Post on 10-Apr-2017
Marie Archbold & Bernie O’Flaherty
Catchments Unit
EPA Local Authority
Waters and Communities Office
Catchment Characterisation to
inform the River Basin Management Plan – Working Together
Characterisation approach
For every waterbody…
• Large step between further characterisation and objective setting for the RBMP
• Prioritisation of action is first required
Steps involved in setting Environmental Objectives 1. Technical – Risk, Significant Pressures and Issues Management strategies and scenario analysis Draft RBMP Priorities
2. Public Agencies and Communities Measures planned or already initiated Local priorities Community groups in place Resources
3. Regional and National Priorities Coverage of settings/issues, multiple benefits Regional resources, future development/plans, cost benefit. National policy – DHPCLG, WPAC
Collaboration required to integrate information to support prioritisation of action and objective setting
Catchment Characterisation
Workshops
Where do we start?
Border Regional Workshop
Midlands and Eastern Regional workshops
South East Regional Workshops
South West Regional Workshops
Western Regional Workshops
Regional Workshops: • Collate all relevant technical information at a catchment
and regional scale • Identify priority water bodies in line with dRBMP • Identify any measures, or planned action that may impact
water bodies • Determine the technical feasibility of improving At Risk
water bodies • Identify options for prioritisation of action • Provide the information to Regional Committees to support
selection of water bodies/subcatchments for prioritisation
Regional Workshop Content
Focus on At Risk water bodies for each catchment
Consider Groundwater, TraCs and Protected Areas
Collate additional information for each catchment
Discuss Regional Prioritisation Options
Donegal, shown as an example
Workshop Discussion
Technical feasibility of improving At Risk water bodies in each catchment Single vs multiple significant pressures Activities planned that may cause temporary deterioration Measures planned that will improve the water body eg IW CIP Complex Pressures eg hydromorphology, very poorly drained soils
Draft RBMP Priorities High Status Objective Water Bodies and Sites Deteriorated Water Bodies Protected Areas
Identify options for consideration for action by the Water and Environment Regional Committees
Regional Catchment Workshops: Providing the foundation for setting Environmental Objectives 1. Technical – Risk, Significant Pressures and issues issues, management strategies, scenario analysis Draft RBMP Priorities
2. Public Agencies and Communities Measure planned or already initiated eg Irish Water
Capital Investment Programme Local priorities eg tourism Community groups in place eg River Trust Resources
3. Regional and National Priorities Coverage of settings/issues, multiple benefits Resources, future development/plans, cost benefit National policy
Regional Catchment Workshops • Attended by
multiple agencies
Water and Environment Regional Committees, National Co-ordination /Implementation/ Technical Groups WPAC, DHPCLG
Catchment characterisation workshops
• LAWCO (a local authority shared service) is organising and delivering the workshops to local authority operational, management staff and public bodies with support from EPA Catchments Unit
• Integrate and evaluate information on a regional basis
LAWCO Coordinators: Fran Igoe SW & SE Regions figoe@lawco.ie Ray Spain East and West Midlands rspain@lawco.ie Bernie O’Flaherty Border Region boflaherty@lawco.ie
Workshops: when & where dates for your diary Region Dates Catchment Venue
Border Region Louth, Monaghan, Cavan, south Leitrim
6 & 7th March Blackwater (3) Gylde/Fane/Dee (6) Erne (36) Boyle (26A)
Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan
Border Region Donegal, Sligo, north Leitrim B O’Flaherty
8th & 9th March Foyle (1), Donegal Bay (37) Gweebarra (38) Swilly (39) Donagh-Moville (40) Erne (36) Sligo Bay & Drowse (35)
Regional Training Centre Stranolar
Western Region Ray Spain
26th – 28th April Galway Bay South (29) Corrib (30) Galway Bay N (31) Erriff/Clew Bay (32) Blacksod/Braodhaven (33) Moy/Killala (34) Lung (26B) Inflow L Ree (26C) Suck (26D) Outflow L Ree (26E)
Regional Training Centre Castlebar
Region Dates Catchment Venue
Eastern & Midlands Ray Spain
9th -12th May Boyne (7) Nanny/Devlin (8) Liffey (9) Avoca/Vartry (10) Inny (26F) Mid Shannon (26G) Brosna(25A) Lower Shannon (25B)
Regional Training Centre Ballycoolin
South Eastern Fran Igoe
7th- 9th June Owenavoragh (11) Slayney (12) Ballyteigue-Bannow (13) Barrow(14) Nore(15) Suir(16) Colligan (17)
Regional Training Centre Roscrea
South Western Fran Igoe
4th - 7th July Munster Blackwater (18), Lee/Cork Harbour/ Youghal Bay (19) Bandon-Ilen (20) Dunmanus (21) Laune-Maine (22) Feale/Tralee Bay (23) Shannon Estuary (24) Lough Derg(25C) Lower Shannon (25D) Shannon Estuary Nth (27) Mal Bay (28)
Cork Venue TBC Kerry Venue TBC
Workshop Logistics
• Running order of catchments for each day will be provided in advance - give rough timings to allow appropriate staff to attend relevant sections
• Public bodies with a remit around water/water protection will be invited
• Last day of workshop will require input from LA management
Who should attend the Workshops
• Operational staff – attend all relevant sections
• Management staff to attend final day of workshop – to input into identifying options for action for the catchment/county/region
• Relevant staff from LAs and public bodies invited (eg IFI, NPWS, DAFM, Forestry Service, Teagasc, Irish Water, Coillte, GSI, OPW, Loughs Agency, NIEA etc)
Next Steps: Moving from science to implementation Workshops will inform the Regional Water and Environment Management Committees Regional operational committees with increased public body collaboration proposed