See Additional Information No.3 – Water management – for further details. Not yet drafted – SEPA to make recommendation about requirement.
Edge of watercourses
- Vegetation at the edge of watercourse is important to protect the banks from erosion and reduce water run-off.
- Generally, management free buffer zones must be maintained against watercourse.
- The width of the buffer zones should be 10m for watercourses less than 2m wide, and 20m where the watercourse is more than 2m wide.
- The requirement for a buffer can only be waived on grounds of safety when it can be shown that a watercourse is the only effective anchor or the only practical type of firebreak.
Acid Sensitive Catchments
- Additional precautions are required when planning muirburn in the catchment of a water body current failing or at risk of failing Good Ecological Status due to acidification.
Flood Risk
- Bare soil must be avoided and additional restrictions on burning and cutting may be required in high risks, if identified by SNH, SEPA or other agencies.
Drinking Water Catchments
- If Scottish Water or SEPA identify problems in drinking water catchment, additional restrictions on cutting and burning may be required to reduce the impact of run-off on drinking water quality.