The Scottish Government

Regional Priority Code

Water and Soils Priorities

Relevant Packages

FOR16

Reduced diffuse and point source pollution from rural land uses and housing. Particularly proposals that:

• involve collaboration within water catchments to address potential pollution issues
• address diffuse pollution risks identified through nutrient budgeting and/or a soils and water plan
• provide for improved slurry storage and treatment where this will resolve an existing problem and where action over and above legislative requirements is necessary.

FOR17

Improved water quality of surface water and ground water bodies supported by a 'Soils and Water Plan', with priority given to actions in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, Bathing Water Catchments, shellfish growing areas and Drinking Water Protected Areas. Particularly proposals that:

• address water quality risks identified through nutrient budgeting and/or a soils and water plan.

FOR18

By 2015, achieve good ecological status of water bodies currently classified as being at a lesser status. This can be addressed through priorities identified in River Basin Management Plans. Particularly proposals that:

• implement priority actions within the Forth River Basin Management Plan and relevant parts of the Tay and Clyde River Basin Management Plans - in particular, actions for water bodies currently classified as being at less than good ecological status
• reduce the risk to native fish populations and the water environment from non-native species
• conserve and enhance riparian habitats, e.g. river bank woodlands and wet grasslands.

FOR19

Sustainable flood management and reduced flood risk (including adaptation to climate change), through appropriate land management, particularly actions identified in River Basin Management Plans. Particularly proposals that:

• encourage a collaborative, catchment based approach.

FOR20

Improved protection in areas identified as most at risk from erosion, flooding, acidification and nitrate pollution, through appropriate management of existing habitats (e.g. low impact silvicultural systems in woodland) or the creation of appropriate habitats (e.g. floodplains and along river edges), or organic conversion or maintenance. Particularly proposals that:

• reduce or minimise the risk from land management actions in areas identified in the Forth, Tay and Clyde River Basin Management Plans
• support habitat management actions, such as riparian woodland protection and establishment, to reduce the risk of watercourse pollution
• support catchment based assessments and action to reduce the impact of acidification (as identified under the Forest and Water Guidelines)
• support the conversion to, and maintenance of, organic farming for suitable land holdings, where this will deliver benefits across the range of energy efficiency, soil protection, biodiversity and pollution control.