PROJECT
SUMMARY
Buittle Reservoir supplied water to the town of Dalbeattie until the 1960s but is now used for recreational purposes, with the local angling association utilising the facility for more than 50 years. In early 2016, an infestation of blue-tinged Native American Signal crayfish (NASC), which carry a water-borne fungus that is fatal to Britain’s native species, threatened to destroy the habitat of the indigenous freshwater wildlife, flora and fauna.
Although more widespread across England and Wales, their presence in Scotland has been limited and a major part of this project was to facilitate eradication of the NASC and to prevent them spreading into the wider watercourses.
At the same time additional capital maintenance works were undertaken.
PROJECT DETAIL
The project involved the construction of a 1km long stone road to provide vehicle access to the reservoir, the removal of the reservoir draw-off tower and tower access bridge and the installation of control valves and chambers on both the delivery and scour outlet pipelines together with a new valve operating chamber.
Biocide dosing pre-treatment was used before a fish rescue and collection operation of the indigenous stickleback and eel reservoir inhabitants prior to draw-down of the reservoir.
Following a 5 week monitoring period, the reservoir was refilled and re-stocked with fish.
collection of the indigenous stickleback and eel reservoir inhabitants prior to draw-down of the reservoir. Following a 5wk monitoring period, the reservoir refilled and re-stocked with fish.
