Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW) joins the OHBP steering group!
CREW is delighted to announce we are officially a member of the One Health Breakthrough Partnership (OHBP).
The OHBP was founded in 2017 and is a collaboration between scientists, utilities, regulators, public health specialists and policymakers, working together to tackle the interconnected challenges impacting the health of humans, nature and the environment. OHBP aims to sustainably balance and optimise health outcomes for all, leading to global health security and integrity of ecosystems.
As a Centre of Expertise, CREW will contribute our experience, operating at the science : policy interface, to build upon our foundational research and develop evidence-based policy that delivers improvements to water quality in Scotland and serve as a model worldwide.
The Water Quality and Health theme within the current CREW programme (2022-2027) closely aligns with the OHBP’s strategic objectives and primary focus on addressing pharmaceutical pollution in the environment. CREW will use our well-established links with stakeholders across the water sector and research community to raise awareness of pharmaceutical pollution and to promote positive action on medicine use and disposal, to reduce the risk of pharmaceutical pollution of Scotland’s water.
The benefits beavers may bring to Scottish rivers, streams and water resources
Beavers are well known for their ability to transform the environment through dam building and other activities. This CREW report, based on evidence from 120 studies of beaver populations worldwide, provides an evidence review of the role of beavers in modifying physical processes, and the potential benefits they may bring for Scottish rivers, streams and water resources. Beavers could make important contributions to improving the condition of Scotland’s rivers, helping to improve water supply and quality as well as creating habitat, sequestering carbon and restoring rivers.
Based on the findings of the report, riparian management appraisals should consider the potential for beaver activity to contribute to ecosystem services. However, discussion with landowners and wider societal groups is required to inform such appraisals and to help mitigate local adverse effects of beaver activity. The report conclusions have also contributed to the Implementation Plan of Scotland’s Beaver Strategy 2022-2045. The key findings of the report are summarised in the Policy Note.
The main report and policy note can be found here.
Photo credit Tomasz Chmielewski (2012). Available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castor_fiber_vistulanus.jpg
CREW celebrates 10 years since the launch of Scottish Canals and our ongoing partnership
CREW celebrates 10 years since Scottish Canals launch as the public body responsible for maximising the benefits of Scotland’s canal network and surrounding environments.
CREW’S partnership with Scottish Canals supports transformation of these amazing assets, promoting sustainable growth, and access to opportunities for health and well-being. Crucially Scotland’s canal network offers solutions to climate change impacts such as managing surface water and sustainable transport routes. CREW’s research theme of ‘Hydrological Extremes, Coasts and Risk Management’ aligns with challenges facing Scottish Canals such as mitigating the impacts of climate driven flooding and soil erosion. Partnership working allows research to be shaped to provide knowledge that enables future management of these assets and to raise awareness of the benefits they provide to communities.
Calls for proposals live - December 2022
CREW welcomes applications from Scottish Higher Education Institutes and Research Institutes on two capacity building projects:
CRW2022_03: Mitigating climate change impacts on the water quality of Scottish standing waters
CRW2022_04: Assessing the socio-economic impacts of soil degradation on Scotland's water environment
Call dates: Monday 5th December 2022 - noon Friday 27th January 2023.
Summary details are provided below.
Please follow the links to the project pages for full details.
HYDROLOGICAL EXTREMES, COASTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT
CRW2022_03: Mitigating climate change impacts on the water quality of Scottish standing waters
Type of project: Capacity building
Overview: To examine whether existing management practices are fit for purpose and sufficiently coordinated under a changing climate, or whether changes in policy, and its implementation, may be required to prioritise and steer adaptive responses for ensuring the successful mitigation of current and future climate change impacts.
Budget: up to a maximum of £125,000.
Call dates: Monday 5th December 2022 - noon Friday 27th January 2023.
Please visit the project page for full details.
LAND AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
CRW2022_04: Assessing the socio-economic impacts of soil degradation on Scotland's water environment
Type of project: Capacity building
Overview: To develop and apply a method to assess the socio-economic-environmental impacts of soil degradation on Scotland’s land-based businesses and wider economy and society (e.g., impacts on water quality, flooding, climate, and biodiversity).
Budget: up to a maximum of £85,000.
Call dates: Monday 5th December 2022 - noon Friday 27th January 2023.
Please visit the project page for full details.
Further calls for proposals will follow in December 2022/January 2023!
Call for proposals live - November 2022
CREW welcomes applications from Scottish Higher Education Institutes and Research Institutes on two capacity building projects:
CRW2022_01: Developing risk assessment approaches for watch list parameters under the recast Drinking Water Directive
CRW2022_02: The effect of shellfish, kelp and sea grass beds on flood risk and coastal erosion in Scotland
Call dates: Monday 28th November 2022 - noon Wednesday 18th January 2023.
Summary details are provided below.
Please follow the links to the project pages for full details.
WATER QUALITY & HEALTH
CRW2022_01: Developing risk assessment approaches for watch list parameters under the recast Drinking Water Directive
Type of project: Capacity Building
Overview: To develop a risk assessment approach for recast Drinking Water Directive watch list parameters and to inform the monitoring requirements for Beta-estradiol, Nonylphenol and PFAS to validate the approach.
Budget: up to a maximum of £75,000.
Call dates: Monday 28th November 2022 - noon Wednesday 18th January 2023.
Please visit the project page for full details.
HYDROLOGICAL EXTREMES, COASTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT
CRW2022_02: The effect of shellfish, kelp and sea grass beds on flood risk and coastal erosion in Scotland
Type of project: Capacity building
Overview: To inform whether shellfish (oyster and/or blue mussel beds), kelp and sea grass should be incorporated into natural flood management in Scotland and whether (and which) existing features should be protected or restored for NFM and coastal erosion mitigation.
Budget: up to a maximum of £100,000.
Call dates: Monday 28th November 2022 - noon Wednesday 18th January 2023.
Please visit the project page for full details.
Further calls for proposals will follow in December 2022!
Partnership of researchers secure new UKRI MRC funding to tackle pharmaceutical contamination in Scotland’s waters
The occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the environment, and the risks to aquatic life are well-recognised and occurs worldwide. Pharmaceuticals are introduced to the environment by those taking prescription and 'over the counter' medicines through the excretion of residues into wastewater and when unused medicines are flushed down the toilet/sink instead of being returned to pharmacies.
This 12-month project is in partnership with the James Hutton Institute, Scottish Water, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the University of Uppsala. The project builds upon knowledge gained in a recent CREW-funded project: ‘Pharmaceuticals in the Water Environment’ and CREW continue to fund impactful research on water quality and health, read more here. The project will use a novel visualisation tool developed by the One Health Breakthrough Partnership, supported by SEPA, that includes data on medicines detected in Scottish waters and NHS Highland prescribing data to generate new knowledge and to raise awareness of the environmental impact of prescribing and to develop sustainable practices that benefit the NHS, patients and Scotland’s aquatic environment.
Scottish Science Advisory Council (SSAC) internship opportunity
Deadline for applicants is 7th November 2022. For more information and to apply please see the document below.
CRW2022_07 Climate Crisis: informing Scotland’s actionable mitigation and adaptation response to water scarcity
CREW Code: CRW2022_07
Theme: Hydrological Extremes, Coasts and Risk Management
Project status: Project complete. Click here to visit the publication page to view the project outputs.
Type of project: Capacity Building
Lead research team: University of Dundee
Scotland’s climate is changing at a rate unprecedented in human history. We are becoming exposed to climate related risks, such as water scarcity, that were not considered significant in the past and have not been planned for. The first phase in addressing this shift in risk has been to develop early warning and emergency measures to mitigate the impacts of exceptional events such as the 2018 European drought and its impact in Scotland. However, as we better understand the projected increasing severity and frequency of dry periods and our potential future demands on water supply, an adaptation gap has become evident that risks the security of what has, up until now, been seen as a dependable, high-quality water supply.
In this project the research team review past, present and future changes in water scarcity risk in Scotland. Through engagement with a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the water sector and government agencies the research team asked the questions: 1) What is currently being done to reduce the likelihood and severity of water scarcity? 2) How effective are these strategies now and will they still work under a changing climate future? 3) What additional actions do we need to take to address water scarcity in the future?
In answering these questions, the research team highlight the current challenges in addressing the water scarcity risk and provide recommendations on how to address them. These recommendations are presented as programme of work over the short and long term. To take it forward, the research team propose a governance structure formed of representatives from the relevant agencies and in partnership with businesses and communities. The programme is a prioritised set of recommended actions that would contribute to the delivery of a system of national water resource planning, supported by improved levels of water stewardship from across society. The planning will be informed by better access to water supply and demand information and a programme of research that addresses the evidence gaps and improves knowledge exchange across the water sector.
This project has completed. Click here to visit the publication page to view the project outputs.
News
CRW2022_02 The effect of shellfish, kelp and sea grass beds on flood risk and coastal erosion in Scotland
CREW Code: CRW2022_02
Theme: Hydrological Extremes, Coasts and Risk Management
Project status: Project in progress
Type of project: Capacity building
Context: The intention of the project is to fill gaps in knowledge around the role of shallow marine habitats in flood and coastal erosion mitigation in Scotland. The work has relevance to multiple policy areas, including those relating to flooding and coastal erosion, biodiversity, climate change, marine planning and ambitions for a blue economy.
Budget: up to a maximum of £100,000.
Aim: The overall aim of this project is to inform whether shellfish (oyster and/or blue mussel beds), kelp and sea grass should be incorporated into natural flood management (NFM) in Scotland and whether (and which) existing features should be protected or restored for NFM and coastal erosion mitigation.
Project key questions:
- What is the current state of knowledge and data availability?
- What additional information can be sourced from relevant stakeholders including experts and policy-makers, especially with regards to recent developments and unpublished data?
- What marine habitats could be considered in the Scottish context to reduce flood and erosion risk?
- What does the literature suggest regarding the role of different marine habitats in flood and coastal erosion mitigation and potential benefits and limitations?
- What is the historic and current distribution of native oyster beds, blue mussel beds, kelp and sea grass beds in Scotland?
- How are these habitats subject to commercial fishing or harvesting practices in Scotland and are there future plans to expand commercial exploitation of these habitats?
- Which existing marine habitats are most likely to reduce flood risk and erosion to adjacent shorelines in Scotland?
- What plans currently exist and what are the costs for planned restoration of these features in Scotland?
- Which areas/locations in Scotland could be targeted to reduce this risk, and/or are there sites where existing features could be protected or restored to reduce risk?
- How can this be represented in form of a simplified map to inform stakeholders?
- What are the clear opportunities for protection, regeneration, and/or restoration of these habitats in Scotland and what recommendations can be given about how to design these features for flood and coastal erosion management?
Impact: Benefits include the development of policy in relation to NFM that facilitates the management, restoration and protection of these marine features, thus helping to reduce flooding to coastal communities and increase resilience to future changes in risk.
Lead research team: Heriot Watt Universtiy
News
CRW2022_04 Assessing the socio-economic impacts of soil degradation on Scotland's water environment
CREW Code: CRW2022_04
Theme: Land and Water Resouce Management
Project status: This project has completed. Click here to visit the publication page to view the project outputs.
Type of project: Capacity building
Scotland’s various policies to protect its soils from degradation create economic benefits. In this project the economic costs of soil degradation in Scotland were estimated. Using the best available data the impacts of soil compaction, sealing and contamination were assessed. The extent of these degradation processes was then used to calculate the costs across Scotland. Compacted soils can cost farmers £15 to £209 per ha in extra fuel use. The annual combined impact on crop yields and fuel use across Scotland is likely to cost between £25 million and £75 million. The compaction of soils and sealing by infrastructure could lead to a 1% increase in flooding, with insurance claims of between £57,000 and £76,000 per property flood event. Soil compaction can exacerbate erosion and increase previous estimates of erosion costs. Soil degradation also arises from contamination and the loss of biodiversity, but these are difficult to estimate. Given large costs of soil degradation annually, policies to protect this natural resource will benefit Scotland’s economy. The project team only costed direct impacts, using the available data that was often limited. The indirect costs on pollution, human health, supply chains and greenhouse gas emissions will be much greater, and additional monitoring is required to assess these effectively.
Lead research team: James Hutton Institute
This project has completed. Visit the publication page here to view the project outputs.
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