ECN Sites: Allt a'Mharcaidh

Sponsoring organisation(s)

Site Characteristics

* calculated from the ECN database

Description

Allt a'Mharcaidh is a stream site on the western flank of the Cairngorm Mountains. The catchment area is 998 ha and it drains to the River Feshie, a tributary of the River Spey. The catchment rises from 325 m at the sampling site to 1111 m and is covered by alpine and peaty podsols (60%) and blanket peat (40%). The underlying geology is intrusive biotite-granite of the Lower Old Red Sandstone age. Vegetation is characterised by a heather/fescue grass mixture (90%) with native pinewoods (c. 2%) interspersed along the lowest reaches. The catchment comprises part of the Cairngorm National Nature Reserve and land-use is confined to deer grazing. The stream gradient is steep and exposed bedrock, rapids and waterfalls and large boulders characterise the monitored channel section.

Related Links

• Allt a'Mharcaidh is also an Acid Waters Monitoring Network (AWMN) site, classified as having moderate acid deposition.

Ms Caroline Dilks

Scottish Environment Protection Agency
East Region, Clearwater House, Heriot Watt Research Park, Edinburgh, EH14 4AP
caroline.dilks@sepa.org.uk