The River South Esk catchment covers a large area of Angus and is drained by the River South Esk and its tributaries.
The catchment supports a wide range of economic activity in industries such as farming, forestry, fisheries, tourism and recreation. The catchment is also a source of drinking water and supports a rich variety of wildlife.
Since 2005 a number of stakeholders have voluntarily come together to identify issues and find solutions to the challenges across the catchment. This action has been guided by a dedicated catchment management planning process for the River South Esk.
The Partnership successfully delivered over 90% of its first catchment management plan and will publish a new 10-year plan in 2026.
Priorities and actions will focus on environmental, community and economic opportunities including:
- Improving ecological connectivity, nature restoration and nature networks
- Riparian woodland expansion
- Climate change adaptation
- Invasive non-native species control
- Peatland restoration
- Natural flood management
- Community resilience
- Fish population monitoring
- Community volunteering
- Tourism
- Economic development
These priorities are interlinked and a healthy river catchment underpins them all.