4 days ago
Dumfries and Galloway river levels continue recovery after prolonged dry spell
One river has been lowered to 'alert level' and four others have now been given 'early warning' status by SEPA.
River levels in Dumfries and Galloway are continuing their recovery following the prolonged dry spell.
The catchment for the Esk has been lowered from 'moderate scarcity' to 'alert' level on the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's warning system.
And the Annan, Nith, Dee and Cree catchments have now been moved to 'early warning' – the lowest rating – after SEPA noted widespread improvements in the west thanks to rain.
The environment watchdog monitors river levels using its drought risk assessment tool to measure river flow data from gauging stations across the country. This information is then combined with data from rainfall gauges, Met Office forecasts, soil moisture data and fieldwork by SEPA staff.
If river flows at a monitoring station fall below a critical level for 90 days or more, the area is classed as at significant water scarcity.
SEPA's senior manager in water industry and rural economy, Eilidh Johnston, said: 'SEPA has a clear duty to protect Scotland's rivers and water environment, not just today but for the future. When conditions reach the point where any further reduction in flow would risk damage to the environment, we must act.
'We know that water is vital for people, farms and businesses, which is why we've been working so closely with abstractors and membership bodies to provide information about how the water scarcity situation has been developing in recent weeks.
But when river levels fall too low for too long, we must act to prevent long-term harm to the environment and future supplies.
Any regulatory action we take is based on robust evidence-based assessments, using up-to-date scientific data and hydrological analysis. That includes measured river levels, rainfall records, soil moisture and weather forecasts – as well as insights from our field staff.
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'If restrictions are necessary, they will be targeted, time-limited and lifted as soon as the conditions allow. We want to support Scotland's water resilience, and we make our decisions based on science and hard facts.
"That's what powers Scotland's National Water Scarcity Plan and our weekly assessments. This is a coordinated, evidence-driven response to serious environmental pressure.'
