Sustainable Water Management
As climate conditions continue to change the sustainable management of water on farm is of great concern for many land managers around Scotland. From unprecedented wet weather to drought conditions, farms need to become resilient to ensure that they can try to minimise the impact of these changing weather patterns on land.
Practical Guides for Sustainable Water Management
We have produced a number of practical guides on this topic:
Understanding Water Management Regulations in Scotland
Abstraction can be used to ensure water supply on farm, however, there can be times where SEPA have to introduce restrictions on the quantity of water allowed to be removed to safeguard water supply for the surrounding environment. In this article we discuss the rules and regulations in place that ensure water is abstracted correctly and appropriately. Read more >>
Securing your Water Supply with Boreholes and Lagoons
Climate change and variable rainfall is putting further pressure on water resources to meet production needs, thus protecting the resilience of our water supply is crucial. Farmers are having to adapt and gain water from additional methods, such as through abstraction, installation of rainwater harvesters, designing storage ponds within their land, etc. This article explores two of these methods in detail, boreholes and irrigation lagoons. Read more >>
Nature Based Solutions to Combat Drought and Flooding
Climate change is set to bring on a change in our weather systems, with extreme weather conditions becoming more frequent. This is likely to include more intense and frequent flooding due to an increase in of periods of heavy or intense rainfall. To reduce the impact of these extreme weather events on agricultural production, land managers should target measures to increase water infiltration and retention. This guide offers nature based solutions to combat drought and flooding. Read more >>
Water Scarcity
Water Scarcity Case Study: Alternative watering of livestock
Following an AECS application in 2016 to fence off watercourses from grazing livestock, combined with a move to outwintering of cattle, Whitriggs Farm had an increased demand on their water requirements. As extreme drought events are projected to increase, the business needed to take a new approach to how livestock were supplied with water in the fields. Read more >>
Using Technology to Defend Against Water Scarcity in Scotland
As the risk of water scarcity increases in some areas of Scotland through the summer, this guide will take you through some of the technologies being used on English farms with the intention of helping make your business, and Scottish agriculture as a whole, more resilient. Read more >>
Using Organic Matter to Alleviate Water Scarcity
As water scarcity becomes a more frequently occurring concern across the UK, it is important to explore methods to better manage the water you do have. This article examines the use of organic matter in soils in helping alleviating water scarcity. Read more >>
Water Availability
Following on from CREW report, Future predictions of water scarcity in Scotland: impact on distilleries and agricultural abstractions, Dr Miriam Glendall and Dr Kirsty Blackstock, from JHI, discuss water availability within Scottish agriculture. Looking at future predictions and discussing water abstractions in a changing climate and what can farmers do to help mitigate the impact on farm.
Water Management Videos
Managing Natural Resources: Irrigation Lagoons
As our climate changes and we experience more extreme weather patterns, becoming more resilient and efficient with water use on farm can be critical to managing drier spells on your land. In this video we discuss installing irrigation lagoons, which can help store water during on farm to then be used during dry periods.
Managing Natural Resources: Irrigation Lagoon Funding
The Agri Environment Climate scheme has opened for a new round of applications with some revised grant rates for irrigation lagoons. In this video Craig Bothwell gives an overview of the funding rates and the requirements needed to put in an application for grant support.
Resilient Technology Options for Water Management on Farm: Rainwater Harvesting
In this video we discuss installing rainwater harvesters, which can help store water on your farm to become more resilient to water scarcity. Read more>>
Catchment Management: The Delliefure Burn Project
In this video we speak to Penny Lawson from the Spey Catchment Initiative and Lewis Pate from the Cairngorm National Park Authority about the Delliefure Burn Project. Read more>>
Working Together to Improve Water Management: Greenloaning Project on the Allan Water
Forth Fisheries Trust have been working with land managers to slow flow and improve water management on site throughout the Allan Water Project. This video looks at work, which has been undertaken to improve wetland enhancement, biodiversity and the catchment. Read more>>
Catchment Management: Revive the Allan
Forth Fisheries Trust show us recent work they have been undertaking with land managers to improve habitat diversity, allowing rivers to be reinstated to a more natural state and improve the landscape and flood management. Read more>>
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