if this is appropriate, and inking natura river processes with panning for how and is used. It may aso significanty hep to tacke the causes of fooding rather than the effects. Though it is impossibe to measure the potentia effect of this at this time. Tabe of action New actions required 15 Activey encourage increased foodpain storage such as through creating riparian woodand, buffer strips, and wet grassand. Who needs to impement action (ead in bod) Steering Group. Who needs to be invoved Promote best practice in managing and (for exampe, contour poughing which sows water run-off during rainstorms, prevents soi erosion and aows water time to sette into the soi) as opposed to bare faow farming which does not. Steering Group. Work in Progress Who is invoved Promoting sustainabe drainage systems (SUDS across the area to hep reduce the effect of excess fows. Current SRDP appications are in pace for buffer strips and riparian woodand (in progress) that wi indirecty benefit foodpain storage. Cross compiance for controed activity reguations under Water Framework Directive and GAEC under singe farm payment. Scottish Environmenta Protection Agency (SEPA). Scotand s Environmenta and Rura Services (SEARS), Landowners and and managers. Scottish Government Rura Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRIPD), SEPA. Landowners and and managers incude agents, contractors and others working on behaf of andowners and and managers. Links to other action cards Habitats and species creating foodpain storage using buffer strips, riparian woodand and wet grassand wi directy benefit many habitats and species. See aso: Appendix F: Key reevant egisation Appendix G: Key pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects Appendix H: Best practice guidance Appendix L: Gossary Appendix M: Acronyms and Abbreviations.

33 4.4 Action card River engineering Strategic aim To encourage the natura fow of the area. Area aim 7. To promote river engineering which wi be effective and not harm the environment in the ong term. Why is this aim needed? In the past, the watercourses of the area have been engineered for a number of different purposes incuding: managing fisheries; heping to dea with fooding; protecting riverbanks from being worn away; and creating reservoirs. This has ead to effects on the habitats and species the area supports, whie not necessariy having achieved the desired resut for which the engineering was carried out in the first pace. What are the benefits? The action wi prevent further damage to the water environment from inappropriate river engineering whie recognising that some engineering is needed and, if carried out appropriatey, can have itte effect on the environment. Using ong-term river engineering techniques wi aso prevent further deterioration of the environment and its habitats and species. This wi hep meet Water Framework Directive targets of achieving good ecoogica status. Tabe of action New actions required 17 Promote existing guidance on best practice and information sources on river engineering techniques to a and managers and users. 18 Promote ecoogica survey work before river engineering proposas through pre-icence or pre-panning appication discussions. 19 Encourage peope to use best-practice and drainage techniques. Work in progress Various site-specific ecoogica surveys are being carried out before engineering work is carried out around the watercourse. Who needs to impement action (ead in bod) Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust (ERFT ) /Fishery Board, Scottish Environmenta Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Natura Heritage (SNH). SEPA, SNH, Angus Counci. SEPA, Scottish Government Rura Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRIPD), Esk District Samon Fishery Board (EDSFB). Who is invoved Angus Counci. Who needs to be invoved Land owners and and managers. Land owners and and managers. Land owners and and managers. Current reguations and guidance (CAR Regs, Working Around Water, Poos, Ponds and Lochans). SEPA, Angus Counci. Landowners and and managers incude agents, contractors and others working on behaf of andowners and and managers. Links to other action cards Water quaity ong-term effective river engineering shoud hep to reduce, as far as possibe, riverbanks from wearing away compared to ess sustainabe river engineering. This wi then reduce sediment in the area. Managing foods the forthcoming Food Bi wi pace greater emphasis on ong-term management of foods, moving away from traditiona engineering soutions, and ooking to new effective soutions. Habitats and species ong-term river engineering wi have benefits for habitats and species such as Atantic samon and freshwater pear musse. See aso: Appendix F: Key reevant egisation Appendix G: Key pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects Appendix H: Best practice guidance Appendix L: Gossary Appendix M: Acronyms and Abbreviations. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 33

34 Action card River engineering Strategic aim To encourage the natura fow and function of the area. Area aim 8. To raise awareness of reguations reating to river engineering. Why is this aim needed? Raising awareness of reguations reating to river engineering shoud make sure more peope keep to them. This wi then mean that engineering activities are carried out in a controed way to prevent further deterioration of the water environment. What are the benefits? To prevent further damage to the water environment from inappropriate river engineering whist recognising that some engineering is necessary and if carried out appropriatey can have minima environmenta effects. To prevent further deterioration of the water environment and its habitats and species, and to hep meet Water Framework Directive targets of achieving good ecoogica status. Tabe of action New actions required 20 Organise a series of drop-in sessions around the area to promote the reguations reating to river engineering. Work in progress Various eafets and best-practice guides reating to CAR reguations, fisheries management and so on are aready produced. Who needs to impement action (ead in bod) Scottish Environmenta Protection Agency (SEPA), Angus Counci, Project officer. Who is invoved SEPA Who needs to be invoved Landowners and and managers. Landowners and and managers incude agents, contractors and others working on behaf of andowners and and managers. Links to other action cards Water quaity and drainage practices for agricuture and moorand management have not aways been carried out in ine with best-practice guideines. This then contributes to poor water quaity in some parts of the area as a resut of sediment being reeased. Habitats and species river engineering over the ong term wi have benefits for habitats and species such as Atantic samon and freshwater pear musse. In the past, traditiona techniques have ead to probems with the habitat such as oss of spawning habitat due to in-river work. Deivering the pan - raising awareness. See aso: Appendix F: Key reevant egisation Appendix G: Key pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects Appendix H: Best practice guidance Appendix L: Gossary Appendix M: Acronyms and Abbreviations.

35 4.4 Action card River engineering Strategic aim To encourage the natura fow and function of the area. Area aim 9. To identify and act on opportunities for restoration within the area. Why is this aim needed? Some practices for managing the and now and in the past are having a negative effect on the area. River engineering and practices to drain the and, if not carried out to best-practice standards, can damage the water environment. Identifying areas for restoration in the area wi aow opportunities to restore and improve the water environment whie incuding best-practice techniques. Restoration opportunities shoud aso incude increasing the stabiity of the bank (where appropriate) to avoid too much sediment being reeased from man-made sources. What are the benefits? The action wi restore some degraded watercourses and habitats, and prevent further deterioration of the water environment and its habitats and species. It wi aso hep meet Water Framework Directive targets of achieving good ecoogica status. Tabe of action New actions required Who needs to impement action (ead in bod) Who needs to be invoved 21 Take on the good exampes of river restoration techniques from simiar areas. Steering group. Land owners and and managers. 22 Deveop restoration proposas for the Rotta, Pow and Lemno Burns, and identify and prioritise other watercourses for restoration. Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust (ERFT)/ Esk District Samon Fishery Board (EDSFB). Land owners and and managers. 23 Identify and prioritise action to remove man-made obstaces to fish, and make sure future engineering work is both fish- and ee-friendy. Work in progress ERFT/EDSFB. Who is invoved Land owners and and managers. Samon LIFE project - fencing off 26 mies of riverbank to protect from overgrazing. The work has been competed but maintenance and monitoring is ongoing. See Scottish Natura Heritage (SNH), EDSFB, Stiring University, Landowners and and managers. Forestry restructuring Adieinne burn, Gen Cova. Scottish Government consutation on Restoration of the Water Environment January 2009: See Funding avaiabe through SEPA s Water Environment Restoration fund. See ERFT andowner. Scottish Government. Scottish Environmenta Protection Agency (SEPA). Landowners and and managers incude agents, contractors and others working on behaf of andowners and and managers. Links to other action cards Water quaity and drainage practices have contributed to poor water quaity in some parts of the area. This mainy reates to sediment going into watercourses from agricutura and moorand drainage, which have been carried out without being controed. Habitats and species ong-term effective river engineering wi have benefits for habitats and species such as Atantic samon and freshwater pear musse. In the past, traditiona techniques have ead to probems with the habitat such as oss of spawning habitat due to in-river work. See aso: Appendix F: Key reevant egisation Appendix G: Key pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects Appendix H: Best practice guidance Appendix L: Gossary Appendix M: Acronyms and Abbreviations. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 35

36 Action card River engineering Strategic aim To encourage the natura fow and function of the area. Area aim 10. To deveop some of the area as a demonstration site. Why is this aim needed? Demonstration projects can hep to raise awareness of best-practice techniques both within and outwith the area, aong with raising the profie of the area to a wider audience. They can aso hep to attract further funding opportunities. What are the benefits? There can be socia and economic benefits from demonstration projects, such as raising the profie of the area to a wider audience. Tabe of action New actions required 24 Identify what funding is avaiabe for specific projects suitabe for demonstration. Work in progress Who needs to impement action (ead in bod) Steering Group, Project Officer. Who is invoved Who needs to be invoved Land owners and and managers. Samon LIFE project - fencing off 26 mies of riverbank to protect from overgrazing. The work has been competed but maintenance and monitoring is ongoing. See Scottish Natura Heritage (SNH), Esk District Samon Fishery Board (EDSFB), Stiring University, andowners and and managers. Restoration proposas for the Rotta and Pow Burns. Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust (ERFT), Forestry Commission Scotand (FCS), Landowners and and managers. Landowners and and managers incude agents, contractors and others working on behaf of andowners and and managers. Links to other action cards Habitats and species ong-term effective river engineering wi have benefits for habitats and species such as Atantic samon and freshwater pear musse. In the past, traditiona techniques have ead to probems with the habitat such as oss of spawning habitat due to in-river work. Socia and economic factors demonstration projects can attract more funding, raise the profie of the area to a wider audience and have educationa opportunities. See aso: Appendix F: Key reevant egisation Appendix G: Key pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects Appendix H: Best practice guidance Appendix L: Gossary Appendix M: Acronyms and Abbreviations.

37 4.5 Action card habitats and species Strategic aim To maintain and improve the native habitats and species within the area. Area aim 11. Protect and improve native species and habitats, particuary those which are protected by aw. Why is this aim needed? The River South Esk is a Specia Area of Conservation for Atantic samon and freshwater pear musse. However, monitoring carried out by SNH has found that both species are currenty in an unfavourabe condition. This means that they are not as heathy as they shoud be for a variety of reasons, which incude: some tributaries having downgraded water quaity; there is a ack of suitabe habitat; and iega pear musse fishing. There are aso probems when managing samonids to do with overfishing, the fish being hunted and not enough food for the fish to eat. Mixed-stock netting stations aong the coast and rod fisheries (anging) are heping to reduce samonid stocks. But, we must remember that both aso provide a iveihood and income. Species considered to be to bame for reducing samonid numbers are fish-eating birds and seas. However, both are native to the area and so are protected. As a resut they can ony be kied under icence. These present chaenges for the managing the habitats and species within the area over the ong term. What are the benefits? Some species such as samonids are economicay important to the area. Habitats aso form the backbone of the andscape of the area, and species such as otters are a magnet for oca visitors and tourists. Both habitats and species contribute to the environmenta heath of the area, which many peope enjoy for recreationa purposes. Tabe of action New Actions required 25 Activey change the structure of existing woodand to improve riparian habitats to benefit species. 26 Activey create new riparian woodand in the area to extend the existing habitat network. Who needs to impement action (ead in bod) Scotand s Environmenta and Rura Services (SEARS) Forestry Commission Scotand (FCS), Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust (ERFT), Angus Counci. SEARS (FCS), ERFT, Angus Counci. Who needs to be invoved Land owners and and managers. Land owners and and managers. 27 Activey create, restore and manage wetands and wet grassand habitats. SEARS (SNH, SGRIPD). Land owners and and managers. 28 Activey encourage best practice in reation to drainage to reduce sediment in the area. 29 Activey encourage best practice in reation to preparing the ground to reduce sediment going into the river. 30 Identify gaps in the understanding of the roe of Montrose Basin in the ecoogy (for exampe, in producing fish) of the area. 31 Support the expansion of the Cairngorms and the North East water voe project across the ower area. 32 Adopt a river watch scheme for reporting activities which coud be iega, for exampe reating to poaching, pear musse fishing, unauthorised tipping, and spreading invasive weeds. SEARS, FCS, Scottish Government Rura Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRIPD), Scottish Environmenta Protection Agency (SEPA). SEARS FCS, SGRIPD. Scottish Widife Trust (SWT), SEPA, SNH, ERFT, Angus Counci. SEARS Cairngorm Nationa Park Authority (CNPA). ERFT/EDSFB, Tayside poice, SNH. Land owners and and managers. Land owners and and managers. Land owners and and managers. Landowners and and managers genera pubic. Land owners and and managers genera pubic. 33 Reduce fishing of spring running samon and sea trout. EDSFB SNH, Marine Scotand. 34 Ensure mixed stock fisheries and other means of expoitation do not threaten stock status. 35 Investigate the significance of different predators on fish to hep icense those animas which hunt fish. 36 Activey encourage further research into the ecoogy of sea trout, ee and other fish species in the area. EDSFB ERFT SEPA, ERFT, EDSFB. SNH, Marine Scotand. SNH Academic organisations. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 37

38 38 Work in progress Samon LIFE project - fencing off 26 mies of riverbank to protect from overgrazing. The work has been competed but maintenance and monitoring is ongoing. See South Esk Fisheries Management Pan Tayside LBAP have deveoped HAPS and SAPs. Angus Forest and Woodand Framework. Successfu appications to the Rura Priorities grant, which is reated to habitats and species, and beneficia and diversification management through Land Management Options. Montrose Basin Management Pan. Gen Do Forest Design Pan. Water Voe Project. Who is invoved SNH, EDSFB, Stiring University, andowners and and managers. Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust (ERFT). Tayside Biodiversity Partnership. Angus Counci. Landowners and and managers, SEARS. SWT FCS CNPA NB Landowners and and managers incude agents, contractors and others working on behaf of andowners and and managers. Links to other action cards Water quaity sediment and nutrients going into the water are the main issues reating to downgraded water quaity which affect species such as samonids and freshwater pear musses. Creating habitat can hep to act as buffers to sediment and nutrients, preventing them reaching the river and watercourses. Managing foods creating riparian woodand habitat, wetands and wet grassands can hep create extra food storage. River engineering restoration proposas on watercourses such as the Rotta, Lemno and Pow Burns wi benefit habitats and species. See aso: Appendix F: Key reevant egisation Appendix G: Key pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects Appendix H: Best practice guidance Appendix L: Gossary Appendix M: Acronyms and Abbreviations.

39 4.5 Action card habitats and species Strategic aim To maintain and improve the native habitats and species in the area. Area aim 12. To raise awareness and understanding of the habitats and species in the area and the ink between them. Why is this aim needed? There are some conficts for managing habitats and species within the area such as samonids where both the predator and the prey are protected species. Raising awareness of these inks wi hep to promote a better understanding, which in turn shoud ead to better management. What are the benefits? Raising awareness of both native and invasive habitats and species within the area wi hep to improve understanding of their needs and aso how they interact with each other. Both shoud hep to encourage a sense of ownership within the area, in terms of protecting native habitats and species. Tabe of action New actions required Who needs to impement action (ead in bod) Who needs to be invoved 37 Raise awareness of protected habitats and species within the area and the nonnative species which threaten them. Scottish Natura Heritage (SNH), Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust (ERFT), Project officer. Genera pubic, andowners and and managers. 38 Provide widey the poice eafet reating to iega pear musse fishing. Steering Group, Project Officer. Genera pubic, andowners and and managers. 39 Promote the Cairngorms and the North East water voe project across the ower area. Work in progress Water Voe Project. Investigations into iega freshwater pear musse fishing in the South Esk. Dissemination of aien species eafet. Cairngorm Nationa Park Authority (CNPA), Scotand s Environmenta and Rura Services (SEARS). Who is invoved CNPA Poice ERFT Landowners and and managers Landowners and and managers incude agents, contractors and others working on behaf of andowners and and managers. Links to other action cards Deivering the pan raising awareness. See aso: Appendix F: Key reevant egisation Appendix G: Key pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects Appendix H: Best practice guidance Appendix L: Gossary Appendix M: Acronyms and Abbreviations. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 39

40 Action card habitats and species Strategic aim To maintain and improve the native habitats and species within the area. Area aim 13. To aim to have the area free of invasive non-native species. Why is this aim needed? There are a number of invasive non-native species aready in the area, which incude invasive weeds (Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and Himaayan basam), signa crayfish, mink, and rainbow trout. There are aso a number of species, which coud deveop in the area if we do not do enough now to prevent this such as the samonid parasite (Gyrodactyus gomorata). These can then threaten native species and habitats such as samonids and freshwater pear musses. Non-native invasive species aso have other negative effects on the environment. For exampe, when invasive weeds die back in autumn they eave arge bare areas of riverbank that can be worn away, which contributes to a ot of sediment going into the area. What are the benefits? Some species such as samonids are economicay important to the area and generate income, but these are being threatened by some non-native invasive species such as mink and signa crayfish. Getting rid of invasive non-native weeds woud hep to improve water quaity and bankside habitat. Giant hogweed aso poses a danger to heath, as the sap is poisonous. So getting rid of it from the area woud benefit pubic heath. Tabe of action New actions required Who needs to impement action (ead in bod) Who needs to be invoved 40 Investigate sources of funding for a programme to get rid of invasive weeds in the area based on co-ordinated action. Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust (ERFT). Landowners and and managers, SEARS, Angus Counci. 41 Support the deveopment of a reporting system for a sightings of invasive nonnative species, and a rapid response system as appropriate for new species. ERFT. Landowners and and managers, genera pubic, SEARS. 42 Support the expansion of the Cairngorms and the North East water voe project across the ower area. Work in progress Scotand s Environmenta and Rura Services (SEARS), Cairngorm Nationa Park Authority (CNPA), Ranger Service, and managers. Who is invoved Land owners and and managers. South Esk invasive weeds survey. Esk District Biosecurity pan Scottish squirre survey reporting system reports of both red and grey squirres wanted. This can be provided onine at Preparation of a bio-security eafet. Esk District Samon Fishery Board (EDSFB) /ERFT, Scottish Natura Heritage (SNH), Angus Counci. ERFT SWT ERFT Landowners and and managers incude agents, contractors and others working on behaf of andowners and and managers. Links to other action cards Water quaity invasive weeds can contribute to downgraded water quaity when they die back in autumn, exposing bare areas that then wear away, reeasing sediments into the river. River engineering restoring degraded watercourses can ead to benefits for habitats and species. Socia and economic factors non-native invasive species threaten species which are economicay important such as samonids. See aso: Appendix F: Key reevant egisation Appendix G: Key pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects Appendix H: Best practice guidance Appendix L: Gossary Appendix M: Acronyms and Abbreviations.

41 4.6 Action card socia and economic factors Strategic aim To support the ong-term use and enjoyment of the area for the benefit of current and future generations. Area aim 14. To better understand how the economy of the area works. Why is this needed? There is a ack of information about how the area is used in reation to the income it provides. For exampe, without information that tes us who is using the area, and for what purposes, it is difficut to focus on the areas that can be deveoped further. What are the benefits? If we better understand how the economy of the area works, it wi aow us to make a focused effort on deveoping areas that are not being used to the best effect. Tabe of action New actions required 43 Identify shortfas in information and encourage research. Work in progress Tourist Accommodation in Angus study, Richard Gerad Associates. Scottish Government agricutura census. Who needs to impement action (ead in bod) Steering group, Cairngorm Nationa Park Authority (CNPA). Who is invoved Angus Counci. Scottish Government. Who needs to be invoved Academic organisations. Fisheries information on numbers caught Forestry statistics. Agricuture information on the singe farm payment. Esk District Samon Fishery Board (EDSFB). Forestry Commission Scotand (FCS). Scottish Government Rura Payments and Inspections Directorate SGRIPD. Landowners and and managers incude agents, contractors and others working on behaf of andowners and and managers. Links to other action cards Water quaity we need good water quaity for peope to earn a iving (farming, forestry, fisheries, industry, renewabe energy, and river-reated tourism and recreation). Water resources the water resource is crucia for watering crops and as a private drinking water suppy and backup pubic suppy. If managed we, there shoud be enough water for everyone to use. Managing foods the socia and economic benefits to peope from improved methods of managing foods shoud reap benefits in terms of reduced risk of damage to homes and reduced heath and safety risks. River engineering demonstration projects can ead to socia and economic benefits in terms of education and raising awareness to a wider audience. Habitats and species the reduction of samonid stocks can ead to reduced economic benefits. As a resut, any action being taken to improve samonid stocks shoud benefit the oca economy. See aso: Appendix F: Key reevant egisation Appendix G: Key pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects Appendix H: Best practice guidance Appendix L: Gossary Appendix M: Acronyms and Abbreviations. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 41

42 Action card Socia and economic factors Strategic aim To support the ong-term use and enjoyment of the area for the benefit of current and future generations. Area aim 15. To promote ong-term economic deveopment of the main methods of producing an income. Why is this needed? There are many peope that use the area s resources for their iveihoods and enjoyment (farming, forestry, fisheries, industry, renewabe energy and river-reated tourism and recreation). These economic forces aso hep to protect and improve the area, as ong as they are carried out in a way that wi work over the ong term. The aim of this pan is to provide a framework for management that wi pu together those who use the area and hep support economic deveopment which wi be effective over the ong term but is not damaging to the environment. What are the benefits? There are many socia and economic benefits incuding; maintaining peope s iveihoods and incomes; making sure the area can support the and uses and industries it is needed for; and an improved quaity of ife through appreciating and enjoying the widife, habitats and andscapes in the area. Tabe of action New actions required 44 Activey encourage individua, community and business groups to use SRDP and other funding opportunities across a sectors. Who needs to impement action (ead in bod) Scotand s Environmenta and Rura Services (SEARS). Who needs to be invoved RuraDirect, Business Gateway, Landowners and and managers. 45 Support conservation measures which improve the economic vaue of anging tourism. Esk District Samon Fishery Board (EDSFB). Landowner and and managers. 46 Support business groups such as the Outdoor Angus Group in deveoping opportunities for tourism focusing on activities. Angus Counci. Private sector Business Gateway, Visit Scotand, Scottish Enterprise. 47 Encourage best practice to baance the income produced with ong-term effective management. 48 Support initiatives to enhance communication provision within the catchment. Work in progress Angus Counci, SEARS. Angus Counci, Scottish Government. Who is invoved Land owners and and managers. More organisations appying for SRDP, LEADER and other sources of funding. Business support activities. SEARS, Landowners and Land managers. Business Gateway, Angus Counci and Scottish Enterprise. Landowners and and managers incude agents, contractors and others working on behaf of andowners and and managers. Links to other action cards Water quaity we need good water quaity for peope to earn a iving (farming, forestry, fisheries, industry, renewabe energy, and river-reated tourism and recreation). Water resources the water resource is crucia for watering crops and as a private drinking water suppy and backup pubic suppy. If managed we, there shoud be enough water for everyone to use. Managing foods the socia and economic benefits to peope from improved methods of managing foods shoud reap benefits in terms of reduced risk of damage to homes and reduced heath and safety risks. River engineering demonstration projects can ead to socia and economic benefits in terms of education and raising awareness to a wider audience. Habitats and species the reduction of samonid stocks can ead to reduced economic benefits. As a resut, any action being taken to improve samonid stocks shoud benefit the oca economy. See aso: Appendix F: Key reevant egisation Appendix G: Key pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects Appendix H: Best practice guidance Appendix L: Gossary Appendix M: Acronyms and Abbreviations.

43 4.6 Action card socia and econom ic factors Strategic aim To support the ong-term use and enjoyment of the area for the benefit of current and future generations. Area aim 16. To support management, promotion and ong-term deveopment of the area for recreation, community, cuture and education. Why is this needed? There are many peope who use the area for recreation such as canoeing, waking, anging, bird watching, and cycing. The area aso has a rich cutura history as we as a number of communities iving and using the area for a variety of purposes. There wi ikey be opportunities that haven t yet been expored to further deveop recreation, community, cuture and education that this pan shoud investigate. What are the benefits? There are many socia and economic benefits incuding: maintaining peope s iveihoods and incomes; New actions required making sure the catchment can support the and uses and industries it is needed for; and an improved quaity of ife through appreciating and enjoying the widife and habitats that are in the area. Tabe of action Who needs to impement action (ead in bod) Who needs to be invoved 49 Review and improve existing materias to inform peope about the area Steering Group, Project Officer. Ranger Service, Cairngorm Nationa Park Authority (CNPA). 50 Encourage path inks aong the river to create a source to sea riverside route. Steering Group. 51 Support the deveopment of educationa resources. Project Officer. RHET Angus Countryside Initiative, SCAET, schoos. Work in progress Samon in the Cassroom Project. Angus Draft Core Paths Pan. Angus Counci Ranger Service. SWT ranger service and visitor centre. Who is invoved Scottish Natura Heritage (SNH), Scottish Natura Heritage (EDSFB), Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust (ERFT). Angus Counci. Angus Counci, CNPA. Scottish Widife Trust (SWT), Angus Counci. FCS Gen Do forest Design Pan. Landowners and and managers incude agents, contractors and others working on behaf of andowners and and managers. Links to other action cards Water quaity we need good water quaity for peope to earn a iving (farming, forestry, fisheries, industry, renewabe energy, and river-reated tourism and recreation). Water resources the water resource is crucia for watering crops and as a private drinking water suppy and backup pubic suppy. If managed we, there shoud be enough water for everyone to use. Managing foods the socia and economic benefits to peope from improved methods of managing foods shoud reap benefits in terms of reduced risk of damage to homes and reduced heath and safety risks. River engineering demonstration projects can ead to socia and economic benefits in terms of education and raising awareness to a wider audience. Habitats and species the reduction of samonid stocks can ead to reduced economic benefits. As a resut, any action being taken to improve samonid stocks shoud benefit the oca economy. See aso: Appendix F: Key reevant egisation Appendix G: Key pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects Appendix H: Best practice guidance Appendix L: Gossary Appendix M: Acronyms and Abbreviations. Forestry Commission Scotand (FCS), Landowners and and managers. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 43

44 Action card deivering the pan Strategic aim To make sure the fina pan is put into practice in good time, through effective communication and working in partnership. Some action mentioned in the pan is aready being carried out but the continued work and support of the Catchment Partnership shoud hep to make sure they continue to be put into practice. Many of the new actions identified in the draft pan need to be put into practice after the intended aunch of the fina pan in December It wi not be possibe to take forward a of the action at once. As a resut, members of the steering group and the wider Catchment Partnership wi need to meet to agree the priorities and set timescaes. We then hope that impementation groups made up of members of the steering group and the wider Catchment Partnership wi be set up to take forward specific action. This wi aso invove getting other peope invoved such as andowners and and managers and other organisations within the area as appropriate. Putting the pan into action is ikey to the project officer to continue to act as a centra coordinator. The pan wi be a iving document, and so wi need to be reguary reviewed and updated with new action. Area aim 17. To ook at the partnership and members of staff needed to co-ordinate the pan and put it into practice. Why are these aims needed? There are a number of aims that cut through a of the sections of the pan (water quaity, water resources, managing foods, river engineering, habitats and species and socia and economic factors), which have been pued together in this one action card. What are the benefits? Putting the pan into action is essentia for the future deveopment of the area. Tabe of action New actions required 52 Pu together a summary of a sources of funding avaiabe for putting the pan into practice Deveop an up-to-date database of andowners and and managers within the area and show their ownership and tenancy in map form. Who needs to impement action(ead in bod) Project Officer Project Officer Who needs to be invoved 54 Deveop a source to sea video and other materias to hep inform the pubic. Project Officer, Angus Counci 55 Deveop an independent website for the South Esk, or deveop the site in its present ocation. 56 Go to pubic events such as the Angus show, under the banner of the South Esk Catchment Partnership. Project Officer Project Officer, Steering Group 57 Promote the idea of incuding the pan in reevant pans and strategies. Project Officer, Steering Group 58 Encourage academic invovement with the area Project Officer, Steering Group 59 After the pan is aunched, deveop a programme to put action into practice. Project Officer, Steering Group 60 Buid better working reationships between agencies, organisations and the genera pubic. Project Officer, Steering Group 61 Raise awareness of the pan and what it is trying to achieve. Project Officer, Steering Group Identify gaps in knowedge and information through a sections of the pan and aim to put the situation right. Project Officer, Steering Group 63 Set up a monitoring programme to assess how effective the pan is. Project Officer, Steering Group 64 The pan needs to take into account effects of cimate change when it is revised in the future. Project Officer, Steering Group 65 Maintain the South Esk Steering Group. Project Officer, Steering Group

45 Ongoing Projects Work in Progress Database of andowner contact detais. South Esk webpage Angus Ahead Who is invoved Project officer. Project officer, Angus Counci. Landowners and and managers incude agents, contractors and others working on behaf of andowners and and managers. Links to other action cards The area and actions in the action card for deivering the pan ink with a of the other action cards as these actions cut through a topic areas. See aso: Appendix F: Key reevant egisation Appendix G: Key pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects Appendix H: Best practice guidance Appendix L: Gossary Appendix M: Acronyms and Abbreviations. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 45

46 46

47 Appendix Appendix A: Appendix B: Appendix C: Appendix D: Appendix E: Appendix F: Appendix G: Appendix H: Appendix I: Appendix J: Appendix K: Appendix L: Appendix M: Map of the South Esk catchment Map of designated areas within the South Esk catchment Map of the Strathmore and Fife Nitrate Vunerabe Zone (NVZ) Members of the South Esk Catchment Partnership Invasive non-native species aready present in the catchment and those that pose a threat The main aws which are reevant to the pan (in aphabetica order) The main pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects (in aphabetica order) Best practice guidance Ecoogica status assessments for the catchment Map of the Tay Area Advisory Group Area Map of status of the surface waters in the Tay area Gossary Acronyms and Abbreviations. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 47

48 48 Appendix A: Map of the South Esk catchment

49 Appendix B: Map of designated areas within the South Esk catchment The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 49

50 50 Appendix C: Map of the Strathmore and Fife Nitrate Vunerabe Zone (NVZ)

51 Appendix D: Members of the South Esk Catchment Partnership Angus Counci (provide funding) Economic Deveopment Division, Panning and Transport, Roads County Buidings Market Street Forfar DD8 3WD Littewood Land Care 25, Borrowfied Crescent Montrose ANGUS DD10 9BR Nationa Farmers Union Scotand Angus Branch (NFUS) The Bungaow Shandford Fern Brechin DD8 7 RS Scottish Rura Property and Business Association (SRPBA) The Cottage Barcayhi Guidtown Perth PH2 6AD Scottish Government Rura Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) Broxden Business Park Lamberkine Drive Perth PH1 1RX Cairngorms Nationa Park Authority (CNPA) 14 The Square Grantown on Spey PH26 3HG Macauay Institute (MLURI) Craigiebucker Aberdeen AB15 8QH Scottish Natura Heritage (SNH) (provide funding) West Lodge Airie By Kirriemuir DD8 5NP Esk District Samon Fishery Board (EDSFB) (provide funding) Woodside Croft Eccesgreig St Cyrus DD10 0DP Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust (ERFT) (provide funding) Woodside Croft Eccesgreig St Cyrus DD10 0DP Scottish Agricutura Coege Farm Business Services (SAC) 77 North Street Forfar DD8 3BL Scottish Water Water Framework Directive team Juniper House Heriot Wak Research Park Avenue North Edinburgh EH14 4AP Forestry Commission Scotand (FCS) Perth and Argy Conservancy Ago Business Centre Genearn Road Perth PH2 0NJ Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Arbroath Office 62 High Street ARBROATH DD11 1AW The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 51

52 52 Appendix E: Invasive non-native species aready present in the catchment and those that pose a threat Source: adapted from: Esk District Bio-security Pan ERFT 2009 a) Invasive non-native species aready present in the catchment. MAMMALS From where Ways into the area The effect Action Mink (Mustea vison) Introduced form North America in the 1920s. Widey spread in the upper areas of the South Esk. Many escaped from mink farms (not in the immediate area). Spread throughout the area. Kis water fow, sma mammas and fish. Linked to the reduction of water voes in the Cairngorms Nationa Park where 94% of sites where water voes ived in the 1950s are now empty. There is a trapping poicy in most estates in the Cairngorms Nationa Park area. We are creating mink free zones, which are surrounded by a ring of monitoring rafts to track and catch any incoming mink. Grey squirre (Sciurus caroinensis). Grey squirres are an aien species and were introduced to the UK from the USA in the ate 19th and eary 20th century. Spreads through habitat networks and by eating food our native red squirres woud eat. There are a very arge number compared to our native red squirre. They aso carry the squirre pox virus, which is fata to red squirres. Trapping carried out across the country by individua andowners and red squirre groups. FISH From where Ways into the area The effect Action Rainbow trout (Samo gairdneri). Farmed at Kinnaird on the South Esk. Introduced to ponds throughout the area for anging. There are no compete records of a the areas where the fish can be found. The fish escape from fish farms and ponds. Some are deiberatey introduced for anging purposes. Fish transported for stocking can be a source of disease. Those which escape can compete for resources with native species. They may aso be more abe to withstand effects of cimate change. There are aws which contro the heath, movement and reease of non-indigenous stocks. There are preventative measures in pace to reduce the number which escape. We wi survey the area for sources of rainbow trout. Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) Transocationa species. Introduced to parts of Scotand from Engand and Waes. Widespread in most areas. Natura movement aong waterways. Compete for food and territory with native species. Provides a source of food for kingfishers, herons, sawbi ducks, otters and other arger fish species. None, except for a ban on using ive bait. CRUSTACEA DISTRIBUTION PATHWAYS IMPACTS MITIGATION North American signa crayfish (Pacifasticus eniuscuus). One crayfish was caught in summer 2008 at Farne on the Pow Burn. Unawfu accidenta introductions. They then spread naturay. It burrows into riverbanks causing them to be ess stabe. Their diet incudes sma fish and invertebrates. There are aws preventing their introduction or keeping them (without a icence). Controing or getting rid of them invoves using pybast (a natura insecticide). Treatment in running waters is not aways possibe due to environmenta reguations. Trapping may imit popuations from deveoping.

53 PLANTS From where Ways into the area The effect Action Nutta s pondweed (Eodea nutaii). One area in the upper Pow Burn, a tributary of the South Esk. Garden pant trade. Escape from garden ponds. Peope getting rid of garden waste near waterways. Possibiity of spreading seeds by birds and animas. Dominates native pants iving in the rivers and watercourses, which can ead to them dying out. It aso affects oca invertebrate communities. It removes metas from sediments and then reeases them into the water. Canadian pondweed (Eodea Canadensis). Throughout the midde and ower areas of most rivers and tributaries. Garden pant trade. Escape from garden ponds. Peope getting rid of garden waste near waterways. Possibiity of spreading seeds by birds and animas. Dominates native pants iving in the rivers and watercourses, which can ead to them dying out. It aso affects oca invertebrate communities. It removes metas from sediments and then reeases them into the water. Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum & hybrids). Throughout the midde and ower areas of most rivers. Panted in gardens, parks and other areas. Natura spread of seeds and peope panting them in gardens. Forms dense thickets and drowns out native pants. Affects fish and invertebrate communities. It aso forms barriers to access in areas. Cut down areas to aow more ight into the watercourse. Japanese Knotweed (Faopia japonica). Some spread throughout the area. Parts of the pant can be moved by the wind and by water. Movement of contaminated soi. Pant materia on vehices can spread this to new areas. Forms dense thickets which prevent native pants from reproducing and aso affects access to areas. They ater the habitat for widife and can grow through concrete and tarmac. The area is due to be surveyed in Treatment options incude spraying, injecting and cutting and bioogica contro the atter is sti being researched. How ong the seeds and root systems ast wi resut in contro measures which need ong-term efforts. Himaayan basam (Impatiens ganduifera). Present in arge areas. It escapes from gardens. Natura spread of seed. Contamination of soi. The basam shades out ow-eve native pants. As a resut, the banks become empty of oweve vegetation. It dies back in winter exposing bare soi which can then be more easiy worn away. Greater nectar production makes the fowers more attractive to bumbe bees and so they are ess ikey to poinate native species. The area is due to be surveyed in We can get rid of the pant most effectivey by puing up pants in the summer. Giant Hogweed (Hercaeum mantegazzianum). Present in arge areas. Seeds are spread, particuary by water. They are aso transported in contaminated soi. The hogweed drowns out native vegetation for space and resources. As a resut it kis off other pants and invertebrates. It dies back in winter and this exposes bare soi which can then wear away more easiy. It is a pubic heath hazard due to the toxins in the sap which react with UV ight to bister skin. It can bock rights of access. The area is due to be surveyed in We can effectivey get rid of the pant by spraying. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 53

54 54 b) Invasive non-native species with severe economic consequences not aready present in the catchment but posing a threat. SPECIES Ways into the area The effects Action Gyrodactyus saaris Freshwater externa parasite of samon Zebra musse (Dreissena poymorpha) Freshwater musse Introduced through contaminated fish. Can be spread by cothing and equipment which has been in contact with infected water incuding canoes, and some baast water. Often the musses are attached to hus of boats. They are spread naturay in freshwater and in baast water. It coud wipe out Atantic samon (Samo saar) popuations throughout Scotand. Loca opportunities for spreading the parasite incude: visiting angers, canoeists and baast water. Major economic effect on a water structures beneath the water, for exampe, bocking pipes and affecting hydro-eectric schemes Varied and unpredictabe effects on the environment causing: changes to freshwater nutrient cyces; the extinction of oca musses; and changes to stream substrate, meaning the composition of the stream bed, affecting spawning areas. Loca opportunities for spreading the musses incude: in baast water. There are aws and nationa and oca awareness campaigns in pace. Loca disinfectant procedures have been put into practice. Chinese mitten crab (Eriocher sinensis) Lives in freshwater but moves to the sea for breeding. Introduced through: baast water from ships and hu fouing, the process in which organisms attach themseves to the hu of a ship during a voyage and transport themseves ong distances; the iega trade in ive food; and arva spread naturay by coasta currents. The effects incude: burrowing can damage riverbanks; concern over the effects on oca species; and it can carry the ung fuke Paragonimus ringer, which affects mammas and is known to infect humans.

55 c) Invasive non-native species with moderate economic consequences and probabiity of introduction to catchment: PLANT SPECIES Ways into the area The effects Action Water primrose (Ludwigia grandifora). Garden trade. Getting rid of garden waste. Low. Raise awareness. Fanwort (Cabomba caroiniana). Garden trade. Getting rid of garden waste especiay stem fragments. Low. Raise awareness. Large fowered waterweed (Egeria densa). Garden trade. Getting rid of garden waste Some abeing issues. So far ony found in East Lothian Raise awareness. Foating pennywort (Hydrocotyer ranuncuoides). Garden trade. Disposa of garden waste Some abeing issues. Low - currenty in Engand up to the midands Raise awareness. Austraian swamp stonecrop (Crassua hemsii). Garden trade. Getting rid of garden waste can be spread by animas and humans. High odd ocations throughout Scotand, nearest Aberdeen area. Raise awareness. Parrot s feather (Myriophyum aquaticum). Garden trade. Getting rid of garden waste, especiay pant fragments. Accidenta spread by footwear and fishing tacke. Moderate two areas in the south of Scotand Raise awareness. Water fern (Azoa fiicuoides). Garden trade and aquatic trade. Getting rid of garden waste. Through foods. High odd paces throughout Scotand especiay the Edinburgh and Dundee area. Raise awareness. Cury waterweed (Lagarosiphon major). Garden trade and aquatic trade. Probem made worse by wind spreading seeds, boat movement, anging equipment and possiby waterfow. High odd paces throughout Scotand especiay the Edinburgh and Dundee area. Raise awareness. Common cord grass (Spartina angica). Panted to make sand dunes more stabe. Spreads naturay. Moderate one area near St Andrews. Raise awareness. Sipper impet (Crepidua fornicate) Contaminant of oyster spat and hu fouing. Moderate one area offshore in the Firth of Tay. Raise awareness. Didemnum Tunicates / sea squirts (Didemnum vexium). Not sure of a methods but brought in on boat hus and through crustaceans which can move such as crabs. Low no information on its spread. Raise awareness. Wireweed (Sargassum muticum) Spread naturay. Contaminant of the spawn of an oyster known as oyster spat. Brought in on the hus of boats. Moderate currenty recorded form in three areas on the west coast of Scotand. Raise awareness. Asian topmouth gudgeon (Pseudorasbora parva) Aquaria trade. Deiberatey introduced as bait. Contaminated water. Low currenty ony recorded from five areas in Engand. Raise awareness. Ruffe (Gymnocephaus cernuus). Baast water. Live bait. Moderate currenty recorded in centra Scotand. Raise awareness. Orfe (Leuciscus idus). Live bait Others. High Currenty recorded in Perthshire. Buhead (Cotus gobio) Live bait Others Moderate species moving, recorded from centra Scotand. Raise awareness. Raise awareness. Ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) Imported as part of widife coections. Moderate currenty recorded in eastern Scotand. Raise awareness. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 55

56 56 Appendix F: The main aws which are reevant to the pan (in aphabetica order) Legisation Revised Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC) Bathing Water (Scotand) Reguations 2008 Coast Protection Act 1949 (c 1974) Biodiversity Convention - Convention on bioogica diversity: 1992 United Nations Agreement, Rio Earth Summit Cross compiance -Statutory Management Requirements under Singe Farm Payment scheme such as Good Agricutura and Environmenta Condition (GAEC). Contro of Pesticides Reguations 1986 Environmenta Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotand) Reguations 1999 Environmenta Impact Assessment (Agricuture) (Scotand) Reguations 2006 EC Birds Directive Counci Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wid birds EU Foods Directive - European Directive on the Assessment and Management of Food Risks (2007/60/EC) Food Risk management (Scotand) bi. EU Freshwater Fisheries Directive EC Habitats Directive - Counci Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natura habitats and of wid fauna and fora and Conservation (Natura Habitats and Species) Reguations 1994 EC Nitrates Directive Directive 91/676/eec on nitrates from agricutura sources Nitrate Vunerabe Zones (Scotand) Reguations 2002 The Action Programme for Nitrate Vunerabe Zones (Scotand) Reguations supercedes 2003 reguations and came into force 1st January 2009 EU Strategic Environmenta Assessment Directive Environmenta Assessment of Pans and Programmes (Scotand) Reguations 2004a EC Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive Urban Waste Water Treatment (Scotand) Amendment Reguations 2003 EU Urban Waste Water Directive Sensitive Area EU Water Framework Directive Water Environment and Water Services (Scotand) Act 2003 Water Environment (Controed Activities) Scotand Reguations 2005 Water Environment (Diffuse Poution) Reguations 2008 Drinking Water Protected Areas Food Prevention and Land Drainage (Scotand) Act 1997 Food Risk Panning Scotand Bi panned for adoption in 2009 under the EU Foods Directive Food & Environment Protection Act 1985 (FEPA). Groundwater reguations (1998) Land Reform (Scotand) Act 2003 Mandatory contros ( ) a ban on samon netting unti the 1st May, mandatory catch and reease using barbess hooks unti 31st May, - for both samon and sea trout. Nature Conservation (Scotand) Act 2004 Meeting the Energy Chaenge A White Paper on Energy May 2007 Poution Prevention and Contro (Scotand) Reguations 2000 Siage, Surry and Agricutura Fue Oi (Scotand) Reguations 2003 Sewerage (Scotand) Act 1968 (as amended 2002) Samon (fish passes and screens) Scotand Reguations 1994 UK Forestry Standard The Government s approach to sustainabe forestry 2004 Widife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) by the Nature Conservation (Scotand) Act 2004

57 Appendix G: The main pans, poicies, strategies, programmes and projects (in aphabetica order) Pans Angus Counci Draft Core Path Pan Apri Survey of faciities in Rura Communities in Angus Angus Rura Partnership September 2006 Angus Counci Loca Pan Review Angus Counci Shoreine Management Pan Bio-security Pan for the Esk District 2009 Dundee and Angus Structure Pan Cairngorms Loca Biodiversity Action Pan (LBAP) Cairngorms Nationa Park Loca Pan 2007 Fisheries Management Pan ERFT draft December 2008 Food Management Pans In progress Montrose Basin Loca Nature Reserve Management Pan Nitrate Vunerabe Zones Action Programme Scottish Forestry Strategy Impementation Pan Scotand River Basin District Ee Management Pan December 2008 Scottish Rura Deveopment Programme SNH Site Management Statements for SSSIs Scottish Water and Standards III b Investment Programme 2010 to 2014 Tay Draft Area Management Pan December 2008 Tay Estuary Forum Management Pan Apri 2009 Poicies and strategies Angus Economic Deveopment Strategy Angus Counci Angus Tourism Strategy (in draft May 2009) 2004 Survey of faciities in Rura Communities in Angus, Angus Rura Partnership September 2006 A 5 year Species Action Framework Making a difference for Scotand s Species SNH 2007 The Invasive Non Native Species Framework Strategy for Great Britain Protecting Our Natura Heritage from Invasive Species (Wesh Assemby Government, Scottish Government, DEFRA) 2008 Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, Scotand s Biodiversity: Its in Your Hands Scottish Forestry Strategy 2006 SNH Natura Heritage Futures Update 2008 Angus Countryside Access Strategy Programmes Programme of Ranger Service guided waks (Angus Gens and Montrose Basin) Projects (past and present) Angus Miennium Forest Angus Gens Waking Festiva CASS (Conservation of Atantic Samon in Scotand) LIFE Project Gen Cova Cairngorms Water Voe Conservation Project Eastern Cairngorms Access Project Samon in the Cassroom Tayside Loca Biodiversity Action Pan (LBAP) Woodands in and around towns (WIAT) programme The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 57

58 58 Appendix H: Best practice guidance Best Practice guidance Agricuture Fisheries Panning Recreation and access Forestry Urban surface water run off Four Point Pan - Straightforward Guidance for Livestock Farmers to minimise poution and benefit your business Prevention of Environmenta Poution from Agricutura Activity (PEPFAA) code Farm Sois Pan Protecting Sois and Income in Scotand Farming and Watercourse Management A Good Practice Handbook (SEPA, SNH, WWF Scotand) Managing River Habitats for Fisheries A Guide to Best Practice (SEPA, Fisheries Research Service, SNH and Scottish Executive) Working Around Water (Angus Counci/Aberdeenshire Counci) Panning Advice Notes 69: Panning and Buiding Standards Advice on Fooding Scottish Outdoor Access Code Scottish Canoe Association Padders Access Code Access Advice for Padders in Scotand August 2006 Forests and Water Guideines. Fourth Edition Forests and Soi Conservation Guideines Panning and advice note 61: Panning and sustainabe urban drainage systems A Dos and Don ts Guide for panning and designing sustainabe urban drainage systems (SUDS) SEPA Sustainabe Urban Drainage Systems Setting the Scene in Scotand

59 Appendix I: Ecoogica status assessments for the catchment Source: Information compied from water body data sheets (2007 cassification data) on web-based interactive map at Water body name Water body category HMWB Risk Assessment 2005 Overa cassification 2007 in terms of ecoogica status Faiing parameters Cassification for faiing parameters Pressures description Industry sector description Measures identified in Tay draft area management pan to address pressures isted. (pubished December 2008) River South Esk (White burn Confuence to Estuary) River No 1a Good Abstraction arabe farming None Morphoogica aterations Point source poution sewage disposa None Increase treatment Scottish Water River South Esk (White Water to White Burn Confuences) River No 2a Good Diffuse source poution Agricuture and Forestry- specific industry sector not yet known None River South Esk (Source to White Water Confuence) River No 2b Good None None Pow Burn River No 1a Poor Hydroogy Poor Diffuse source poution Morphoogy Moderate Diffuse source poution forestry arabe farming Reduce at source on track Forest Enterprise None Phytobenthos Moderate Abstraction arabe farming None Megund Burn Morphoogica aterations River No 1b Moderate Phytobethos Moderate Diffuse source poution Morphoogica aterations None arabe farming None assessment insufficienty advanced to make a judgement None The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 59

60 60 Water body name Water body category HMWB Risk Assessment 2005 Overa cassification 2007 in terms of ecoogica status Faiing parameters Cassification for faiing parameters Pressures description Industry sector description Measures identified in Tay draft area management pan to address pressures isted. (pubished December 2008) Noran Water River Yes 1a Poor ecoogica potentia Hydroogy Poor Fow reguation water coection, purification and distribution None Morphoogy Moderate Morphoogica aterations impounding weir/dam water coection, purification and distribution impounding weir/dam None Abstraction water coection, purification and distribution None Abstraction arabe farming None Lemno Burn River Yes 1a Poor ecoogica potentia Hydroogy Poor Diffuse source poution Diffuse source poution sewage disposa arabe farming None None Phytobethos Moderate Abstraction Arabe farming None - assessment insufficienty advanced to make a judgement White Burn River No 2b Good None None None Quharity Burn River No 2b Good None None None Prosen Water (Burn of Lednathie to South Esk confuence) Prosen Water(Sourc es (s) to Burn of Lednathie Confuence) River No 2b Good None None None River No 2b Good None None None

61 Water body name West Burn of Genmoye/ Genmoye Burn Water body category HMWB Risk Assessment 2005 Overa cassification 2007 in terms of ecoogica status Faiing parameters Cassification for faiing parameters Pressures description Industry sector description River No 2b Good None None None Measures identified in Tay draft area management pan to address pressures isted. (pubished December 2008) Burn of Heughs River No 1a Moderate Morphoogy Moderate Morphoogica aterations Livestock farming. Canaisation/reaignment/straig htening canaisation food defence None White Water River No 2a Moderate Morphoogy Moderate Morphoogica aterations Montrose Basin Transitiona No 1a Moderate Dissoved Inorganic Nitrogen and DIN aggregate Moderate Morphoogica aterations Morphoogica aterations Diffuse Source poution Morphoogica aterations Land recamation Water transport (sea, coasta, or inand water transport, dredging resuting in sediment remova) Mixed farming Chemicas production. Reinforcement rip rap None - assessment insufficienty advanced to make a judgement None None Non-urban and management measures - SEPA None 1a Water bodies at significant risk of faiing to meet the Water Framework Directives environmenta objectives by b 2a Water bodies probaby at significant risk of faiing to meet the Water Framework Directives environmenta objectives by 2015 but further information is needed to make sure this view is correct Water bodies probaby not at significant risk of faiing to meet the Water Framework Directives environmenta objectives by 2015 but further information is needed to make sure this view is correct 2b Water bodies not at significant risk faiing to meet the Water Framework Directives environmenta objectives by 2015 NB SEPA focuses on river and och water bodies of a certain size (rivers with a catchment area not ess than 10km2 and ochs with a surface area of at east 0.5km2). A estuaries and coasta waters are assessed. Rivers and ochs beow these threshod sizes are defined as sma water bodies and are not reported on. The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 61

62 62 Appendix J: Map of the Tay Area Advisory Group Area

63 Appendix K: Map of status of the surface waters in the Tay area The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 63

64 64 Appendix L: Gossary Abstraction Drawing water out of a river or area for industria or irrigation purposes (incudes pubic water suppy). Agri-environment scheme Government-funded support for ong-term agricutura activity with targeted benefits for the environment (for exampe, Environmentay Sensitive Areas Scheme ESA and The Rura Stewardship Scheme RSS). Aga boom A huge growth of agae in a och or reservoir which usuay resuts from high concentrations of nutrients. Biodiversity The tota range of ife forms on earth, the roes they carry out, and the genetic diversity they contain. Biosecurity panning The act of panning to reduce the probabiity of something unpanned happening, as we a as deiberate acts to estabish and spread non-native species, parasites and diseases in Scotand and the UK. Buffer strip An area of and separating a watercourse (or body of water) from intensivey managed and. The aims are to protect or improve water quaity. This may aso benefit habitat and species. Catchment An area within which a water drains to the same end-point or outfow. Groundwater catchments do not necessariy coincide with surface-water catchments. Catchment management A process where a activities within a och or river area are considered in terms of their effect on each other and on the quaity and quantity of surface and groundwater. Ecoogica status The structure of aquatic ecosystems associated with surface waters.these waters are cassed as being of good ecoogica status when they meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive WFD. Foodpain The foor of a strath or river vaey which is fied with water when a river foods. Groundwater Water contained in underground rocks, which fis the spaces in soi and other structures which are not competey soid. Indicative forestry strategy A strategy, prepared and incuded in a structure pan, which aims to dea with future commercia forest panting in an environmentay acceptabe way. It does this by identifying preferred, potentia and sensitive areas for forestry. Loca pan Prepared and used by panning authorities according to the aw, expressing specific poicy guidance and advice for deveopment in each area, to meet the aims of the structure pan. Invasive non-native species Species which are not found in the area normay but which have successfuy estabished themseves in our aquatic systems, resuting in damage to the natura environment and affecting the economy. Marine Scotand The ead marine management organisation in Scotand. They began work on 1 Apri 2009 as a Directorate of the Scottish Government (SG). They dea with scientific research, make sure peope keep to reevant aws and guidance and manage Scotand's seas. Nutrients Chemica substances needed for growth by organisms (incuding pants, crops and agae), for exampe, phosphorus and nitrogen. Overgrazing Where ivestock (wid and domestic) numbers are high and they eat too much of the natura vegetation, and increase the risk of erosion of the soi. Phosphorus A nutrient essentia in the ifecyce of a iving organisms, present in a anima and vegetabe matter. Point source poution Poution which can be traced to a specific source with a ceary identifiabe point of origin. Usuay from a pipe or other simiar point. Riparian The and bordering a river or burn. Run-off Rainwater draining from an area of and which can transport nutrients, fertiisers, sediment and so on. Rura Direct A service designed to hep rura community organisations find funding from a range of sources incuding the new Scotand Rura Deveopment Programme (SRDP). Rura Direct is a nationa service deivered ocay by the Scottish Counci for Vountary Organisations (SCVO). Samonid A freshwater fish of the samonid famiy (for exampe, samon and trout). Sediments The oose materia transported by a river. It can be a mixture of partices ranging from fine sediments, usuay ess than 2mm in diameter (sands, sits and cays), to coarser sediments ikepebbes, stones and bouders. Septic tank A tank receiving and treating sewage by bacteria. Spring fish Samon which return to fresh water in the eary part of the year (usuay before the end of May). Tributary A smaer burn or stream fowing into a arger river.

65 Appendix M: Acronyms and Abbreviations. AAG Area Advisory Group SEPA Scottish Environment Protection Area AC CASS CAR CMP CoPA Angus Counci Conservation of Atantic Samon in Scotand Controed Activities Reguations Catchment Management Pan Contro of Poution Act SEARS SGRIPD Scottish Environment and Rura Services Sears is a partnership of nine pubic bodies aiming to provide rura and managers, with an efficient and effective service. Scottish Government Rura Payments and Inspections Directorate CNPA Cairngorms Nationa Part Authority SNH Scottish Natura Heritage ECAP Eastern Cairngorms Access Project SOAC Scottish Outdoor Access Code EDSFB Esk District Samon Fishery Board SPA Specia Protection Area FEPA ERFT GAEC Food and Environment Protection Act Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust Good Agricutura and Environmenta Condition SRDP Scottish Rura Deveopment Programme The SRDP is a 1.6 biion programme of economic, environmenta and socia measures designed to deveop rura Scotand during 2007 to FCS Forestry Commission Scotand SSSI Site of Specia Scientific Interest NFUS Nationa Farmers Union Scotand SuDS Sustainabe urban Drainage Systems PEPFA NFM NVZ RBMP RHET SAC Prevention of Environmenta Poution from Agricutura Activity Natura Food Management Nitrate Vunerabe Zone River Basin Management Pan Roya Highand Education Trust Specia Area of Conservation or Scottish Agricutura Coege SW SWT SYA UWWTD WIAT WwTW WFD Scottish Water Scottish Widife Trust Scottish Youth Hoste Association Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive Woods In and Around Towns Wastewater Treatment Works Water Framework Directive SCAET Scottish Countryside Aiance Educationa Trust The South Esk Catchment Management Pan 65

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68 The content of this pubication, or sections of it, can be made avaiabe in aternative formats or transated into other community anguages. Pease contact the Counci s ACCESSLine on for further information or emai accessine@angus.gov.uk. Photographs courtesy of: Karen Phiip, Nei Mitche, Key Ann Dempsey, Scottish Natura Heritage, Scottish Environmenta Protection Agency, River South Esk Catchment Partnership. C/O Angus Counci Economic Deveopment, County Buidings, Market Street, Forfar, DD8 3WD T: F: