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Storm Frank FloodsImpacts upon the River Dee, Aberdeenshire
Jamie Urquhart River Dee Trust Biologist
Background• River Dee finally burst its banks on 30th
Dec 2015.
• 1 in 500 year event.
• River levels reached 15ft 6in at its peak.
• 6in off largest spate event recorded in 1829.
• 1,300 cumecs estimated flow at peak.
Video Credit: Ewan Brown YouTube
Impacts - Habitat• Significant changes to parts of the River,
new channels/braids formed/banks burst.
• Erosion and deposition of substrate.
• Channel still very mobile, with areas yet to be surveyed.
• Has habitat heterogeneity increased or decreased?
• Sections of habitat surveys from 2013-15 will be repeated in 2016 to compare.
BeforeAfter
Impacts - Fauna• Fish and invertebrates
stranded/displaced/crushed.
• Won’t fully understand impacts until summer surveys.
• Positives; Increased survival – density dependence.
• Fish rescued just last week - illustrates their resilience.
• Prospects for 2016-17 ample good quality habitat available for juveniles and adults.
Impacts - Infrastructure• Severe constraints on access across
catchment.
• Local communities.
• Beat access tracks, huts (50% lost).
• Considerable economic impact to local businesses.
• Despite all this the River is open for business.
• Message from the Riverbank is that the Ghillies and anglers are positive and eager to start fishing.
Before DuringAfter
Restoration• Emergency works instream – SEPA
consented.
• RDT infrastructure – Largely unscathed UDRS, Fish Passes (1 of 27 damaged).
• Riverbank Clean Ups - 100 vols over 3days 4 km cleared, 30 tonnes of debris removed.
• Early days restoration work will continue for several months.
• Challenging times but attitude from across the catchment is upbeat.