Tay Catchment Salmon Alliance
The Tay Catchment Salmon Alliance (TCSA) is an independent charity dedicated to working in collaboration with others to identify, fundraise for and execute projects that enhance the Tay Catchment.Climate change, biodiversity collapse and decades of chronic underinvestment have left the Tay Catchment in urgent need of restoration. Limited government funding, constrained Fishery Boards and River Trusts, and under-resourced agencies cannot address the scale of change required. Doing nothing is not an option—without action, depletion of ecosystems, economic and job-related pressures will intensify.Our focus is on ensuring the delivery of the Scottish Government's Wild Salmon Strategy and working with other stakeholders to maximize the resources needed to create a thriving environment for all to enjoy.
During our design stage, which ran from July 2023 to July 2024, we began to speak to landowners in the catchment who were interested in developing river woodlands, also known as “riparian” (from the Latin ripa – bank) woodlands. These habitats protect us against flood damage, capture carbon and provide havens for wildlife. They conserve Scotland’s delicate biodiversity, purify our water and lessen the impact of drought on our crops and drinking water. Very importantly, they help reduce water temperature, essential to the wild Atlantic Salmon who spawn in the Ericht.
We also began work on developing an engineering solution for the Lade Gates at the Brig O’ Blair, which could better manage current abstraction and prevent trapping of smolts.