Land and Water Resource Management

How CREW is Preparing Scotland for a Future of Water Scarcity

The recent spell of dry weather across Scotland and the rest of the UK, accompanied by periods of high temperatures, has brought water scarcity into sharp focus. However, water scarcity is not limited to hot weather and can occur at any time of year during periods of low rainfall. While periods of low rainfall are nothing new, climate projections suggest they are likely to become more frequent, longer lasting and more severe, placing increasing pressure on water resources, businesses and the natural environment. 

CREW Summer 2026 Newsletter

💧 The Summer Edition of CREW News is now available ☀️

From climate change, flooding and mental health, to valuing the benefits of protecting and improving Scotland’s water environment, the latest edition of the CREW newsletter highlights recent projects, opportunities and events supporting water policy and practice across Scotland.

In this edition: 

CSPF2026_01 Valuing the Benefits of Protecting and Improving Scotland’s Water Environment

Type of project: Science Policy Fellowship

Overview: CREW invites proposals for a c.5 month Science Policy Fellowship project to develop a spreadsheet resource that collates the available evidence on the costs and benefits of protecting and improving Scotland’s water environment. 

The fellowship will require expertise in environmental/ecological economics and/or natural capital to assess, interpret, and organise evidence to support national-scale policy and decision-making. 

CRW2024_06 Transitioning Surface Water Collection to Surface Water Reuse Systems

 

 

This project explored the potential in Scotland to capture and reuse surface water in urban areas for non-potable purposes. 

The research focused on improving understanding of aspects such as potential sources and place-based solutions, current regulatory requirements, and environmental and socio-economic drivers as important factors to enable a transition to widespread surface water reuse in Scotland.

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. 

CRW2025_09 The use of large wood structures in river restoration in Scotland

Type of project: Capacity Building Project

Overview: CREW invites proposals for a c.6 month Capacity Building project develop an interim decision-support framework to inform decision-making about using Large Wood Structures (LWS) in river restoration projects in different environmental settings.

Budget: Funding available is £97,000 exclusive of VAT (where applicable).

Deadline to apply: Closed

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

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_06 Source-to-sea risk and prioritisation – evidence and methods review

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).

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