The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has placed the Lower Spey and Berwickshire catchments at Significant Scarcity, bringing the total number of Scottish catchments at this critical stage to eight.
The move comes after months of below-average rainfall that has left rivers at critically low levels. Last week six other catchments (the Upper Don and Lower Don, Lower Tweed, North Fife, Ythan and Deveron) were raised to Significant Scarcity, underlining the growing pressure on Scotland’s water environment.
Heavy rain did fall in parts of Scotland over the weekend, with Flood Alerts issued, but it did not reach the areas where it was most needed. Even where showers were heavy, they have done little to reverse months of dry conditions.