Presentation by Susan Cooksley, Macaulay Institute, on the Dee HELP basin, for the World Water Day workshop, organised by University of Dundee, on 22 March 2010

1. River Dee HELP Basin (Aberdeenshire, Scotland) Dr Susan Cooksley Dee Catchment Officer

3. Where is the Dee catchment? RIVER DEE Rises at 1220m 126 km long 2100 km 2 17 major tributaries

6. HABITATS Wetlands, bankside grasslands, riparian woodlands WATERS Rivers, burns, lochs, floodplains WILDLIFE Wych elm, freshwater pearl mussel, palmate newt, northern blue damsel fly, river lamprey, pipistrelle bat, water rail and many others The Dee catchment’s waters

7. Recreation Forestry Fishing Housing Waste water disposal Farming Harbour Wildlife Drinking water

8. Marr Area Partnership NESFLAG Who is involved? Communities Individuals

10. 2003 Steering Group formed 1999 Consultation on Issues document 2007 - 2012 Implementation phase 1 (2008-2013) Nov 2007 Publication of Dee CMP 2007 Revision 2005-2006 Working Groups develop draft Dee CMP 2013 Review Oct-Dec 2006 Public consultation on draft CMP W.F.D. S.A.C. Timeline

11. The Dee CMP has a wide range of objectives Water resources : abstraction, effects of floods and droughts Development : channel and bankside works, industrial and housing development, construction works Species : salmon, pearl mussel, otter, water vole, invasive species Access and recreation Habitats : wetlands, flood plains, wet woodland, bankside grasslands Sub catchments Water quality: pollution, drainage, landfill sites

12. Partnership projects 2008-2013 1. Restoring urban watercourses 2. Reducing pollution from septic tanks 3. Reducing diffuse source pollution 4. Managing flows – runoff & storage

17. Riparian woodland restoration Sustainable flood alleviation Floodplain restoration Wetland restoration Aberdeen City watercourse restoration Septic tanks improvements Aberdeen harbour – reduced litter and improved water quality Buffer strips

18. Coordination with other plans RBMP Local & structure plans Dee fishery plan NE & Cairngorms LBAPs CNPA Park Plan Dee CMP Access plans

20. Dee Catchment Management Plan Priorities for implementation Implementation groups Stakeholder relationships Information exchange networks Regional, national and international recognition and involvement What have we achieved?

21. Dr Susan Cooksley Dee Catchment Officer c/o The Macaulay Institute, Craigiebucker, Aberdeen AB15 8QH 01224 395000 info@theriverdee.org theriverdee.org