Aquatic restoration
The water environment in Scotland is not only an intrinsic part
of our landscape but also a vital asset; it fuels industry, powers
our houses and attracts tourists. However over the years it has
been affected by various physical pressures, with the result that
many rivers, lochs, wetlands and coastlines are now a shadow of
what they once were.
The water environment restoration fund is your opportunity to
secure funding and support to improve the rivers, streams, lochs,
and coast for you and future generations.
Water environment restoration fund
A Restoration Assessment Group, led by SEPA, has been
established to direct and manage the fund. The group comprises SEPA
representatives from various functions and external representatives
from Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission and the
Scottish Government.
The aim of the fund is to deliver physical improvements to
river, loch, estuarine and coastal water bodies and wetlands. We
intend doing this through supporting partners’ projects and by SEPA
leading on strategic projects.
As well as the fund, SEPA has powers to
restore waterbodies and to control activities in and around water
bodies. More information on Controlled Activity Regulations (CAR)
can be found here: www.sepa.org.uk/water/regulations.aspx
Click here now for an application
form and for more guidance on applying.
Projects SEPA will fund
It is important that every project must aim to deliver
improvements to wetlands, rivers, lochs, estuaries or coasts,
thereby contributing towards achieving Water Framework Directive
(WFD) objectives as set out in the river basin management
plans.
Projects seeking funding should aim to improve the environmental
status or condition of a waterbody by tackling the physical
pressures on that system. Information on the status, physical
pressures and objectives for a water body can be viewed through
SEPA's interactive map
or in the river basin management plans: www.sepa.org.uk/water/river_basin_planning.aspx
Where possible, projects should also deliver a wider range of
environmental, social and economic benefits. Examples of
partnership projects that could be considered for funding are:
- restoring natural processes in rivers or lochs;
- engineering degraded rivers to restore natural profiles, for
example by recreating meanders;
- removal or modification of man-made barriers to improve fish
passage and sediment transport;
- restoration of flood plains, coastal intertidal zones and
wetlands;
- scoping studies to assess costed options for physical
restoration works;
- control of non native invasive bank side and instream plant
species.
Funding principles
Currently SEPA’s restoration fund will award funds to projects
alongside other grant awarding bodies. We will fund
alongside:
There will be instances however when it may be more applicable
for a project to be only funded by one of these grant awarding
bodies. if you have any queries please contact the restoration specialist to
discuss.
Useful Links
Contact us
By post:
Restoration Specialist,
SEPA,
Leading Light Building,
142 Sinclair Road,
Torry,
ABERDEEN
AB11 9PR
By e-mail: restoration.proposals@sepa.org.uk