Susan Cooksley
+44 (0)344 928 5428
The James Hutton Institute
Craigiebuckler
Aberdeen AB15 8QH
Scotland UK
Biography
Susan is a catchment scientist and practitioner. She specialises in understanding anthropogenic impacts on water and habitat quality in order to support the sustainable management of river systems. Susan coordinates a programme of water-energy research in support of the sustainable planning, development and management of Scotland's hydropower resources. The work is investigating the implications of continued reliance on hydropower, with a focus on future water scenarios, competing water demands, and tradeoffs with other ecosystem services. Within this programme Susan is leading research that is investigating the envoionmental impacts of large and small scale hydropower schemes with the aim of supporting their sustainable management and operation.
Susan's research is fully integrated with implementation on the ground. She has been the Partnership Manager for the Dee Catchment Partnership, one of Scotland's foremost catchment management partnerships, since 2005. This initiative is coordinating local stakeholders in the common aim of restoring habitat and water quality throughout the Dee catchment. Following the launch of the Dee Catchment Management Plan in 2007, current projects include: remeandering of the Logie burn, flooplain restoration in the upper catchment, large scale restoration of riparian woodland, a rolling programme of buffer strip installation in the middle catchment, the promotion of new guidance for the use of buffer strips during development works, and the production of UK guidance for septic tanks. The Partnership delivers a wide range of outreach activities, working with schools, communities and local groups and organisations.