SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) is looking to improve the quality of water in Scotland by 2015. As such it has drawn up plans for each district (We are North Highland). SEPA is asking for public feedback on each of the Area Management Plans.They have highlighted an issue which particularly effects Nairn, that of the A96 Growth Corridor Development
Case Study: Development pressures and strategic planning – A96 corridor
Development pressure in the inner Moray Firth has been increasing over the last few decades and has become particularly acute around the East Inverness area. The A96 Growth Corridor Development Framework sets out the long-term planning strategy for this area. One of the key pressure points is the A96
Water Treatment Works to keep pace with planned development. Longer term, incorporating the developments around Nairn will include a new Wastewater (sewage) Treatment Works.
To view the plan for North Highland click here and scroll down. The deadline for comment is April 2009
3 comments:
A must read for all enviromental groups and community councils, Nairn Angling Association etc, without a doubt.
One subject in there that the Gurnmeister has mentioned more than one once and that is 'invasive species' section. Action has to be taken on the river Nairn before the invasive plants take control of the riverside environment. Here's the details,
5.2 Invasive non-native species
AAG members are concerned that there are invasive non-native species in the area that impact on the water
environment in North Highland and which have not been considered during the preparation of this draft plan. This is the
result of a decision by the UK Technical Advisory Group (UKTAG) to focus in the first RBMPs on a shortlist of the most
invasive aquatic species already known to be causing impacts likely to cause a failure to meet good status objectives. The
UKTAG has classified non-native species into three impact categories – high, low and unknown. Due to the large number
of species involved, classification has focused at this stage on ten important high impact species. Only five of these are
known to occur in Scotland.
However, there are a number of other species in North Highland that are not native to the area and which could
potentially have a significant impact on the water environment. These include Japanese knotweed and Himalayan
balsam. Some AAG member organisations have invested considerable time and funding in eradication programmes for
these species which will help prevent their further spread. These efforts are not reflected in this draft plan though it is
hoped that they will be in the final plan and that additional species will be considered for inclusion in the second and
third cycles of the RBMPs. Their inclusion will depend on many factors including the views of the Scottish working group
on non-native species, UKTAG Alien Species Group and AAG member bodies. Details of this process are still to be
determined.
Does anybody know if the Red Signal Crayfish are still a problem on the River Nairn,or have they been exterminated yet.?
Mentioned in this document in 2004
http://www.highlandbiodiversity.com/htm/counties/inverness_nairn/inverness_nairn.pdf
Contact the Nairn Angling Association if you need an update.
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