Gladhouse Reservoir (2480)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Gladhouse Reservoir
Central coordinates: Latitude: 55.7707, Longitude: -3.1160
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 240 to 280
Area of KBA (km2): 1.86506
Protected area coverage (%): 99.69
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Lying at the foot of the Moorfoot Hills, about 29 km south of Edinburgh, Gladhouse reservoir is a large, moderately nutrient-rich loch containing several small islands. It supports some aquatic and marginal vegetation. The IBA is important for wintering waterbirds.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Delineation rationale: First identified in 1989; changed to match SPA boundary in 2007. Original area 187ha. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.
Habitats
Land use: tourism/recreation (97%) | water management (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 1 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 97 | |
| Forest | 1 | |
| Shrubland | 1 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (domestic use) | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Only in the future |