NatureScot Commissioned Report 922: 2015 site condition monitoring survey and biotope mapping of the intertidal sediment flats of Loch Paible, North Uist (Balranald Bog and Loch nam Feithean SSSI)
The main purpose of this study was to carry out site condition monitoring of the sediment flats in Loch Paible, North Uist. The aim was to see if the condition of the protected mudflat feature had deteriorated. The loch is part of Balranald Bog and Loch nam Feithean Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Our Site Condition Monitoring programme first began at this site in 2004, and the results provided a baseline for the 2015 study. As such, the approach taken in 2015 was to resurvey the two representative and relocatable transects set in 2004.
A further objective of this study was to map the distribution of sediment flat habitats within the SSSI, which had never been done previously. Additional ground truthing to map sediment flat biotope distribution was used alongside the Site Condition Monitoring survey results.
No significant impacts on the condition of the feature from anthropogenic activities were observed. The report concludes that the mudflat feature of Balranald Bog and Loch nam Feithean SSSI should be categorised as ‘favourable maintained’.
Published: 2016
Pages: 53
Document downloads
Disclaimer: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has changed its name to NatureScot as of the 24th August 2020.
At the time of publishing, this document may still refer to Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and include the original branding. It may also contain broken links to the old domain.
If you have any issues accessing this document please contact us via our feedback form.
