Catchment News

Working together to protect and improve our rivers, lakes & coastal waters: upcoming public meetings

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018 – 2021 (RBMP) sets out a new approach for the protection and management of water quality in our rivers, lakes, estuaries, groundwater, and coastal waters. The Plan is underpinned by a strong evidence base from the work of the EPA, Inland Fisheries Ireland and local authorities in assessing the status of water quality in individual waterbodies. The process of developing this Plan involved extensive input from public bodies working with water and opportunities for public and stakeholder involvement.

The River Basin management Plan 2018-2021 lists 190 Priority Areas for Action that will be focused on up to 2021. These Areas include 726 water bodies, consisting of 616 river water bodies, 89 lakes, 14 estuaries and 7 coastal water bodies. Water quality improvements will deliver multiple benefits for: human health, wildlife, and local economies through tourism and sustainable industry. This approach will require ongoing coordination and collaboration between local authorities, state agencies and stakeholders, together with continued public engagement and participation.

Next steps: public meetings in Priority Areas for Action

The next steps will involve on the ground actions and stream walks by catchment scientists to gain a better understanding of the issues impacting on water quality in the priority areas for action and to develop solutions that are relevant and workable locally.

The Local Authority Waters Programme will host public meetings in these priority areas for action before any field work commences to inform the public and stakeholders of planned activities on local water bodies identified for further assessment. These meetings will commence in October 2018 and continue over the lifespan of the Plan. Meeting details will be advertised in local press, radio and on social media.

Full details of when the meetings are taking place are on the Waters and Communities Office website.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”3250″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row]