FOI Request - Hydrological and Topographical Data for Spey Bay and River Lossie

Request 101003842960

I am conducting research in Scotland, focusing on sustainable coastal and river management. My study area covers the Moray coastline, particularly Spey Bay and the River Lossie.

My project investigates how to responsibly manage both the escalating coastal erosion and the flood risks from rivers. Coastal erosion in the region has increased by approximately 39% since the 1970s due to climate change and more intense storms, while rivers such as the Spey and the Lossie pose increasing threats during peak discharge and prolonged rainfall events.

To inform my design proposals, I would be grateful if you could provide processed and accessible data (preferably in the form of tables, charts, or summary reports, rather than raw datasets) on the following:

• River discharge data near Aberlour
• Flood history and modelling data for Spey Bay
• Hydraulic calculations for both peak storm events and average rainfall
• Long-term datasets or graphs of flow rates or water levels
• Aerial or drone imagery (bird’s-eye view) of Spey Bay and the River Lossie

This information will be used solely for academic purposes and not for any commercial application.

If any of this information is restricted or available through alternative channels, I would greatly appreciate your guidance on how I might obtain access.

Response 17-09-2025

River discharge data near Aberlour: Not held. We do not hold this data. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held. However, this information can be obtained from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA): https://timeseriesdoc.sepa.org.uk/

Flood history and modelling data for Spey Bay: Not held. We do not not hold any records for flooding at Spey Bay. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held. 

Hydraulic calculations for both peak storm events and average rainfall: Not held. We do not hold this data. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held. However, this information can be obtained from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA):  https://www2.sepa.org.uk/frmstrategies/pdf/pva/PVA_05_04_Full.pdf

Long-term datasets or graphs of flow rates or water levels: Not held. We do not hold this data. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held. However, this information can be obtained from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA): 

https://timeseriesdoc.sepa.org.uk/

Aerial or drone imagery (bird's-eye view) of Spey Bay and the River Lossie: We hold this data set but due to the large sizes of the files this information will be sent to the requester directly