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Special Areas of Conservation

Loch Fada

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country Scotland
Unitary Authority Highlands and Islands
Centroid* NR382958
Latitude 56.08333333
Longitude -6.208333333
SAC EU Code UK0030191
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 79.96
* This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC.
Location of Loch Fada SAC

General site character

  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (50%)
  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (35%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (8%)
  • Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (5%)
  • Improved grassland (2%)

Download the Standard Data Form for this site (PDF <100kb)

Note When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Not Applicable

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • 1833 Slender naiad Najas flexilis

    Records for slender naiad Najas flexilis at Loch Fada date back to 1902, and its continued presence was confirmed as recently as 1999. The site comprises a string of three lochs, mesotrophic in character, with rich assemblages of aquatic and marginal flora. Slender naiad forms extensive beds on the bottom of one of these lochs. It is the single known Colonsay locality for the species and is representative of the south-western part of the species’ range in Scotland.

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.