Speymouth Environmental Partnership is based at the mouth of the river Spey and was set up as a company limited by guarantee and a charity by Innes Community Council in response to increased river bank erosion, sediment deposition, and subsequent increased flooding. As part of our local knowledge and research, we would like to hear from any students who would be interested in working with us. Some of our interests include :-

• How is climate change affecting rivers and groundwater levels?
• Is there more or less rainfall annually in a catchment area?
• Is rainfall more or less seasonal? Have the seasons changed, are there longer, drier spells and heavier but shorter periods of rainfall?
• What impact does timing and levels of rainfall have on groundwater levels throughout the catchment?
• What impact does the volume and timing of any snow melt have on the water course, river levels, and overall groundwater levels?
• What impact does water abstraction through boreholes have on groundwater levels, not only around the site of abstraction but in a far wider geographical area, especially downstream of the abstraction point?
• What impact does water abstraction have on normal river levels?
• Does abstraction through boreholes reduce river levels from source to sea?
• Does any drop in overall annual river flows impact on the dynamics of the river, its course, and deposition of sediments?
• Does the abstraction of water through boreholes impact on the sustainable biomass of a river, especially if periods of low water levels are becoming the norm?
• What impact does water abstraction from boreholes have on the overall biomas of rivers and streams and on the river side vegetation and animal/insect/bird life?

If you would be interested in exploring this opportunity, please contact James Mackie on 01343 870310 or email speymouthepsecretary@gmail.com

Here is a link to some drone footage that shows you part of the River Spey that we have a keen interest in. A Strathclyde student recently finished a project in this area plotting how the course of the river has changed over decades.