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I was heartened to hear of the river Dee Catchment Management Plan. This initiative is making an important contribution to establishing River Basin Management Planning in Scotland.

Your group has taken an innovative approach in recording the valuable resource which we have in rivers such as the Dee. You are demonstrating cooperative action on a catchment basis in the face of the threats, such as diffuse water pollution, to the river, its habitats and its species. I look forward to seeing the measures taken and the improvements that will result from the group's work.

I strongly welcome the coming together of the various interests in the river catchment and your intention to work together to protect and enhance this great river.

Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment