Spey Catchment Initiative

The Spey Catchment Initiative is a two year project, begun in late 2010, to help protect, enhance and understand the whole river Spey Catchment, from its source in the Monadliath mountains to its mouth at Spey Bay. 

The initiative operates ‘catchment wide.’ This makes sense because the rivers, tributaries and burns of the catchment are all linked by the water that flows in them – so what happens in one area of the catchment can have an impact a long way downstream.  The catchment comprises the 157 km long river Spey and all its numerous tributaries, such as the rivers Feshie, Truim and Dulnain. The catchment Area covers an amazing 3000 km²

The need for ‘catchment wide’ management of the Spey was recognised in the 2003 Spey Catchment Management Plan, which provided a strategic framework for the wise and sustainable use of the whole water resource.  The many and varied uses of the river system put pressure on this valuable water resource, creating a unique set of management issues which the plan aimed to address. The Spey Catchment Initiative builds on the work of the plan, through a new and focussed implementation phase.

It has 5 top priorities for action:

  • Planting riparian woodlands and enhancing wetlands
  • Demonstrating natural flood management techniques
  • Control of invasive non native plants and animals
  • Understanding how the whole river system works
  • Education, awareness raising and getting people involved in the catchment
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