Upper River Nairn Restoration - 2019 UK River Prize Finalists

30 April 2019

McGowan Environmental Engineering were delighted to be part of the Aberarder Estate nomination and extremely proud that this project finished second in the 2019 UK River Prize at the annual River Restoration Centre (RRC) Conference.

Over the years, various sections of the River Nairn* had been heavily modified to protect properties and agricultural ground. Through channel realignment, improved floodplain connectivity, wetland reinstatement and extensive tree planting, this project helped restore many natural habitats and ecological processes. Works included the innovative solution of utilising existing low lying marshland areas within the newly aligned river to assist in the alleviation of possible future flooding issues, all whilst creating a more desirable habitats for fish, flora, and fauna.

The project was funded by the Water Environment Fund and delivered in partnership between Aberarder Estate and SEPA. McGowan Environmental Engineering and Salix were appointed as Project Contractors working closely with the Project Designers Cbec Eco Engineering Ltd.

Thanks to our friends at Scotland: The Big Picture for producing this video and to Alasdair Matheson (SEPA), Euan Anderson (Aberarder Estate) and Hamish Moir (Cbec) for their contributions...
 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UQ1WJo6Rs8

*The River Nairn is 35 miles long, rising in the Monadhliath Mountains and flowing northeast through Strathnairn to enter the Moray Firth at Nairn. Aberarder Estate dates back to 1549 and covers nearly 5,000 hectares of Upper Strathnairn in the Highlands of Scotland.