River engineering has taken place across the catchment for centuries.  Often works have led to unintended consequences, such as a loss of suitable habitat for salmonids and Freshwater pearl mussel, increased downstream flood risk and increased erosion.

One of the earliest recorded and perhaps most ambitious river engineering projects, was the construction of Dronner’s Dyke in Montrose Basin in 1677, by a Dutch engineer named Dronner. Its purpose was to drain the northern part of the Basin, thereby reclaiming hundreds of acres of land for agricultural purposes. A storm in January 1679 destroyed the dyke and a local woman was accused of witchcraft, supposedly having conjured up the storm, and was subsequently burned at the stake.

There are many positive river engineering projects taking place across the attachment, often incorporating and enhancing nature.

Examples of river engineering works in the catchment include the following:

Upper catchment

In Glen Clova, The Rottal Burn and the March Burn are typical examples of burns which have been straightened in the past, to increase the land available for farming. Both burns have now been restored to a more natural state. 

Middle catchment

Glenogil and the Den of Ogil Reservoirs on the Noran Water sub-catchment, are man-made structures, built as backup public water supplies.

Weirs were built at various locations along the main stem of the River South Esk to serve water mills; only Kinnaird weir remains today.

The Lemno Burn has also been straightened in the past, again to increase the land available for farming.

Lower catchment

Several burns have been straightened throughout the lower catchment. The Pow Burn, part of which has since been environmentally improved, is the most significant in the lower catchment.

Parts of Montrose Basin have been reclaimed for development and are defended with gabions (wire baskets filled with earth and stones).

The South Esk estuary is routinely dredged to ensure the safe passage of ships.

The coast is protected at the estuary mouth using hard engineering, including rock armour.

Today any engineering works in the vicinity of a water body may require a permit, under the Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (EASR), from SEPA. Further information can be found here.