River Ythan

The Ythan /ˈaɪθən/ is a river in the north-east of Scotland rising at Wells of Ythan near the village of Ythanwells and flowing south-eastwards through the towns of Fyvie, Methlick and Ellon before flowing into the North Sea near Newburgh, in Formartine.[1]

The mouth of the River Ythan, draining into the North Sea near Newburgh

The lower reach of the river is known as the Ythan Estuary, is a part of the River Ythan, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch Special Protection Area for conservation, particularly the breeding ground of three tern species (common tern, little tern and Sandwich tern) (Lumina, 2004).[2]

The River Ythan has a length of 60 kilometres (37 mi) and a catchment area of 680 km2 (260 sq mi).[1] As figures of the discharge, 6 m3 (210 cu ft)/s are given[3] or 7.2 m3 (250 cu ft)/s.[4]

Nitrate Vulnerable Zone

The Scottish Government has designated the River Ythan catchment as a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone following concerns about the spread of algal mats in the river during the 1990s. The resulting restrictions on the use of fertilisers in the catchment were criticised by many farmers, 90% of the land in the catchment area is used for agriculture. However, the designation and subsequent actions to solve the issue under the European Union's LIFE Fund's Ythan Project have led to improvements in water quality as an increasing number of farmers used techniques such as the creation of buffer strips between their fields and the river and nutrient budgeting. Both the increase in agri-environment schemes in the area and the individual river restoration work undertaken under the auspices of the Ythan Project have led to an increase in wildlife habitat in the Ythan's catchment.[5]

Etymology

The name Ythan may be derived from a Brittonic source, cognate with Old Welsh eith meaning "gorse" (Welsh eithin)[6] or else, from an early *Iectona meaning "talkative one" (Welsh iaith; c.f. River Ithon).[7]

Fishing

The area of the Ythan is part of a protected region, in order to preserve Atlantic salmon and sea trout.[8]

See also

References
  1. "Natural History of the River Ythan". River Ythan Trust. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  2. "Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch Special Protection Area proposed marine extension Advice to support management" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  3. Eutrophication Assessment Reports 2006: Ythan estuary Archived 29 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Elaine McAlister, Nelleke Domburg, Tony Edwards, Bob Ferrier, Hydrological Modelling of the River Ythan using ArcInfo GRID
  5. "River of LIFE A report on the actions of the Ythan Project 2001-2005". The Ythan Project. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  6. Mackenzie, William Cook (1931). Scottish Place Names. K. Paul, Trench, Trubner & Company. p. 118. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  7. Watson, W.J.; Taylor, Simon (2011). The Celtic Place-Names of Scotland (reprint ed.). Birlinn LTD. p. 387. ISBN 9781906566357.
  8. "Ythan District Fishery Board". Ythan District Fishery Board. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  • Lumina Technologies, Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen Library archives, June, 2004

57°18′N 2°00′W

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