Stenhouse Reservoir Development Project
Overview
Stenhouse Reservoir, located within the Dour Burn catchment near Aberdour, is a former reservoir and trout fishery that ceased operation in 2023. Following its closure, the landowner lowered the water levels and committed to discontinuing the reservoir with the aim to transition the site into a nature reserve. This Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) Development Grant project, led by Forth Rivers Trust, was undertaken to develop and evidence a deliverable, costed programme of nature restoration measures capable of attracting full delivery funding.
The vision of this project was to reconnect the Stenhouse Reservoir with the Dour Burn, allowing water levels to self-regulate and enable the site to transition from an artificially impounded reservoir to a mosaic of wetlands, woodland, grassland, riparian and open water habitats. The development phase focused on building the technical, ecological and financial case for this transition while ensuring alignment with national nature restoration priorities and emerging private finance funding opportunities.
Objectives
- Wetland creation and flow attenuation: swales to extend/maintain Dour Burn connectivity; bunds to retain water near reedbeds; leaky dams to slow flows and trap sediment; a network of online and offline scrapes (including shoreline scrapes linked to seasonal water level changes).
- Reedbed management: a 4-year rotational cutting regime (conducted during the winter season) to diversify structure and maintain function (including nutrient filtration and habitat value).
- Hedgerows: planting of species-rich native hedgerows in key areas of the site.
- Wildlife corridors: fenced buffer strips and hedgerow/corridor planting linking Dunearn Woods, wetland areas and existing scrub to improve landscape connectivity.
- Woodland creation and tree management: targeted native planting (~1.06ha woodland creation) plus selective management on the island to diversify structure while retaining habitat value.
- Grassland enhancement: low-impact wildflower meadow improvement through yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor) introduction and follow-on management rather than large-scale reseeding.
- Micro-habitat features: deadwood/hibernacula features and a small area of exposed ground for solitary bees where suitable.
- Discontinuance of Stenhouse Reservoir: Collaborate with the landowner to enable the creation of an open channel, reconnecting the reservoir to the Dour Burn. The aim is to deliver all of the above in synergy with the engineering works required to discontinue the reservoir.
Funders
This project is funded with thanks to The Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot.
