Loch Enoch is a multi-basin freshwatter loch in Dumfries an Gallowa, Scotland. It lies til the east o Merrick an sooth o Mullwharchar. The loch is situatit in a granite basin an haes several smaw islands an some saunds on its shore. The sharp granite saund o thir strands wis collectit an selt for shairpenin knifes an scythes.[2] The catchment aurie's vegetation is maistly blaw gress (Molinia caerulea) an common heather (Calluna vulgaris).[1]

Loch Enoch
Wi Corserine, Dungeon Hill and Craignaw in the backgroond
LocationDumfries an Gallowa
Coordinates55°08′10″N 4°26′20″W / 55.13611°N 4.43889°W / 55.13611; -4.43889Coordinates: 55°08′10″N 4°26′20″W / 55.13611°N 4.43889°W / 55.13611; -4.43889
TeepLoch
Primar ootflowsEglin Lane
Catchment area186 ha (460 acre)[1]
Basin kintrasScotland
50 ha (120 acre)[1]
Max. deepth~36 m (118 ft)[1]
Surface elevation493 m (1,617 ft)[1]
References[1]
Loch Enoch viewed fae the slopes o Mullwharchar

The loch's ootflowe supplies Loch Doon an the River Doon, baith o thaim in Ayrshire.

Acidification

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By 1800 the watter o Loch Enoch haed awready become acidic.[3] J. McBain in his 1929 beuk The Merrick and the Neighbouring Hills - Tramps by Hill, Stream and Loch descrieves a troot that 'bore the unmistakable marks of a Loch Enoch trout, i.e. it was minus the lower half of its tail and part of its ventral fins.'[4] McBain writes that the last recordit troot catcht wis in 1899. Syne 1940 the loch becam mair acidic acause o acid rain[3] an in the 1950s it completely tyne't its fish population.[5] In 1994 it wis restockit wi 3,000 troot.[4] The loch haesna become mair acidic syne the mid-1970s an haes become a wee nae sae acidic fae the 1980s onwart,[1] wi the pH increasin slaw fae aroond 4.3 in 1978 tae 4.9 in 2003.[6] Atween 1983 an 2003 the loch's Dissowle't Organic Caurbon levels increased.[7]

Watter analysis

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Concentrations o different elements in saumples fae Juin 2006[8]
Element Concentration μg/l
CaCO3 −500
Li 0.297
Al 83.9
V 0.263
Cr 0.147
Fe 49.3
Fe DRC 46.4
Mn 6.7
Co 0.064
Ni 0.348
Cu 0.247
Zn 3.14
Se 0.178

References

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  1. a b c d e f g Goudie, Andrew; Alexander, David (1997). Lake Acidification in Galloway. The Human Impact Reader: Readings and Case Studies. p. 201.
  2. Barratt, Edward. "'The Croft on the Flowe'". Climb Magazine. Archived frae the original on 23 Julie 2008. Retrieved 24 Juin 2008.
  3. a b Dr John Kinross. "Freshwater Acidification and 'Acid Rain'". Lecture Notes for MSc Aquatic Ecosystems Management, Freshwater Ecosystems Module. Archived frae the original on 4 Mairch 2008. Retrieved 24 Juin 2008.
  4. Richard W. Battarbee (1989). "The Acidification of Scottish Lochs". The Geographical Journal. 155: 353–360. doi:10.2307/635210. JSTOR 635210.
  5. "Recovery from Acid Rain Gives Hope to Scottish Upland Salmonid Populations" (PDF). Fisheries Research Services. 16 August 2004. Retrieved 25 Juin 2008.[deid airtin]
  6. "Freshwater Environment Group" (PDF). Fisheries Research Services. Retrieved 28 Juin 2008.
  7. Robinson, Craig D.; Charles, Sylvie; Malcolm, Iain A.; Devalla, Sandhya (Mey 2007). "FRS METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF TRACE METALS (INCLUDING RARE EARTH ELEMENTS) IN FRESHWATER SAMPLES BY INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA MASS SPECTROMETRY" (PDF). Fisheries Research Services. Retrieved 28 Juin 2008.[deid airtin]
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