A campaign to bring a dry Highland river back to life for the first time in more than half a century has been launched.
Since the 1950s, virtually all the water in the Perthshire Garry has been taken out to generate electricity. As a result, for most of the year a dry riverbed is exposed along a 13-mile stretch of the A9 between Loch Garry near Drumochter and Struan near Blair Atholl.
Until recently, there was no legal mechanism to challenge Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), which takes the water, but recent EU legislation has changed that.
The Water Framework Directive obliges member countries to remedy damage caused by over-abstraction of water. Sepa is due to publish a national plan detailing remedial action in 2009.
Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board wants to see the Garry restored to its former glory as one for spawning and juvenile fish and has condemned an offer by SSE to release some flow.
Dr David Summers, fisheries manager for the board, said: "SSE realises it may soon be subject to a legal requirement to reintroduce some flow into the river.
"Clearly mindful of this, the company has made what amounts to a pre-emptive strike by offering to release some water. However, the amount it is proposing is truly pitiful and would be of almost no practical value in terms of allowing easy access for adult salmon to spawn.
"We have no doubt SSE's proposal fails to address the fundamental problems. To make a significant difference, the Garry requires at least 60% more flow than that which SSE proposes and a short period of even higher flows in the autumn.
"We are convinced this would significantly increase the numbers of adult salmon running the Tay, Tummel and Garry. There is now a historic opportunity to restore parts of the Garry system for spawning and juvenile fish.
"We intend to apply maximum pressure to ensure SSE accept their moral and legal responsibility to bring the Garry back to life."
Peter Donaldson, renewable generation manager for SSE, said, in Scotland, Sepa was responsible for finding the correct balance, taking into account conflicting interests.
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