Statera Energy

Ness Weir II

Helping to secure the future of Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal

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Public consultations - Phase 1

We are consulting on these proposals, and want to hear your views. Please join us at one of our upcoming events

The Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness

Over 200 years ago, the legendary Scottish Civil Engineer Thomas Telford created the engineering marvel the Caledonian Canal. He created an east to west transportation route across Scotland along the Great Glen, including Loch Ness. It comprised a series of lochs and canal locks, as well as bridges and aqueducts, and is still in use today.

Today, Loch Ness is just as important as it ever was, lying at the centre of the Highlands’ economy, providing jobs in tourism, green energy, and utilities. The loch’s ecosystem supports biodiversity with many species of flora and fauna.

Ness Weir

A key element of the Caledonian Canal design was Ness Weir (known locally as 'Dochfour Weir'), which is the point where Loch Dochfour and the River Ness come together.

Ness Weir was designed to ensure the water levels through Loch Ness and into the Caledonian Canal are maintained at a level which allows boats to transit through the Canal. Water levels in Loch Ness are controlled by Ness Weir via existing sluice gates.

A weir is a low-lying structure across a waterway which creates a barrier that raises water levels on the upstream side. Water then spills over the weir crest and water levels are controlled with mechanical structures such as sluice gates or tilting weirs.

Watch: Introducing Ness Weir II

The site

The Ness Weir II Proposal

Statera Energy Limited is proposing the Ness Weir II project, to modify the existing weir to provide future resilience against the impacts of climate change. The modifications will include raising the crest height of the existing weir, creating a new fish pass and installing a new outlet sluice in the form of a tilting weir.

By doing this, water levels can be more effectively managed to future proof Loch Ness from the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events, providing vital resilience for all who depend on Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal.

The proposals to modify the existing weir will help to:

Ensure sufficient water levels to meet the minimum operation level of the canal
Ensure the fish environment for salmonids (salmons, trout, smolt etc.) is protected
Allow for better management of flood control with the prospect of wetter winters; and
Reduce summer curtailment of existing and proposed pumped hydro schemes on the Loch.

Why is the project needed?

Loch Ness's unique environment is under threat. Across the UK, climate change is leading to more extreme variations in the weather, including longer, more frequent periods of drought in the summer and more frequent flooding in the winter. Recent years have shown a clear pattern emerging on Loch Ness, which shows that, during the summer, average water flows are reduced, impacting water levels. Water levels then increase during the winter.

Loch Ness has seen an increasing number of instances of low water levels, which has a major adverse impact on boat traffic navigating through the Canal and the Loch, and on loch habitats. This presents a serious challenge for all users of Loch Ness.

Forecasts predict higher winter flows and lower summer flows

The flow rate of water into the Loch Ness catchment has been monitored over more than 40 years. The black line on the graph shows the average monthly flow rate between 1981 and 2022. Climate change modelling to support the project's Environmental Impact Assessment forecasts wetter winters and drier summers in the future, with significantly higher flow rates in the winter and lower flow rates in the summer. This is shown by the red line on the graph. The shaded area shows the difference in flow rate, between the historic average and the forecast, if no action is taken to modify the weir.

Our plans for the Ness Weir II project secure the future of all those who enjoy and depend upon Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal for work, leisure or travel

Have your say

Public consultations - Phase 1

We are consulting on these proposals, and want to hear your views. Please join us at one of our upcoming events

Find out more