Hydrological Extremes, Coasts and Risk Management

Reducing the mental health and wellbeing impacts of flooding: Informing cross-policy action in Scotland

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Research Funding cycle: 2022-27

A village flooded by high water, with streets and buildings partially submerged, leafless trees standing in floodwater, and wooded hills in the background under a grey sky. Photo Credit: Ian McCourt - Callander Flood Group

Scotland faces growing and complex risks from climate-related flooding, which is increasingly recognised as a significant public health challenge. Beyond physical damage, flooding has long-lasting impacts on mental health and wellbeing, affecting individuals, communities, and local services. These impacts can persist well beyond the immediate event, exacerbating existing inequalities and placing additional pressure on health and social care systems.

Household flood plans in Scotland: Applying behavioural learnings to inform best practice and uptake

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Research Funding cycle: 2022-27

Illustration of people standing near floodwater, including a family, pets, and essential belongings. A house is shown on higher ground above the floodwater. Source: Household Flood Plan. Credit: Transform Creative

Flooding in Scotland is increasing, yet many people are unaware of their risk, and few have taken steps to protect their homes. This project therefore co‑designed a new resource that enables households to create a bespoke flood action plan.

CREW Spring 2026 Newsletter

Welcome to the spring edition of our quarterly newsletter, CREW NEWS! In this edition we reflect on the launch of Planning for Water Scarcity: Practical Guidance for Scottish Farmers and Growers, share a new call for proposals and hear from our Project Manager, Aniska Cameron.

We'd love to hear what you'd be interested in reading in future issues of CREW NEWS.

Natural Capital and River Basin Management Planning - Protecting and Improving Scotland’s Water Environment

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Research Funding cycle: 2022-27

River with surrounding woodland. Photo credit: Lorna Cole

Scotland is globally renowned for its natural resources like clean rivers, rich wildlife, heather moorlands and fresh air. Protecting, enhancing and restoring these resources provides us with many benefits and is essential to safeguard our future environment, wellbeing and the economy. River Basin Management Planning (RBMP) provides a framework to reduce pressures on Scotland’s water environment and protect and enhance the benefits that our rivers, lochs, wetlands and groundwaters provide.

CRW2025_08 Assessing Future Socio-Economic Water Demand in Scotland: Drivers and Patterns

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Research Funding cycle: 2022-27

Aerial view, Inverness, Scotland. Photo credit: Posnov. Source: Getty Images

Type of project: Capacity Building Project

Overview: CREW invites proposals for a c.7.5 month Capacity Building project to provide a national assessment of future socio-economic demands on Scotland’s water resources, identifying key drivers and patterns.

Budget: Funding available £115,000 exclusive of VAT (where applicable).

Call dates: Call closed.

Planning for Water Scarcity: Practical guidance for Scottish farmers and growers

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Research Funding cycle: 2022-27

Front Cover image of the CREW Planning for Water Scarcity guidance. This includes a image of a field, the guidance title and logos of SRUC, James Hutton Institute, University of Aberdeen and SAOS.

Water scarcity is an increasing risk across Scotland, particularly during the growing season. Changing rainfall patterns driven by climate change mean water can no longer be relied on as a consistently plentiful resource. This growing pressure affects farm businesses as well as the freshwater habitats and wildlife that depend on them.

What Comes Next for Flood Resilience? Reflections from Flood Resilience 2026

CRW2025_06 Source-to-sea risk and prioritisation – evidence and methods review

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Research Funding cycle: 2022-27

River flowing into Loch Clair, with Beinn Eighe mountain range in the background_Photo Credit_Rebekah Burman

Type of project: Capacity Building Project

Overview: CREW invites proposals for a c.9.5-month Capacity Building project to deliver an evidence synthesis and review, a gap analysis, and a methodological review focused on land- and freshwater-based sources of pressures relevant to the sensitivities of key assets in marine and estuarine waters.

Budget: Funding available £90,000 exclusive of VAT (where applicable).

CRW2025_03 Review of the impacts of short- and long-term hydrological drought, including intermittent flow recovery, on freshwater ecology in Scotland

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Research Funding cycle: 2022-27

The River Dee at low flow. Trees line the edge of the river, with white houses on the near left of the image. Photo Credit: Rachael Helliwell

Type of project: Capacity Building Project

Overview: CREW invites proposals for a c.9.5-month Capacity Building project to evaluate the impacts of hydrological drought and intermittent flow recovery on freshwater biota in Scottish river systems, and to assess whether current water scarcity policy provides adequate and practical environmental protection across different river typologies.

Call closed

CREW News Autumn 2025

Welcome to the autumn edition of our quarterly newsletter, CREW NEWS! In this edition we are shining a spotlight on how we embed impact in our work, highlighting recent events, seminars and publications, and hearing from our Project Manager, Rebekah Burman.

We'd love to hear what you'd be interested in reading in future issues of CREW NEWS.

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