Loch Leven is under stress
Climate change, driving rising temperatures, is combining with long standing issues of nutrient run-off to change the eco-system balance
Loch Leven is special
Recognised as “one of Scotland’s top natural assets” by Nature Scotland, it is the largest lowland loch in the country
A key habitat for a range of plants, fish and birds, particularly significant as a stop over for migrating birds, Loch Leven has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Ramsar site (only 2,437 globally)
The sign next to the Boathouse, at the start of the walk round the Loch, highlights the activities and historical visitors. Kinross is home to worlds oldest curling club, founded 1668, however the ice has not been thick enough since 1959. Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned in Loch Leven Castle from 1567-1568.
Watching the Loch
Linda May and Iain Gunn of the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UK CEH) have long been involved in studying the changes affecting Loch Leven and other water systems throughout the world. CREW (The Centre of Expertise for Waters) publishes many papers related to climate change. The linked paper “Assessing climate change impacts on the water quality of Scottish standing waters” is recent. It is worth looking more broadly at the www.crew.ac.uk website
Linda is, or at least should be, in the local legend category, for looking after our Loch
Toxic Algae
At times through the year blue/green algae bloom, consuming the nutrients, thriving in the heat, but starving the water of oxygen
When the wind blows, the proteins can be whipped up, like a meringue
Catchment area
Water flows into Loch Leven from the surrounding catchment area, bringing agricultural run-off and treated sewage including from septic tanks. The big problem is phosphorus which feeds the algal blooms when warm enough. SEPA has responsibility for managing the inflow water quality. The catchment water also brings heat
The catchment area is some 145km2 relative to the loch area of 13.6km2
Protection from Chemicals
The impact of agricultural and waste pollutants has been known for a long time, with tight guidance now in place to control them - an intervention which is steadily delivering results
Temperatures are rising
The long term trend is of water temperatures rising. In recent years, the rate of change has been increasing. Graph from Linda May
Water level control
Since the 1700s the water of Loch Leven have sustained the local community - giving power and life to the mills, fishing and tourism
How the levels are controlled has evolved over the years. The article is a good review of the history
Rainfall
Rainfall and flow records are available for the main tributaries into the Loch. The rate of flushing is quite low, so it can take a long time to clear a problem
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