River Garry Water Restoration Project
A major campaign has been launched to bring the River Garry back to life for the first time in over half a century. Since the 1950s virtually all the water in the river has been systematically abstracted for electricity generating purposes. Thus, for most of the year, a dry riverbed is exposed along a 13 mile stretch of the A9 between Loch Garry near Drumochter and Struan near Blair Atholl. Historically this was one of the most important areas for salmon spawning in the whole of the Tay catchment.
Until recently there was no legal possibility of challenging the status quo and redressing an inequitable situation. However recent EU legislation (the Water Framework Directive) obliges member countries to remedy damage caused by over-abstraction of water. In Scotland SEPA is charged with implementing this process and it is due to publish a national plan detailing remedial action in 2009 |
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Pitiful Amount
Dr David Summers, Fisheries Manager for the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board*, explained: “Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), the company that takes all of the Garry’s water, realises that it may soon be subject to a legal requirement to re-introduce some flow into the river. Clearly mindful of this, the company has made what amounts to a pre-emptive strike by ‘offering’ to release some water.
" However the amount of water it is proposing is truly pitiful and would be of almost no practical value in terms of allowing easy access for adult salmon to spawn”.
He continued: “We have no doubt that SSE’s proposal is no more than a cosmetic PR exercise which fails to address the fundamental problems. To make a significant difference the Garry requires at least 60 per cent more flow than that which SSE proposes and a short period of even higher flows in the autumn. We are convinced that this would significantly increase the numbers of adult salmon running the Tay, Tummel and Garry.
Landscape Blot
“There is now a historic opportunity to restore parts of the Garry system for spawning and juvenile fish. We intend to apply maximum pressure to ensure that SSE accept their moral and legal responsibility to bring the Garry back to life”.
Added Dr Summers: “Our proposals would have a major additional benefit. Re-watering the Garry with proper flows would remove an environmental blot on the landscape along the A9 – one of Scotland’s most important tourist arteries into the Highlands. Visitors would no longer be confronted with the incongruous spectacle of a boulder-strewn dry riverbed”.
Re-Colonisation
If the Tay Board’s proposals are adopted, it has been estimated that re-colonisation of the available habitat would in time result in as many as at least 1500 extra adult salmon returning to the Tay system annually.
The Garry was a very important location for spring salmon to spawn in. Spring runs of Atlantic salmon are virtually unique to Britain and Ireland.
The viability of spring runs is of great benefit to many salmon fisheries and rural communities - not least as they extend the angling season to nine months or more, with attendant benefits for employment, hotels and other local businesses.
ACTION
Upstream of Struan the River Garry is reckoned to be one of the most abused rivers in Scotland affected by water abstraction for hydro electric generation. If it is to be realistically restored, more water must be released into the Garry and some tributaries, including periods of high flow in the autumn.
But this will mean that SSE plc will have to ‘lose’ some electricity. In fact, about four wind turbines’ worth.
While SSE has used the renewable energy card as a defence against ‘losing’ any generation, this amount of electricity would be an insignificant component of the global warming debate.
If you care about the river’s future and you would like to help, make your feelings known to your local councillors, MSPs and MP:
• C’llr Ian Campbell 01738 475095 ICampbell@pkc.gov.uk
• C’llr Eleanor Howie 01738 475042 ejhowie@pkc.gov.uk
• C’llr John Kellas 01738 475020 JKellas@pkc.gov.uk
• C’llr Ken Lyall 01738 475016 klyall@pkc.gov.uk
• C’llr Barbara Vaughan 01738 475088 BVaughan@pkc.gov.uk
• C’llr Alasdair Wylie 01738 475023 AWylie@pkc.gov.uk
• John Swinney MSP 01250 876 576 john.swinney.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
• Murdo Fraser MSP 0131 348 5293 murdo.fraser.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
• Pete Wishart MP 01738 639598 wishart.p@parliament.uk
* The Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board is the statutory body responsible for the protection, preservation and development of salmon and sea trout fisheries in the Tay system.
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