Turriff Flood Prevention & Salmon Habitat Project

Aim

Protect Turriff show ground from future flooding by restoring the riverbank and enhancing habitat for salmon and other native wildlife.

• About Us

The Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers Charitable Trust is an environmental charity established in 2001 to conserve and protect salmon, sea trout and other native species within the Deveron catchment area.

We are actively seeking the support of the local community and businesses alongside key stakeholders to fund the repair of a section of destroyed riverbank to prevent future flooding and restore the river for native fish and wildlife. 

Project Champions 

Turriff United Football Club

Turriff Rugby Club

Turriff District Agricultural Association 

Turriff & District Community Council 

Chivas Brothers (The River Within)

Atlantic Salmon Trust  

• What is the Problem? 

There are two watercourses (burns) located on the southern side of the town of Turriff, the man made ‘Gassie Burn’ and the natural Turriff burn. The Gassie Burn begins just upstream from the Turriff Agricultural Show ground and joins the Turriff Burn downstream from Turriff United FC before flowing into the River Deveron. 

In January 2026, the riverbank separating both burns collapsed during major rain fall, causing most of the water to flow down the Gassie Burn, which was rapidly overwhelmed, causing major flooding to the Turriff Show ground, Turriff United FC, Turriff Rugby Club pitch, a new changing room and the surrounding recreational facilities. The bank collapse also impacted juvenile salmon and trout and species such as mayfly as they were left stranded in the field margins as flood water receded.  

 • What is Our Solution? 

We plan to provide a permanent fix for the section of breached bank to stop future flooding and improve the river habitat for fish and wildlife. The pictures below show the area of riverbank that has been washed away that historically separated the ‘Gassie’ and Turriff burn. 

The project will use natural tree root plates from windblown trees to rebuild the bank alongside rock and natural sediment.

The root plates will face into the river to absorb the power of the flowing water as the burn rises during periods of high rainfall. The bank will then be rebuilt around root plates. Willow stakes will then be planted to help brace the bank and offer long-term protection against future erosion. The function of the Gassie Burn will also be reinstated using a new culvert pipe.  

The planned solution replicates a successful project undertaken on the burn of King Edward last year where the riverbank was restored using locally sourced root plates as seen in the picture below.  

King Edward Burn Project – Riverbank Restoration Using Tree Root Plates

• We Need Your Help

We are seeking to raise match funding to support this project and compliment the funding already pledged by two private donors and help unlock further funding from a corporate supporter. We require support from you, the community and local businesses to help us reach our funding target. The risk of future flooding events is high and support from you could create long lasting change that protects local sport pitches, play parks, recreational areas, fish and wildlife, businesses as well as securing the future of Scotland’s largest two-day agricultural show that welcomes around 24,000 visitors and locals annually. 

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 4th August 2026 at 12:00pm