Why the Deveron Rivers are important:
Rising in the hills between Glenbuchat and the Cabrach, and fed by innumerable burns as well as its major tributaries, the Bogie and the Isla, the Deveron flows for over 60 miles through lush parishes on its journey to the North Sea at Banff.
The three rivers dominate a landscape of rich historical interest and contribute much to the character and industry of the North East, while providing an ever present refuge from the strains of modern-day living. Their bank-side habitats are home to an astonishing diversity of birds, plants and animals providing a rich conservation resource of national importance.
Famous for the quality of its salmon, sea trout and wild brown trout fishing, the river system provides areas of outstanding natural beauty for walkers and anglers alike and makes an important contribution to the local tourism economy.
The Trust exists to:
- Protect and improve populations of salmon, sea trout and wild brown trout.
- Conserve and enhance damaged and degraded riparian habitats for the benefit of all the river basin's wild animal, bird and plant life.
- Improve landscape amenity by instigating repair work where bank-sides have become damaged or eroded by flooding and/or siltation.
- Expand the area of fishable and accessable waters within the wider catchment area to improve recreational opportunities for all.
- Educate all river users, whether domestic or industrial, working or recreational, fishermen or non-fishermen on the value of preserving and improving this unique natural asset for posterity.
Why the rivers are at risk:
- Changes in management practices on large livestock farms have put intense pressure on fragile bank-side vegetation, leading to serious erosion of stream banks and water margins.
- Increasing industrial activity, intensive arable farming and expanding human settlements lead to incidents of chemicals, detergents and other noxious substances leaching into the rivers.
- Over enthusiastic hill, forestry and agricultural drainage have exacerbated problems caused by flash floods and siltation.
- Excessive water abstraction from the catchment area and dense conifer planting on water margins have affected water flows and acidity levels.
And as a result...
- Water quality and purity are adversely affected through pollution, reducing biodiversity and in particular the invertebrates on which juvenile fish populations depend.
- Displaced bank-side material damages spawning grounds, infills pools and forms new shingle banks.
- Wildlife habitats are lost as ploughed-up and drained former wetlands fail to soak up the excess water from frequent spates.
- Landscape amenity suffers from the scars left by flash flooding, scouring and undercutting of banks.
What the Trust is doing to help:
- Focusing the attention of riparian owners, clubs, associations, fishermen, conservationists and the public on a pro-active programme of works to improve the well-being of the river, its ecology and the environment.
- Working with farmers to reduce the adverse impact of some agricultural management practices associated with intensive farming.
- Funding the restoration of riverbank and burn-side habitats with selective fencing and riparian woodland regeneration in badly eroded areas.
- Advising industry and the general public on how to reduce pollution and avoid activities which might affect river flows and/or water purity.
- Seeking opportunities to improve access and awareness for fishermen and the public alike.
- Sponsoring research into factors affecting the survival of migratory fish and other plant and invertebrate life.
Why we need your help:
- Government and environmental agencies increasingly demand public and/or community participation in restoration projects before they will provide support.
- Contributions raised through the Trust can be match-funded by external sources, leading to significant conservation projects becoming a reality.