Final draft

Mar Lodge Estate

Riparian and Hydrological Habitat Action Plan

November 2010

Drafted by:

M. Flagmeier: Mar Lodge Seasonal Ecologist

S. Rao: Mar Lodge Ecologist

1

Contents

  1. Introduction3
  1. Management objectives and approach3
  1. River Dee within Mar Lodge Estate4
  1. Designations relevant to the River Dee5-6
  1. Assets potentially affected by riverine processes5

5.1 Scheduled ancient monuments7

5.2 Bridges7

5.3 Fords7

5.4 Fences8

5.5 Building 7

5.6 Tracks9

5.7 Species and habitats9

5.8 Electricity poles10

5.9Plantations/woodlands10

5.10Grazing land10

5.11Estate boundary10

5.12 Woody debris 11

5.13 Public roads 11

  1. Construction method statements & mitigation11
  1. Consents and licensing11
  1. River Restoration12
  1. Conclusion12
  1. Contacts13
  1. References15

1

1.Introduction

This plan fulfils an action from the Mar Lodge Estate Management Plan 2006-2011.This action (1.10) is “to produce and implement Habitat Action Plans for riparian and wetland areas of the estate and to complete a Hydrological Action Plan”. The purpose of this action is to help meet two of the conservation natural heritage objectives within the management plan:

Objective 1: “to continue to enhance the key habitats and species at Mar Lodge Estate (…)” and Objective 2 “to demonstrate a sustainable approach to flood management with respect to protecting and enhancing geological features and natural geomorphological processes”.

ThisRiparian and Hydrological Action plan was preceded in 2004 by a Hydrological Action Plan document that reached a final draft but was never completed. This detailed document covered the structural engineering works and historical management of the rivers within Mar Lodge along with potential risks to infrastructure, archaeology and habitats from riverine processes and the implications for removal, decay and or maintanenance of flood defences. This plan aims to take forward the ideas spawning from the 2004 plan to provide a more overarching, succinct and practical document that provides an overview of the riparian and hydrological issues within Mar Lodge Estate, including management guidance.

2. Management objectives and approach

The objective of this plan is to:

a)describe the approach to the management of riparian and wetland habitats.

b) to assess the effects of the river Dee processes on natural and cultural assets of the estate.

c)develop subsequent actions to guide the management approach.

d)allow for the restoration of natural processes and the connectivity between the river and its floodplain where these have been lost due to previous intervention.

A responsive rather than prescriptive approach will be taken to the management of the hydrology and riparian/wetland habitats within the whole estate. In line with the management of the wider estate, a general management approach of minimum intervention will be followed in which natural processes of the riverine wetland habitats are allowed to occur. The default management position in response to dynamic riverine processes will be to do nothing. Action will only be taken where there is a risk to the infrastructure and/or assets of the estate. This would include tracks, buildings, bridges, Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs), roads, electricity poles, woodland and fences. The response to natural events will be in proportion to the importance/significance of the asset that is at risk. In the likelihood of an asset being at risk the following hierarchy of actions will be considered always in the following order: 1. Managed retreat, 2. “Green” sensitive engineering*, 3. Soft engineering* and 4. Hard engineering.However options 3. and 4. will only be considered for assets that are essential or of significant financial/cultural value to the estate (e.g. buildings/bridges) and not for assets such as woodland and fences.Where opportunities arise to improve the natural effects of the river system or to restore degraded riparian habitatthese will be considered and supported if they assist in achieving property objectives.

* Green engineering is the process and design of products that conserve natural resources, and impact the natural environment as little as possible. Soft engineering – use of ecological principles and practises to reduce erosion and achieve stabilisation of shoreline/riverbank areas while enhancing habitat, improving aesthetics and saving money (uses vegetation and other material).

3. River Dee within Mar Lodge Estate

  • all waterways in Mar Lodge within the River Dee catchment.
  • 29.3 km of the River Dee within the estate.
  • Ranges in altitude from 330m at Invercauld March to820m at the Pools of Dee.

1

4. Designations relevant to the River Dee

Designation / Title / Type of Designation / Reason for Designation / Area of estate covered
Special Area of Conservation (SAC) / 1. River Dee
2. Cairngorm / European / 1. Otter, freshwater pearl mussel & Atlantic salmon
2. 14 Annex 1 habitats including North atlantic wet heath, alpine and boreal heath, European dry heath, Caledonian forest, blanket bog & juniper / River Dee, Geusachan burn, Geldie burn, Allt Dhaidh Mor, Bynack burn, Allt Bhronn, Allt-an-Seilich, Lui water, Derry burn, Luibeg burn, lower Quoich
2. northern part of Mar Lodge Estate plus Glen Lui and Quoich
Special Protected Area (SPA) / Cairngorm / European / Golden eagle, peregrine falcon, merlin, osprey, Scottish crossbill, capercaillie & dotterel / Northern part of Mar Lodge Estate plus Glen Lui, Glen Quoich & Pinewood plantation
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) / 1. Cairngorms
2.Eastern Cairngorms / UK / 1. Alpine heath
Alpine moss heath and associated vegetation, Breeding bird assemblage, Bryophyte assemblage
Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus) breeding, Flies, Fluvial Geomorphology of Scotland
Fungi assemblage, Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) breeding,
Invertebrate assemblage
Lichen assemblage, Mineralogy of Scotland, Native pinewood
Oligotrophic loch, Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta), breeding
Quaternary of Scotland
Snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis), breeding, Snowbed
Subalpine dry heath, Vascular plant assemblage
2. Alpine moss heath and associated vegetation
Arctic charr (Salvelinusalpinus)
Breeding bird assemblage
Bryophyte assemblage
Dystrophic and oligotrophic loch types present, Flies, Fluvial Geomorphology of Scotland
Invertebrate assemblage, Native pinewood, Quaternary of Scotland
SnowbedSubalpine dry heath
Vascular plant assemblage / Northern part of Mar Lodge Estate plus Glen Lui, Glen Quoich & Quoich water fan
National Nature Reserve / Cairngorms / UK / North west corner of Mare Lodge Estate. Extending south and east to Glen Derry and Derry Lodge
National Scenic Area (NSA) / 1.Cairngorm Mountains
2.Deeside and Lochnagar / UK / Whole of estate north of the Geldie burn and the Allt Cristie Beag
RAMSAR / Cairngorms Lochs / European / Oligotrophic lochs -wetlands of international importance / Loch Etchachan, Lochan Uiane (Sputan Dearg)
Geological Conservation Review Sites / Cairngorms Quaternary, Derry Burn, Luibeg burn & Quoich water fan / UK / Quaternary, Fluvial geomorphology / Cairngorm mountains, lower sections of Derry and Luibeg burns & Quoich water below road bridge
Scheduled Ancient Monuments / Derry Bridge, Alltan na Beinne & Mar Shielings, Lui water and Mar Townships / UK / Legally protected monuments of national importance / Dee valley, Glen Lui, Upper Glen Derry, Upper Glen Quoich
Cairngorms National Park / Special natural and cultural heritage / Whole of estate

1

5. Assets potentially affected by riverine processes.

5.1Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs)and other archaeological sites

Some SAMs and archaeological sitesare found alongside riverine areas upstream of the Linn of Dee, Quoich bridge and Lui bridge (Map 1.). While none of these appear in immediate danger, they may be susceptible to unpredictable flood damage as well as erosion in the longer term caused by natural geomorphological processes of the river. All SAM sites have been mapped and documented in detail.Any changes due to natural processes should be recorded and where time allows responsive actions developed as necessary (See Action 1.1a). The Historic Scotland/NTS management agreement and the designation priorities between SAMs and the river Dee SAC should be taken into account when developing responsive management action.

It is possible that a natural event could occur whereupon there is no time to consult about appropriate management action. It is also possible that a natural event could uncover an archaeological site that what previously unknown. A strategy will be developed between Mar Lodge Estate and NTS archaeologists (Action 1.1b) to deal with such situations and this may involve agreeing that some archaeological sites can be lost to natural events whereas others must be protected.

All actions will be assigned to National Trust for Scotland (NTS) staff and integrated with existing monitoring programs where possible.

Action 5.1a: Monitor SAMs every 5 years with fixed point photographs. Existing photographs held by the NTS archaeologist should be taken into account as a baseline.

Action 5.1b: Agree a strategy between MLE and NTS archaeologists to deal with sudden natural events that pose an immediate threat to SAMs.

5.2Bridges

Frequent flooding events could lead to the erosion of river banks that support bridges as well as directly affecting bridge foundations.Existing bridges are essential for estate work and estate/public access and hence in the event of damage, bridges will be maintained.

Action 5.2: Monitor bridges annually for signs of erosion/structural damage.

5.3Fords

Intervention to clear fords will be kept at a minimum to allow natural processes of sedimentation and consequent river movement. Where work is required to be carried out, we will seek advice (eg from the River Restoration Centre) on reworking fords so that they are maintained by fluvial processes and minimal intervention is required. If material must be cleared from fords then this will be retained in the river and simply moved downstream of the crossing.Work will also be carried out “little and often” as this will reduce the impact of the work and minimise the amount of fine material washed downstream during maintenance.

5.4Fences

When natural riverine processes put fences at risk then the situation will be managed according to the hierarchy of actions outlined in section 2. except that actions 3. and 4. will not be considered. It is envisaged that a “managed retreat” or “green sensitive engineering” action will always be possible to protect fencing. In the short term the only fences on the estateconsidered at risk from riverine processes are the fence 1. around the plantation north of the river Dee between the Lui confluence and Claybokie(see Map 2:fence 2) and 2. around the first new native woodland scheme on the Derry Lodge track between the Derry gate and Black bridge (see Map 2: fence 1). Fence 2. has been protected since 1997 by a boulder and tree trunk blockade but there is now erosion to the bank both above and below the blockade (Map 2). Through natural processes the Lui water is eating away at the bank near fence 1 (Map 2:fence1). In both these cases the “managed retreat” option will be followed and the fence lines will be moved in the near future and the blockades protecting fence 1 will be allowed to decay.

Action 5.4: Move fence lines to avoid damage.

5.5Buildings

The only estate buildings at risk of flooding within the lifetime of this plan are Mar Lodge and the surrounding buildings on the Dee floodplain. The area of floodplain around Mar Lodge is protected by a flood embankment along the river which dates back to at least 1869. Some of the original embankments between the suspension bridge upstream of Mar Lodge and Victoria Bridge have been substituted with stake and boards structures. A number of aging signs are present on the flood embankmentincluding undercutting, slumping, erosion and water seepage through the bank during high water. These areas of flood bank deterioration have been noted and they should be surveyed regularly (see Map 3: Embankment 1). The areas where water flows through should be repaired to prevent any further damage. All embankments in this section should be kept and well maintained to protect Mar Lodge and surrounding buildings. Where flood bank repairs are required then the River Restoration Centre will be contacted for advice on how these banks could be repaired ideally using “green sensitive” or soft engineering rather than a “hard engineering” solution. The River Dee Catchment Management Partnership will also be approached for support and for opportunities to access funding.

In the longer term non-Mar Lodge buildings could be put at risk by natural riverine processes. Decay of embankments on the south side of the Dee below the Linn of Dee could affect Muir Cottage, the Youth Hostel and Woodside residence (Map 3:Embankments 2&3). Similarly, the natural decay of the flood embankmentin the Quoich wetlands could also eventually impact Allanmore Cottage on Invercauld Estate (Map 4: Embankments 5 & 6).

Action 5.5a: Initially survey the embankment weaknesses stated above (pre-action).

Action 5.5b: Repair embankment where necessary to avoid damage to Mar Lodge buildings.

Action 5.5c: Monitor embankments annually by fixed point photographs.

Action 5.5d: Liase with Mar Estate regarding possible effects of decay of embankments near Muir Cottage

Action 5.5e: Liase with Invercauld Estate with regard to possible effects on Allanmore Cottage.

5.6Tracks

Many estate tracks run alongside rivers and could be affected by erosion. At present there are risks to the Geldie Lodge track and the Glen Quoich track (west)(Map 5). Sources of material for track repair will be agreed with SNH if from within the estate or will be purchased from out with the estate. No materials will be taken for road repair from the river, or within the SAC, SAMs or GCR sites (see Maps 1, 6 & 7).Where tracks are considered essential for estate management then the response taken to tracks put at risk from natural processes will follow the hierarchy outline in section 2.

Action 5.6: Carry out check of tracks as impacted by erosion, could be done in conjunction with any existing checks of tracks.

5.7Species and habitats

Changes will occur to the riparian corridor throughout the estate by natural riverine processes. In general there will be no actions taken to prevent fluctuations in species numbers, habitat changes and/or the suite of species present as a result of natural geomorphological processes. However changes may fall within designated areas and/or affect species or habitats considered important in conservation terms.

The river Dee SAC is designated for Atlantic salmon, fresh water pearl mussels and otter. There is some proposed riparian woodland restoration work for the Dee to benefit salmon (see section 9: River Restoration). There are no records of fresh water pearl mussel within Mar Lodge Estate buta survey in 2002 stated that there is suitable habitat. For this reason, the estate should ensure no management action conducted in relation to the river allows sediment release into the river as this would not be beneficial to any freshwater pearl mussels should they occur or salmon.Otters are adaptable to the natural changes that occur in river systems. However, the estate should ensure there is no disturbance to otters and in particular otter holts when carrying out work in and around the rivers.

A previous invertebrate survey has highlighted the importance of the river shingles for invertebrates. The estate is keen to preserve the shingles and make sure their dynamism continues. Allowing uninterrupted natural riverine processes to occur should ensure this.

The Quoich wetland area which is the floodplain supports a thriving population of waders. This population had increased in recent years as a result of some wetland restoration work that involved drain blocking and dam creation. Overall numbers of waders have increased as have the relative numbers of each species. Allowing the floodbank on the river Dee to naturally decay will reconnect the floodplain with the river and it is likely to increase in wetness through more regular inundation. This is likely to influence the numbers of different wader species occurring but will hopefully not decrease the overall diversity of the site.

The Quoich wetland also supports a birch woodland which currently shows no signs of regeneration due to the grazing impact. The estate needs to look into options for the future of this birch woodland along with the rest of the floodplain which has the potential to succeed from floodplain to riparian/wet woodland depending on influencing factors (seed sources, plant and animal interactions as well as the length and severity of flooding events). While the current focus of deer management is on the pinewood regeneration, options for managing deer to allow regeneration of the wetland woodlands needs to start being considered.

The riverbank of the Inverey plantation behind Muir Cottage supports a suite of toothed fungi species of conservation importance. The site is currently high up on the bank and does not appear under threat in the short term.

Action 5.7a: Carry out fixed point photograph monitoring of broad habitat changes every 5 years.

Action 5.7b: Identify species and habitats of conservation concern and locally important species, especially with regard to the river Dee SAC and liase with SNH/species group experts.