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Minutes of Kinghorn Loch Users Group.

Kinghorn Loch Users Group.

Kinghorn Loch Users Group comprises representatives of:

Kinghorn Community Council

Kirkcaldy Canoe Club

Kinghorn Sailing Club

Craigencalt Farm

The Ecology Centre

Scottish Carp Group

SEPA

Rio Tinto Alcan Ltd

Fife Council

It works to represent the interests of all users of the loch and surrounding areas.

Chair

Ron Edwards

Secretary

Marilyn Edwards (01592 891330)

Who are we?

The launching area (jetty) at the lochside was completed in October 2007 and it looks great. “Plaswood” (recycled polythene) decking was used for launching areas, and lawns and seats for people to sit and relax.  Fife Council has installed life-belt stations.  Funding of £14000 was given by Burntisland Development Trust, Fife Environment Trust, Kinghorn Common Good and Alcan Ltd.

Project Manager

Alan Henderson.

The jetty was opened at our Come & Try day in October 2007

The great success of our first Come & Try Day in October 2007 has led to it being made an annual event - held in early May each year to get the sporting season off to a great start and introduce people (particularly children) to these sports and the countryside.

Youngsters (at 80 year old) trying canoeing for the first time.

Kinghorn Loch suffered from prolonged algal blooms for many years, present from Spring to mid-Winter.  The water was often “Mediterranean blue” and cloudy.  Some blue-green algae could be present.  

In 2001 the community council action group decided to try using barley straw to reduce the blooms.  The general guidance was adapted to build six rafts (Lochframes - designed by the group) each of which holds one large round bail of barley straw, split up into a loose heap on the raft.  The six rafts are loaded in February and August each year.

We are very grateful to J.Cochran Ltd of Banchory Farm for the kind donation of barley straw on each occasion.

The method has proved successful with few blooms occurring and failing within days.  The water is often completely clear.

While these were initially loaded from the shore, it was found convenient to load them in-situ from a large dinghy pulled by the rescue boat.  The netting was fixed quite tight (as it will sag anyway) and it was not necessary to cover the straw.  Initially agricultural netting was used but proved to be degraded by light and not strong enough.  Polypropylene trawler netting has proved very durable.  No repairs have been necessary on the rafts for five years (other than some damage from water craft).

Barley straw frame plans

Barley Straw treatment for algal blooms.