Ythan Project - Analysis of water quality data collected in the Ythan basin, Scotland

The Ythan Project was established in response to increased public interest in the River Ythan river, occurred when questions began to be raised over increases in nutrient levels in the river waters and the potential impact of these increases on wildlife at the Ythan estuary. The Ythan Project involved a variety of actions to improve and restore the river. In particular it included actions that involved working with land managers to promote the use of riparian buffer strips and the use of nutrient budgeting on farms. The project also aimed to promote the involvement of local people in the management of the river. The project included an element of monitoring work, both to learn more about the river and the estuary and to see if any of the changes being made as part of the project were impacting on the river. Part of this monitoring work included water sampling at key sites around the catchment. The aims of this sampling were to pick up changes in water quality on the smaller tributaries and to involve local people in the sampling process.