River Ugie catchment
The River Ugie catchment lies in Aberdeenshire
in north-east Scotland. The river originates in relatively low
lying hills in the west of the catchment and discharges into the
North Sea via the Ugie estuary.
The Ugie catchment is an intensively farmed
rural catchment, predominantly used for intensive arable, mixed and
livestock farming. Part of the Ugie is a Drinking Water Protected
Area, but the drinking water supply is currently failing standards.
A number of pesticides have been found and it has a history of such
contamination.
A series of catchment walks took place
throughout the Ugie catchment in early 2010.
The main issues encountered during the
catchment walks were:
- livestock causing significant poaching of
land within five metres of a watercourse: a breach of Diffuse
Pollution General Binding Rule (DP GBR) 19;
- cultivation within two metres of a
watercourse: a breach of DP GBR 20;
- issues relating to pesticide application and
storage.
Data was also collected on the location and
abundance of non-native invasive plant species such as giant
hogweed, Himalayan balsam, rhododendron and Japanese knotweed.
In all, 223 rural diffuse pollution problems
were noted. Also recorded were a number of examples of good
practice, specifically fencing and buffer strips around cultivated
areas.
SEPA is working with other organisations and
stakeholders groups within the Ugie catchment to raise awareness of
the DP GBRs and the findings of the catchment walks. Details of
future events will be posted on this website.
In summer 2011, SEPA officers will be
undertaking a series of one-to-one visits with individual
landowners to discuss the issues relating to diffuse pollution.
Appointments will be made with land managers before these visits
are carried out.
Please contact the SEPA Catchment
Co-ordinator, Eddie
Nicol, for further information by email or by calling 01343
547663.