Slugain Burn restoration project documents

This document contains a non-technical summary of the outline design for the Slugain Burn river restoration project, which was commissioned by The Highland Council. The project aims to realign 1km of the Slugain Burn, which is a tributary of the River Dulnain, to give it a more natural shape, and to replace a vehicle bridge with a new one that can handle flood flows and sediment. The goal is to maintain access during storms and reduce maintenance costs. The new bridge should also improve access for the community, enhance biodiversity and habitats, and restore natural river and floodplain processes. The Slugain Burn project is partly funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and is part of the Cairngorms National Park Authority's Cairngorms 2030 programme.

This document contains a feasibility study by cbec eco-engineering UK Ltd, commissioned by the Cairngorms National Park Authority, regarding the restoration of the lower reaches of the Slugain Burn near Carrbridge. The burn has been historically straightened, causing ecological damage and increasing flood risk. The study explores nature-based solutions to improve the burn's morphology, restore natural processes, and enhance access for the estate and recreational users. Four potential options were assessed based on factors such as benefits to fluvial process and habitat, environmental impacts, flood risk, climate change resilience, and cost, with Option 4 being the most favoured which included using Channel B and moving the bridge. The study recommends that Option 4 be taken into the detailed design phase, including topographic surveys and hydraulic modelling, and the cost estimate for Option 4 is between £213,654.00 and £235,019.40 excluding VAT.