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.
If you are looking for information on water scarcity, you can find resources on our Responding to Hot & Dry Weather page.
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 >>
Reducing Surface Runoff and Erosion with 'Magic Margins'
Water Availability & Securing Your Supply
Ensuring A Resilient Water Supply For Your Farm
With Scotland traditionally being thought of as a ‘wet’ country, we often take water for granted. However, as our climate is changing, water is no longer a ‘free’ and plentiful resource, and many farmers should now be approaching water use with the same strategic importance as fuel, feed and fertiliser. Read this article for more information >>
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
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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