By Ken Bell, angling correspondent

PROPOSALS BY Scottish & Southern Energy to restore flow to one of the worst examples of water abstraction in the UK, the waterless upper stretches of the River Garry, do not go far enough, according to fisheries expert David Summers.

Although the proposals would see some flow restored, it would not be enough to allow fish to return to what was a prime spring spawning area.

And compensation water released to the River Spey would also be reduced under proposals made by the utility company to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Dr Summers, fisheries manager of the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board, outlines the proposals in a report to go before today’s annual meeting.

Hydro Electric began abstracting water from the river 50 years ago, tunnelling it through to Loch Ericht to provide water for a hydro station.

Not just the main river, but streams feeding it were diverted at two main abstraction points, with the water from the second going to another dam, Loch Errochty.

As a result in dry weather the river has very little flow from Loch Garry down to Struan where the Errochty Water joins it.

With the water low for most of the period a weir has been constructed to prevent salmon running in the few periods of high water.

In all, 22km of river between Struan and Loch Garry, plus a number of tributaries, have been lost to salmon, which Dr Summers says represents up to 3000 spring salmon and grilse each year.

Now under the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003, abstractions may be required to be altered to improve the ecology of rivers and lochs which they affect.

Dr Summers says, “The Garry is the most significant abstraction issue in the Tay district, in fact probably the worst example of over- abstraction in Scotland and among the worst in the UK.”

He adds, “Faced with the new legislation, Scottish and Southern Energy have contacted SEPA with proposals to re-establish a low flow down the Garry from Loch Garry to Struan.”

Escapement of water would be allowed from streams entering Loch Garry from the north, and by a flow from the lower Garry intake.

Small flows would also be restored to two totally abstracted streams which flow into the Truim, a tributary of the Spey, at Dalwhinnie.

But to balance up water they would “lose,” SSE plan to reduce compensation flow into the Spey down the Tromie by around 40%.

Dr Summers notes that while the flow down the Garry would be capable of maintaining a population of junior salmon, it may not be enough to allow adult salmon to spawn.

Dr Summers notes that SEPA have welcomed the proposals, which would improve the freshwater environment while not decreasing renewable energy production “which SEPA apparently think is important,” he notes.

Analysing flow figures, Dr Summers argues, “For the equivalent of two wind turbines, a self-sustaining salmon population could be restored with a better flow provided for the juveniles.”