The project has three main aims:
- To assess the effectiveness of natural flood management (NFM) measures in reducing the risk of flooding to downstream communities
- To assess the impact of NFM restoration on wetland habitats and species, and its potential to improve the overall ecological status of the river
- To work with landowners and farmers in the local community to maximise the benefits of the work, whilst sustaining farming livelihoods and practices.
To acheive these aims the project has generated robust evidence of the impact, cost and benefits of working with natural processes at the catchment scale. From the outset, the project has taken an empirical approach, installing a comprehensive hydrological monitoring network, as well as developing a combined hydraulic and hydrological catchment model.
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)’s flood risk assessment shows over 500 properties are at risk of flooding in Eddleston and Peebles under a 1:200 year scenario. The river was classified by SEPA as ‘bad’ ecological status in 2009 (using EU Water Framework Directive criteria), largely due to the historical works that straightened and altered the physical structure of the channel and its banks. Subsequent recovery of the physical and ecological condition of the river has been limited due to the low energy and high impact of past engineering on the channel. Water quality is generally good, and the river is designated an EU Special Area of Conservation for its salmon, lampreys, otters and aquatic plants.
We are committed to sharing the outcomes of the project with interested parties and are continually disseminating information about our activities to a wide range of audiences including academics, policy makers, farmers and farm advisers, NGOs, Scottish local authorities, schools and the general public. Our outreach ranges from attending local community council meetings to showcasing our work at Scottish agricultural shows; to presenting at international conferences to hosting field visits to the Eddleston catchment.
