Groundwater

Groundwater is a critical resource to sustain water supplies and habitats. During dry periods, they continue to deliver water for drinking, to our rivers and to maintain wetland habitats.

Groundwater may be hidden below the surface but it can re-emerge at the surface as a spring or flush. It is sensitive to pollution and over abstraction and is difficult to restore. Groundwater is protected by law.

Groundwater guidance 

Forest Research provide guidance on how to protect the overall water environment. This guidance is relevant to protecting groundwater.

The guidance provides advice on how forest operations should be planned and managed to protect the water environment.

Managing forest operations to protect the water environment (Forest Research website)

Groundwater can re-emerge at the surface as a spring or flush. Some wetland habitats are reliant on the flow of groundwater re-emerging to the surface. These are called groundwater dependent terrestrial ecosystems (GWDTE) and are protected by law.

These ecosystems rely on a supply of groundwater to support botanically rich flora communities.

Guidance is available from the Forest and Water Scotland Initiative to help forest managers identify GWDTE and take protective measures.

Forestry and Water Scotland (Confor website)

Practice guide for forest managers to assess and protect Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems when preparing woodland creation proposals (Confor website)

Forestry grant support is available via the Rural Payments and Services website under the options: 

• Woodlands for water
• Woodlands for riparian benefits

Woodland Creation (Rural Payments and Services website)