Loch Airigh a’ Phuil hydro scheme

Client Gairloch Estate

This small hydro-electric scheme is being developed near Gairloch, in Wester Ross. The scheme will comprise a control weir and an intake weir, with water piped to a turbine house further downstream. Storage will be provided by slightly raising the level of Loch Airigh a’ Phuil.

Waterside Ecology assisted with the initial scoping for the scheme and completed surveys of otters, badgers, water voles and fish populations for the Environmental Statement during 2009. Due to the raising of the loch level, extensive surveys of the loch shore and inflow streams for otter resting sites and water vole colonies were required, in addition to the standard suite of surveys of the abstracted reaches, weirs and turbine house.