The Clyde catchment

The River Clyde, at 170 km, is the third longest river in Scotland. The catchment has a surface area of 3,200 km (of which 26.3 km is freshwater lochs and reservoirs), and a total river length of 4,244 km. We work across the catchment in eight Council areas (East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire) and these are home to 33.8% of Scotland’s human population.

Clyde catchment facts

  • Home to 1.79 million people (33.8% of Scotland’s human population)
  • 4,224 km of rivers
  • 26.3 km2 of freshwater lochs and reservoirs 
  • 33 species of freshwater fish
  • 67% of water bodies at “less than good status” under the European Water Framework Directive
  • No District Salmon Fishery Board (DSFB) so no statutory body overseeing fish and fisheries issues