Inventory Topic Area: HERITAGE CONSERVATION
Subject: WATER QUALITY
Management issues:
Water quality and ecology can be affected by pollution from domestic and industrial discharges (including farming). Acidification, too, is considered a problem in some lochs - studies in the Loch Ard area show that fish are absent from many streams because of high acidity levels, although these levels are now beginning to fall. Drainage schemes and the canalisation of some stream courses have also led to faster run off of water and disturbance to natural freshwater habitats. Agricultural fertilisers and slurry carried into water courses have increased nutrient input and led to eutrophication, while effluent from sheep dipping and silage have cased minor or localised problems in the water systems. There is not evidence of problems from fish farms within the area (Glenry and Malling Burns, and Loch Earn). Proposals to install fish cages on Loch Lomond were turned down some years ago on the grounds of likely environmental damage. Despite these real and potential problems the freshwater lochs and river systems appear to be facing relatively few immediate water quality threats at present.
Key words: Pollution; Morphology; Discharges; Water Disposal; Eutrophication; Agriculture & farming; Fish; Fish farms; Lochs; Loch Ard; Rivers; Water quality
Location: Lochs and streams within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs area, specifically Loch Earn, Loch Ard and Loch Lomond
Principle organisations: Argyll & Bute Council - Planning, Development & Tourism
British Geological Survey -Nottingham
Central Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group
Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory
Scottish Conservation Projects Trust - Stirling
Scottish Environmental Protection Agency - West Region
Scottish Natural Heritage - Information & Library Service
Local contacts: Loch Lomond Park Authority
Information:
Ecological effects of pumped storage proposal at Criagroyston
Central Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group Newsletters
Ecological Assessment of Loch Lomond Water Management Proposals
Environmental Change Network (Water Chemistry)
Loch Lomond: Eutrophication Study 1987-1989
Loch Lomond Regional Park Landscape Assessment
Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group Information Booklets
Feasibility of mapping water tables using ATM thermal bands at Flanders Moss
Forestry expansion: a study of technical, economic & ecological factors, Paper 2
Freshwater Invertebrates (Benthos)
Green Report: Sustainability Indicators of Central Region, 1996
Groundwater vulnerability of Scotland
Hydrogeological Maps - Small Scale
Local Features of Wildlife Value
Loch Lomond - A Eutrophication Study 1987 - 1989
Loch Lomond Water Supply Scheme; Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System
Management of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
Recreational Boating on Loch Lomond 1989- 1994, 1995
Regional Scenic Areas and Coast
Routine Biological Monitoring of Rivers
Structure Plan Schedule and Sites
Studies on Loch Lomond II; the Fauna of the River Endrick
This Common Inheritance, The Third Year Report
Trossachs Lochs Lentic Waters Supply
Undesignated Sites of Nature/Landscape Conservation
Utilization of a Large Inland Waterway (Loch Lomond, Scotland) by Recreational Craft
Water Quality Changes Associated with Boating Activity
Related key management issues:
Heritage Conservation: Wildlife management; Recreational activities; Databases, resource inventories, research & monitoring arrangements
Tourism: Demand for tourism; Impact of tourism on conservation; Impact of tourism on landscape & amenity
Recreation: Pressure for recreation; Management of visitor & recreation pressures; Fishing
The Water Resource: Water quality; Demand for recreation; Lack of an integrated strategy; Pollution; High water levels, ersosion and flooding
Land Use - FFCSE: Maintaining the landscape
Access into the Countryside: Impact on the natural heritage; Demand for water-based recreation; Resources; Information & education
Planning & Economic Development: Coordination & the joint marketing of opportunities; Shortfalls in information on recreation & tourism resources
Administration and Finance: None
Associated subject headings:
Physical Characteristics: Climate; Geology; Land cover; Loch; Lowland; River; Soils; Topography
Heritage Conservation: Landscape; Nature Conservation; Weland; Woodland; Wildlife species; Fish; Invertebrates; Plants
Tourism: Camping Caravaning; Visitors
Recreation: Fishing; Recreation demand; Recreation facilities; Water sports
The Water Resource: Commercial; Erosion; Flooding; Pollution; Discharges; Water quality; Eutrophication; Water disposal; Water management; Surveys; Water supply
Land Use - FFCSE: Agriculture and farming; Estate management; Forestry; Land management; Land use
Access into the Countryside: Access to water
Planning & Economic Development: None
Administration and Finance: Employment and training; Fish farms; Grants; Mineral extraction; Planning
Gazetteer: Geographic areas