SCOTTISH Water has completed one of its largest peatland restoration projects to date in Angus, with help from contractor Mackenzie Construction and specialist partner McGowan Environmental.
More than 550 hectares of peatland has been restored around Backwater Reservoir following the completion of a third major phase of work. The latest phase has seen a further 214 hectares of degraded peatland restored, building on 339 hectares completed during the first two phases.
The move forms part of a catchment scale approach to protecting the source water quality in the reservoir. Restoration techniques include peat hag re-profiling and the installation of peat dams, which help slow the movement of rainfall across the landscape, reduce erosion, and limit the amount of organic material being washed off the hillside and into the reservoir.
Scottish Water explained that reducing the amount of organic material entering the reservoir helps to keep the treatment process as simple as possible, while restoring peatland also supports biodiversity, carbon storage and a landscape that is more resilient to the effects of climate change.
Graham Skea, catchment liaison officer in Scottish Water’s sustainable land management and abstraction team, said, “Protecting our water sources starts with looking after the land around them and this work at Backwater Reservoir is another significant step in putting that approach into practice.
“Holding water in healthy peatland helps reduce erosion and the amount of organic material reaching the reservoir. Those same improvements also support important habitat and help the landscape cope with climate change, so protecting our water sources goes hand in hand with restoring the wider environment.”
LiDAR drone surveys were used throughout the project to capture the restoration work and help demonstrate the changes taking place across the site.
Robbie MacLean, contracts manager at Mackenzie Construction, added, “Completing a restoration project of this scale is a fantastic achievement and reflects a real team effort from everyone involved. Working across hundreds of hectares of peatland brings its own challenges, but it’s very rewarding to see the difference the work makes to the landscape. We’re proud to have worked alongside Scottish Water to deliver this latest phase and contribute to the long-term restoration of the catchment.”
Scottish Water is also proposing to create over 600 hectares of native woodland in the Glenhead area surrounding the reservoir to further strengthen its resilience to climate change.
