What effect is rural diffuse pollution having in Scotland? Water quality is generally good across Scotland, however, around 35% of our water bodies are at less than the good status required by the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Pollution, mainly from diffuse agricultural sources, is one of the most common causes. Areas affected include those supporting designated habitats and species, economically important shell"sh waters, bathing waters and drinking waters. The overall aim is for 98% of our waters to be at good status by 2027. The Rural Diffuse Pollution Plan for Scotland describes Scotland’s "rst national strategic approach to reducing diffuse pollution from rural land use. A two tiered approach of national awareness raising and priority catchment work has been developed to target protection and improvements to water bodies. Both voluntary and mandatory measures are being used including a statutory baseline of good practice and funding through the Scotland Rural Development Programme. The Diffuse Pollution Management Advisory Group is a partnership of organisations who have rural diffuse pollution interests. Co-ordination of activities to reduce diffuse pollution through in#uential stakeholders is key to Scotland’s ability to deliver the Rural Diffuse Pollution Plan. Results Evidence gathering from catchment walking of the main tributaries has shown widespread problems including cultivation too close to watercourses and poaching and erosion by livestock. Solutions to these problems provide potential for multiple bene"ts.

Opportunity mapping Mapping tools are required to help realise these bene"ts. For example to identify areas suitable for woodland creation to help improve water quality, link existing areas of habitat, contribute to natural #ood management and to meet woodland expansion targets. SEPA are working with Forestry Commission Scotland and other partners to pilot such an approach in the Tay priority catchment. Woodland creation also offers signi"cant potential to protect good quality water from future risks from climate change and land use change and management.

For more details visit the SEPA website at www.sepa.org.uk/water/river_basin_planning/diffuse_pollution_mag.aspx

Excellent attendance at a range of awareness raising events indicates that the approach taken is effective.

Water quality improvement - socio-economic bene"ts for Scotland

Farm and forestry business bene"t –

efficiency and resource use

Additional bene"ts for climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity and habitat connectivity, soil

quality and natural #ood management

Targeted action in some of Scotland’s most important waters for bathing, drinking, conservation and recreation

The map above shows the fourteen priority catchments that have been selected using a risk based approach with high priority given to protected areas such as drinking and bathing waters. Work in priority catchments has three sequential phases of evidence gathering, awareness raising and one to one visits to provide advice to land managers.

Assessing the effect of measures A monitoring framework has been developed to assess and understand the effectiveness of the plan. This includes assessing land manager awareness and behaviour change, assessing changes in land use and management, water quality monitoring, predictive modelling and costs.

Through the implementation of the Rural Diffuse Pollution Plan, SEPA and partners will seek to maximise multiple bene"ts as a stepping stone to a more integrated ecosystem services based approach. This will contribute to sustainable land use which is a key requirement of the Scottish Government’s Land Use Strategy.

The map above shows priority areas for woodland planting to reduce the risk of pollution from sediment and phosphorous and to contribute to natural #ood management in the Lake District.

How do we achieve multiple bene"ts? 1. Many measures such as improved nutrient management,

buffer strips, small scale woodland creation and wetlands have the potential to deliver multiple bene"ts. The plan will ensure opportunities to deliver these e.g. for climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity, #ood management planning and restoration of the physical condition of rivers, are taken.

2.  Adopting a targeted risk-based catchment approach is key to delivering the major improvements required. Moving towards an ecosystem services approach and utilising opportunity mapping will help ensure multiple bene"ts are delivered.

3.  Key to success on the ground is the provision of one to one advice to land managers and funding of measures through the Scotland Rural Development Plan.

     

THE RURAL DIFFUSE POLLUTION PLAN FOR SCOTLAND MAXIMISING THE POTENTIAL FOR MULTIPLE BENEFITS

     

*J MacDonald1, J Bowes1, S Field1, M Aitken1, S Arnott1, A Johnstonova1, R Badger1, J Garritt2, N Shah3, T Nisbet3, A Vinten4

1SEPA Corporate Office, Erskine Court, Castle Business Park, Stirling, FK9 4TR Email Jannette.MacDonald@sepa.org.uk 2Forestry Commission Scotland, Silvan House, 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 7AT

3Forest Research, Northern Research Station, Midlothian, EH25 9SY 4The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH