Research Funding cycle: 2016-21

This 6 page report describes a survey which examines views and insights related to integrated catchment management. Integrated catchment management (ICM) is a popular way of managing our resources, and entails making various connections between sectors, stakeholders, policy and practitioners. Making all these connections is challenging. Part of the CATCH II project aimed to elicit views about connecting insights, processes and planning for the delivery of integrated catchment management (ICM), from a variety of stakeholders connected with planning and implementing of ICM.

In the last decade, catchment management has seen a wealth of new “top-down” legislation and policy initiatives, such as the EU Water Framework Directive, to take forward emerging demands for better integration and delivery of multiple benefits for society and the environment at the catchment scale. In parallel, there has been a growth of “bottom up” 

The purpose of this guidance is to provide the most up-to-date knowledge and information relating to coastal flooding in Scotland ensuring that the information in this field is based on the best available scientific evidence. In particular, this aims to synthesise existing science and research on issues relevant to climate change, sea level rise, coastal flooding, coastal erosion and flood defences together with strategies of coastal adaptation.

A farmer focus group was held on 22nd February 2012 to share knowledge and understanding of diffuse pollution issues and management opportunities in the Water of Fail catchment, Ayrshire. The aims of this evening workshop were to: (I) update the farming community in the Water of Fail catchment on findings from the recent SEPA one-to-one visits; (II) raise awareness about potential funding opportunities for implementing on-farm measures to reduce diffuse pollution impacts; and (III) share

'The Scottish Rivers Handbook’ produced by the James Hutton Institute and the University of Stirling for CREW, is an accessible, fully illustrated 36 page book that gives an overview of the physical character of Scotland’s rivers. The book aims to educate people on working with river processes and natural forms in a sympathetic manner through explaining their natural forms, functions and benefits to society

This report, one of three reports produced for CREW to verify the current state of knowledge on NFM, focuses on establishing the effectiveness of SUDS measures for flood management in urban areas, particularly in relation to performance under saturation conditions and long term efficiency as a device becomes established. Although it is explicitly recognised that SUDS can also deliver water quality and amenity benefits, this report focuses only on runoff detention and retention.

It is increasingly becoming understood that effective management of river basins in terms of water resources (floods, droughts, recreation and biodiversity) requires the integrated management of both land and water practices (O’Donnell et al., 2011). This integrated approach is also recognised as a requirement at smaller scales.

Natural flood management (NFM) is currently being promoted as a cost-effective catchment scale approach to managing flood risk and The Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 places an emphasis on all statutory bodies to consider the use of NFM approaches where possible. Whilst this emphasis has already led to a number of initiatives aimed at assessing and promoting the more widespread implementation of NFM techniques within Scotland, there remains significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of NFM measures at the catchment scale.

A new sustainable approach to flood risk management which utilises land management has been brought to the forefront of policy making in Scotland through a policy chain including the EU Water Framework Directive 2000, the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003, the EU Floods Directive 2007 and the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009. This new approach manages risk in an integrated and holistic way, to proactively tackle the causes of flooding. Land use is central.

The Evaluating Science Policy Practice Interface (ESPPI) Project aims to assess how far CREW is meeting its original three objectives, and to make recommendations to the CREW Facilitation Team (CFT) and the CREW Steering Group (CSG) for future improvements. This report is based on the views of people involved in CREW (researchers from the James Hutton Institute and the university sector, and policy / practice customers in the Scottish Government, SEPA and Scottish Water).