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

Thank You