SEPA and Institution of Civil Engineers publish Watercourses in the Community: A Guide to sustainable watercourse management in the urban environment.

A new publication showing the way forward for sustainable development in Scottish urban areas was launched today (30 June 2000) by The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) at The Millennium Link Conference in Edinburgh. The publication was written in partnership with other Scottish organisations involved in watercourse management.*

Watercourses in the Community: A Guide to Sustainable Watercourse Management in the Urban Environment has been specifically written for Scotland as part of SEPA's Habitat Enhancement Initiative, and considers the benefits of sensitive management of our urban watercourses and the harm that can be caused by neglecting them.

A practical guidance document, it promotes the wise use of finances as well as improving the environment in which we live. The engineering techniques advocated have been proven internationally as cost-effective, safe and practicable. The internationally recognised goal of sustainable development, to which "Watercourses in the Community" intends to make a contribution, is mainstream policy for all political parties.

Speaking at the launch of the document, Katherine Bradshaw, (SEPA's HEI Project Manager and Team Leader of the SEPA East Region Support Team), said:"In order to produce a guidance document that would be credible with ecologists, planners and engineers alike, much consultation has been carried out over the last 21 months. SEPA Habitat Enhancement Initiative (HEI) staff were delighted that the Institution of Civil Engineers were prepared to head up the authorship of this document. It is our hope today that delegates will embrace and encourage the concepts being promoted throughout Scotland in this new document.

Robert Huxford of the ICE, the leading author of the publication, said: "Rivers and burns are the most beautiful, the most valuable part of the urban environment. Yet in most towns they offer very little benefit to people or to nature and are hidden away and neglected.

"This report has been produced by a partnership of many different professions and interests. It shows there is both the will and the engineering techniques to restore Scotland's urban rivers and burns as a valued part of the communities through which they flow. It makes sense for developers' profits, it makes sense for the quality of life of town dwellers, and it makes sense for the environment."

John Sheldon, Biodiversity advisor for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and Environment Team leader for West Lothian Council, also commented: "For too long, burns and rivers that flow through our towns and villages as well as the amenities alongside, have been treated as drains by those that should know better. This publication makes a very important contribution to changing attitudes and encouraging the restoration of water courses for public enjoyment as well as wildlife habitats."

*The other main partners include: City of Edinburgh Council; The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities; Dundee City Council; the Scottish Biodiversity Group; Scottish Natural Heritage; Scottish Wildlife Trust; The River Restoration Centre; The Urban Design Alliance; The World Wide Fund for Nature, Scotland. Quotes from each of these organisations are included within the publication.

· The SEPA Habitat Enhancement Initiative (HEI) aims 'to help secure measurable improvement in the way in which habitats are managed' and 'to focus on the aquatic and riparian habitats and the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity interests'. For information about the document, please contact either Katherine Bradshaw (SEPA) on 0131 449 7975 or Robert Huxford (ICE) on 0207 222 7722. For more general information about SEPA's HEI scheme, contact Kiri Walker or Jennifer Learmonth on 0131 449 7296 or visit the HEI Website www.sepa.org.uk.
· Copies of the document are available from SEPA Public Affairs, SEPA Head Office, Erskine Court, The Castle Business Park, Stirling, FK9 4TR or from the SEPA Web site www.sepa.org.uk