Scottish Sanitary Survey Programme Sanitary Survey Report Production Area: Loch Eil, Loch Eil: Eil, & Loch Eil: Fassfern SIN : HL 134, HL 135 & HL 136 Date : February 2012 Report Distribution – Loch Eil Date Name Agency Linda Galbraith Scottish Government Morag MacKenzie SEPA Douglas Sinclair SEPA Fiona Garner Scottish Water Alex Adrian Crown Estate Stephen Lewis Highland Council Alan Yates Highland Council Alan Byrne Harvester Lawrie Byrne Harvester James MacLean Harvester Loch Eil Sanitary Survey Report Final V1.0 i Table of Contents I. Executive Summary .................................................................................. 1 II. Sampling Plan ........................................................................................... 3 III. Report .................................................................................................... 4 1. General Description .................................................................................. 4 2. Fishery ...................................................................................................... 5 3. Human Population .................................................................................... 7 4. Sewage Discharges .................................................................................. 9 5. Geology and Soils ................................................................................... 17 6. Land Cover ............................................................................................. 18 7. Farm Animals .......................................................................................... 19 8. Wildlife .................................................................................................... 22 9. Meteorological data ................................................................................ 25 9.1 Rainfall .............................................................................................. 25 9.2 Wind ................................................................................................. 27 10. Current and historical classification status ........................................... 29 11. Historical E. coli data ............................................................................ 31 11.1 Validation of historical data ............................................................ 31 11.2 Summary of microbiological results ............................................... 32 11.3 Overall geographical pattern of results .......................................... 32 11.4 Overall temporal pattern of results ................................................. 35 11.5 Seasonal pattern of results ............................................................ 36 11.6 Analysis of results against environmental factors .......................... 37 11.6.1 Analysis of results by recent rainfall ........................................ 38 11.6.2 Analysis of results by tidal height and state ............................ 40 11.6.3 Analysis of results by water temperature ................................ 44 11.6.4 Analysis of results by salinity .................................................. 45 11.7 Evaluation of results over 4600 E. coli MPN/100g ......................... 46 11.8 Summary and conclusions ............................................................ 47 11.9 Sampling frequency ....................................................................... 48 12. Designated Shellfish Growing Waters Data ......................................... 50 13. River Flow ............................................................................................ 52 14. Bathymetry and Hydrodynamics .......................................................... 55 14.1 Tidal Curve and Description .......................................................... 55 14.2 Currents ......................................................................................... 56 14.3 Salinity profiles .............................................................................. 61 14.4 Conclusions ................................................................................... 62 15. Shoreline Survey Overview .................................................................. 64 16. Overall Assessment ............................................................................. 66 17. Recommendations ............................................................................... 71 18. References ........................................................................................... 74 19. List of Figures and Tables .................................................................... 75 Appendices 1. Geology and Soils Information 2. General Information on Wildlife Impacts 3. Tables of Typical Faecal Bacteria Concentrations 4. Statistical Data 5. Hydrographic Methods 6. Shoreline Survey Report © Crown Copyright 2012. Food Standards Agency Scotland and Cefas. All rights reserved. Loch Eil Sanitary Survey Report Final V1.0 ii I. Executive Summary A sanitary survey was undertaken at Loch Eil: Fassfern on the basis of failure assessment of historical results against classification for sites subject to classification changes since 2006. The Loch Eil and Loch Eil: Eil production areas were also considered due to their proximity. Loch Eil is located in Lochaber in western Scotland. It stretches west from the northern end of Loch Linnhe, connected by a narrow neck of water called ‘The Narrows’. The large town of Fort William lies just outside the loch to the east, at the head of Loch Linnhe. A holiday park and Outward Bound centre on the northeastern shore of Loch Eil experience relatively large numbers of visitors. The population locally will be highest during the summer holiday season, from July to September. The Loch Eil and Loch Eil: Fassfern production areas are used for long-line mussel aquaculture. The Loch Eil production area consists of two active long- line mussel farms located on the south side of the loch and the Loch Eil: Fassfern production area consists of a single active long-line mussel farm on the northern shoreline of the loch. The Loch Eil: Eil production area had no rafts or long lines installed at the time of the shoreline survey, although lines may be installed in the future. The eastern end and northern shores of the loch are most likely to be impacted by human sewage, particularly the Fassfern site which is located near a public septic tank. The discharge from the Outward Bound centre will also contribute to contamination levels at the eastern end of Loch Eil. The nearest large sewage discharges are located just outside the production areas, to the east of The Narrows. Most properties around Loch Eil itself appear to be on private septic tanks discharging to land or soakaway. There is likely to be greater volumes of sewage during the summer months when the tourist population is highest. Based on the numbers and distribution of animals observed during the shoreline survey, diffuse faecal contamination from sheep, is likely to be significant. Direct deposition of droppings at the shoreline and around the large numbers of local fresh watercourses will impact on water quality at the fishery, particularly as the shellfish farms are located quite close to shore. Bacterial loadings to the many freshwater inputs to the loch under rainfall conditions are high and pose a potential source of faecal contamination at all of the fisheries. Gulls and deer are likely to contribute to background levels of faecal contamination in Loch Eil. Gulls on mussel floats are likely to deposit droppings direct to the fishery. Analysis of historical results suggests that there has been some increase in the general level of E. coli in mussels over time for all three production areas. Significant seasonal variation was seen in E. coli levels in mussels, with highest results in summer and autumn. Although no clear link was established between results and sources, an increase in human and livestock populations during this time is thought to be the most likely reason for the Loch Eil Sanitary Survey Report Final V1.0 1 increase. A significant correlation was found between E. coli result and rainfall in the previous 2 days for Loch Eil: Fassfern and Loch Eil: Eil but not for Loch Eil. A significant positive correlation was found between E. coli result and rainfall in the previous 7 days for Loch Eil but not for Loch Eil: Fassfern or Loch Eil: Eil although the probabilities for the latter were borderline. A significant correlation was seen between E. coli results and water temperature at Loch Eil, with higher results in warmer temperatures. The greatest number of results exceeding 4600 E. coli MPN/100 g was seen at Loch Eil: Eil. Recommendations Analysis of historical monitoring results against environmental factors suggests that the three areas are subject to different contaminating influences and therefore it is recommended that they continue to be monitored as separate production areas. Although the site naming is clear, the naming of production areas is confusing and therefore it is suggested that the Loch Eil: Eil production area be renamed as Loch Eil: East to allow for clearer distinction from the Loch Eil production area. Loch Eil No change is recommended to the production area boundaries which will be retained as the area bounded by lines drawn between NN 0100 7839 to NN 0100 7730 extending to MHWS. It is recommended that the RMP be revised to NN 0052 7753. Loch Eil: Fassfern It is recommended that the