George Mcmillan
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SAVE THE DOON - 2010/12/14 07:49
Hi All,
Below is a cut and pasted part of an email I've had about the planned reduction in flow of the water into the Doon.
As you will all know this is a very important river to the club. We use it ALOT.
Below is the email address to send any grievances in regards to the reduction in flow of water going down the Doon. Theres also a copy of an outlining email you can send down below. So if you want to try and keep the doon clean and flowing Please take a few minutes to email SEPA
using the email address below.
The email address below is the one to use.
It is: registryeastkilbride@sepa.org.uk
I know that a significant number of people have already written to SEPA to set out their views. However, for those who have not yet managed to write to SEPA with their comments, they may find it more convenient to email their objections direct to that organisation.
The application together with the supporting ecological report can be found on http://www.sepa.org.uk/water/hydropower/regulation.aspx
The Save the Doon Working Group would be grateful if you could help to fight this application and submit a comment/objection to SEPA by email or by letter no later than 17 December.
You may wish to use some of the points listed below.
Please send your objections, however brief to SEPA.
Thank you again for your support.
Gordon Dawson
Save the Doon Working Group
(For those who wish to write a letter of objection rather than forward an email, this should be sent to: The Registry Department, SEPA, 5 Redwood Crescent, Peel Park, East Kilbride G74 5PP)
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Dear Sir/Madam
Objections to the application from Iberdrola/Scottish Power for a reduction in the flow of water down the River Doon resulting in an increase in flow in the Kirkcudbrightshire River Dee.
Iberdrola has applied to reduce the flow of water down the Doon from the current compensation figure of 45 mgd to 36 mgd.
The Doon is the finest river in the west of Scotland with the best ten year average catch. Anglers come from far and wide to fish the river, from which Ayrshire derives significant economic and social benefit.
Reducing the flow to 36 mgd will destroy the Doon as an outstanding salmon river. In addition to the proposed reduction to 36 mgd, variable flows are seen as a possible additional call on precious river water, thus lowering the river further in summer.
Iberdrola is not prepared to countenance any loss of renewable energy production from the Galloway Hydro Scheme despite the environmental damage the company's actions will produce.
Is it worth sacrificing the River Doon, an ecological hotspot and a marvellous asset for Ayrshire, for the sake of the electricity that could be produced by one wind turbine?
Iberdrola already takes two thirds of the water from Loch Doon - the greatest loss of water from any river system in Scotland. Now the company wishes to take more.
Iberdrola is promoting not green, but brown energy. Reduced flow of water down the Doon will result in increased concentrations of farm effluent and human sewage in the river.
Ayr beach, the most popular bathing beach in Scotland, has already suffered water quality failures including during the current year. One can only speculate on the impact of a River Doon discharging increased pollutants into an already troubled environmental area.
The application sits alongside an ecological report of little credibility. There is no supporting data or evidence. Further, there is much unattributed comment and unsubstantiated opinion.
The report states that reduced water in the Doon will be beneficial for salmon, brown trout, and lamprey populations and also result in increased juvenile salmonid habitat. At the same time, it says that increased water flow in the Dee will be beneficial for salmon, brown trout and lamprey populations and also result in increased juvenile salmonid habitat. How can decreased water in the Doon have exactly the same effect as increased water in the Dee. Have we missed something here?
At 9.7.2, it is stated that "there are no obstacles that would become impassable (for migratory fish) for more than short periods in the summer". Where is the supporting evidence? The Doon has a large number of weirs, none of which have fish passes. Reduced flow would greatly limit the upstream movement of fish, leading to increased poaching, stress and predation.
Iberdrola claim that the Doon has an unnaturally high flow during periods of low rainfall. This ignores the fact that for three quarters of the time, the river flow is unnaturally low. The compensation flow is there to mitigate against the enormous loss of water from the river. The proposal from Iberdrola will mean that for 88% (Q88) of the time, the river will run at lower levels than would normally occur.
Compared to all other rivers in the south west of Scotland, the Doon is an ecological gem with populations of rare and protected species such as freshwater pearl mussels, sea lampreys, salmon, otters, kingfishers and saucer bugs. Suggestions that reducing the flow of water down the river will improve its ecological status is patent nonsense. As far as the Doon's iconic population of freshwater pearl mussels is concerned, the report shows a total lack of concern for this species, acknowledging that increased pollution in lower water levels would kill it off.
Yours faithfully
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