Two consultations seeking views on how to ensure long term improvements to water environments have been launched.

The consultations 'Scotland's Water: Future Directions' and 'Restoration of the Water Environment' follow the publication of the first draft river basin management plans for Scotland on December 22.

The draft plans cover the Scotland and Solway Tweed river basin districts and introduce a holistic approach to the protection and improvement of one of our most valuable assets.

The draft plans project that through current policy, legislative and funding mechanisms, the number of Scotland's waters in very good condition could be increased from 57% to 67%.

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Speaking esterday Environment Minister Michael Russell said: "The implementation of the plans will help deliver sustainable economic growth and achieve many of the objectives set out in The Government Economic Strategy - a greener, healthier, wealthier and fairer Scotland.

"We must continue to seek improvements beyond those set out in the draft plans to help achieve a sustainable Scotland and a healthy water environment. To this end the Scottish Government has today released two consultations 'Scotland's Water: Future Directions' and 'Restoration of the Water Environment' which look at further ways that we can make improvements over the long term in a proportionate cost effective way."

Responses to the consultations will be used to develop the final river basin management plans to be published in December 2009.

(GK/JM)