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certain agri-environment options). Fuller details of the methods used for siting fenced
areas and buffer strips are described and illustrated in the Farming and Watercourse
Management Handbook (2000).
Table 2:
Use of Green’s Burn Buffer strip to reduce total P loading to Loch
Leven
Environmental quality
objective
Required pollutant
mitigation
Eutrophic restored to mesotrophic Loch
Reduction of annual TP loading to Loch
Leven from 0.5 to 0.2 g/m2
Notes
Based on OECD
(1982)
(=4.20 tonnes TP pa over 13.9 km2 loch
area)
BMP contribution Green’s Burn buffer strip reduces TP load Vinten et al. (2005)
by estimated 0.38 tonnes TP pa
BMP cost £12k pa (fencing and management) £5/m for fencing
and £100/ha for RSS
species rich grassland
Cost-effectiveness =£12k/380kg = £32/kg TP
Value of Loch Leven
restoration
Benefit:cost ratio
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
User value: £243k pa
Non-user value: £290k pa
Total: £533pa
=(£533k/£12k)*(0.38t/4.2t)=4.0 (Good)
Database of Farm Scale Sources of Diffuse Pollution
Frost and McTernan
(1997)
SEPA holds a significant amount of data on water quality, but data on farm scale
sources of pollution are lacking. A database giving information for each farm type,
on source strength per pollutant, potential mitigation measures, cost-effectiveness,
loadings mitigated and time scale for efficacy is proposed, building on aspects of
the screening tool (Anthony et al., 2005). The database would draw on the literature,
but also on audits from the six farm types in SEPA’s survey (Frost et al., 2000), the
SAC BMP farms in SEERAD-funded project SAC/348/03 (Table 3), and relevant
catchments where farm scale data are available. These catchments include Tarland
(MI), Glensaugh (MI), Ythan (MI); Lunan (MI/SAC), Piltanton (SAC/MI), Leven (SAC/MI),
Cessnock (SAC/MI/CREH), Nairn (SAC/CREH), Brighouse (SAC/MI/CREH), Ettrick
(SAC/CREH), Sandyhills, Bush (SAC/MI). The database would dovetail with SEPA’s
‘BMP Manual’ and could be put on a website. The output would form the focus for
ongoing improvement of estimates, as information from future projects, particularly
the results of the SEERAD work packages (WP3.4 Measurement of water quality;
WP 3.5 Management of water quality) and Defra Catchment Sensitive Farming, etc.
becomes available.
Policy Matrix
A policy matrix, i.e. a summary of recommended measures, prioritised and categorised
into proposed appropriate levels of regulation, for mapping of on-farm measures
against policy instruments, voluntary measures and potential GBRs etc., is required.
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