Floodplains: a natural system to preserve and restore
The preservation and restoration of Europe’s largely degraded floodplains must be better prioritised according to the European Environment Agency report […]
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Articles by category
World Wetlands Day 2020
Each year on World Wetlands Day various groups including government agencies, non-governmental organisations and community groups organise events aimed at […]
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Friends of Rossmore Forest Park bash some Himalayan balsam
Bernie O’Hanrahan tells us how the Friends of Rossmore Park in Monaghan are learning how to manage the invasive species […]
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New EU projects launched to restore Ireland’s blanket bogs and protect and improve water quality
The European Commission Representation in Ireland has announced the launch of two major new EU-funded environmental projects aimed at restoring […]
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Volunteer-led peatland restoration battles climate change and enhances these unique habitats for native wildlife
Catherine O’Connell tells us how volunteers are helping the Irish Peatland Conservation Council restore bogs in Ireland by blocking drains […]
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The marl crusts of Lough Carra
The Lough Carra Catchment Association has supported the publication of ‘The Marl Crusts of Lough Cara’ by Philip Doddy. This […]
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Lough Carra marl lake – protecting one of Ireland’s most unique and threatened habitats
Lough Carra in County Mayo is a unique lake in the west of Ireland and indeed in Europe, due to […]
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The National Federation of Group Water Schemes (NFGWS) – working to make their pumphouses pollinator-friendly
The National Federation of Group Water Schemes (NFGWS) is the representative organisation for community-owned rural water services in Ireland. They’ve […]
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Anglers in border region scale up lake monitoring
The Local Authority Waters Programme is helping anglers in the border region monitor their lakes using innovative citizen science techniques. […]
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Explore your shore: volunteer to explore Irish coastal biodiversity
Dave Wall from the National Biodiversity Data Centre tells us how you can help map our marine biodiversity with the […]
Read MoreWho is involved?
Quite simply, everyone in Ireland has a role to play. This can be from something as simple as making sure you don’t pollute your local stream, or a local community working together to establish a Rivers Trust to enhance the rivers and lakes in their area, to a Government Department or Agency helping a Minister implement a new policy to help protect and enhance all our water bodies.
This website has been developed and is maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency, and is a collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Local Authority Waters Programme.
Local Authority Waters Programme
The Local Authority Waters Programme coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and supports local community and stakeholder involvement in managing our natural waters, for everyone’s benefit.
Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA is responsible for coordinating the monitoring, assessment and reporting on the status of our 4,842 water bodies, looking at trends and changes, determining which waterbodies are at risk and what could be causing this, and drafting environmental objectives for each.
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
The Department is responsible for making sure that the right policies, regulations and resources are in place to implement the Water Framework Directive, and developing a River Basin Management Plan and Programme of Measures to protect and restore our waters.