The EPA Catchments Unit held its 2018 annual Catchment Management Network Meeting on 14 November. All our local authorities and many other public bodies are invited to this meeting to talk about how to protect and improve Ireland's waters.

1. Community involvement in implementation of
the River Basin Management Plan
Ann Phelan, Mick Kane and Jimmy McVeigh
Community Water Officers

2. Outcomes of community engagement so far…
Emerging Trends
‘Building bridges’
• Information
• Networking
• Interagency collaboration
• Projects – promotion of Catchment Based
Approach.
• Creating local Visions/Plans
• Developing Rivers Trusts
• Community Water Development Fund

3. LAWPRO -Community Water Development Fund 2018
€206,362.64
€161,558.60
€187,608.05
€83,722.63
€183,319.92
€0.00
€50,000.00
€100,000.00
€150,000.00
€200,000.00
€250,000.00
South East South West Border Western Eastern & Midlands
CWDF Applications Received by Region
National Total
of Applications
€822,571.84
104 Applications

4. LAWPRO: Community Water Development Fund 2018

5. Water Heritage Day Make a Connection
Insert local wate
The picture can't be displayed.

6. WERLA Anti-Dumping Initiative 23rd Sept 2017
Clean-up and removal of plastics from River
Barrow and Duiske with local volunteers

8. Following River Clean Up the local Boys
National School had a debate and banned
plastic bottles from their school
environment.
They put forward a notice of motion
“Should plastic be banned from our
environment all together”
This notice of motion was debated
amongst schools at county levels, where
the boys won.
Now the KCLR Kilkenny and Carlow local
radio are taking an interest.

9. Big Spring Clean Up Initiative
Collaborative Approach
by Carlow and Kilkenny
Local Authorities, KCLR
Local Radio and LAWCO
as well as EO’s Bernadette
Maloney and Janette
O’Brien
https://www.facebook.
com/kclr96fm/videos/1
0157765314818438/

10. Big Spring Clean Up Initiative
Clean Up Focus-
Preventing Plastics
and Litter from
entering Water
Bodies –Schools
from Carlow and
Kilkenny
participated in
Colouring
Competition

11. Big Spring Clean Up

12. • The Saturday Show, ran four outside broadcasts from various locations in the two counties.
• It reached an audience of over 25,000 people, with 20 communities involved in the Clean Up over a
campaign spanning 6 weeks involving all aspects of social media-Facebook, Twitter
• Recognised by both Local Authorities as an excellent initiative
• Programme has been entered for an IMRO Awards Competition under Social Mobilization
• We involved young people, sports clubs and schools to boost numbers on clean-ups. The results were
fantastic - we re-energised communities and inspired new groups to form and follow our lead.
• Alongside our endeavours, we engaged our online audience targeting school children with an art
competition to promote clean waterways.
Big Spring Clean Up Initiative:
Feedback

14. Plastic Trap on River
Barrow and Plastic
Pollution Installation

15. Plastic Trap Pilot Project of
River Burren and on River
Barrow
This has led to another Plastic Removal
project in the Waterford estuary
Ballyhack and Cheeckpoint, with again
both LAs (Envir Officers) and local
fishermen, Lawco and BIM.
There will be an awareness element to
this project as well with schools in the
area.

16. Jimmy McVeigh
Community Water Officer

17. Community Action in Catchment Management
Cloughaneely and Culdaff Catchments

18. @GarethWrayPhotography

19. Process
• Interested group - Cloughaneely Anglers Association (CAA)
• Existing lease with IFI to manage the fishery.
• Lack of funding to carry out a catchment wide study.
• LAWPRO grant of €3000:
• Preparation of a Catchment Plan
• Stakeholder engagement events
• Promotion of plan …

20. The Plan
CATCHMENT OVERVIEW
 Landscape of the Fishery Area
 Population Distribution
 Climate
 Geology
 Soils
 Hydrology - Water Flows
 Land Use
 Water Framework Directive Status
 Fish Stocks
CATCHMENT PRESSURES AND ACTIONS
 Bank Protection/Restoration Measures
 Land Drainage Measures
 Industrial/Waste Discharges Measures
 Fish Stock Measures
 Invasive Alien Species Measures
NEXT STEPS…..

21. Outcomes – some positive comments …
• Colm Gallagher CAA Chairman – the plan represents a 'health check’ and a
vision for the future.
• Milton Matthews IFI Northwest River Basin District Director - The plan was
developed with extensive community input, drawing on local knowledge and
evidence to identify and offer solutions to catchment pressures and issues.
• Outputs - Catchment Forum to facilitate discussion on progress and emerging
issues, assessment of implementation and performance, and information
trading.

22. Culdaff Anglers
Photo: Culdaff Anglers

23. 2017

25. Photos: Culdaff Anglers

26. Mick Kane
Community Waters Officer

27. Guidelines for Community
Groups undertaking
projects on Rivers and
Lakes in County Mayo
A river or stream is a cycle of energy from sun to plants to insects to fish. It is a
continuum broken only by humans.
Aldo Leopold

28. • Project developed by the Moy Trust
• Reaction to a need for joined up
thinking between agencies and
communities.
• Designed to get everyone working
together to protect their
environment
• Step by step approach with support
from Agencies

29. Introduction
to Guidelines
Glore Mill
10/11/2018

31. Step by Step Process
1. Consultation
2. Planning your project
3. Planning permission
2.4 Contact NPWS
5. Contact Inland Fisheries Ireland
2.6 Contact OPW
2.7 Additional requirements that may be required for projects
3.0 Recording Biodiversity
4.0 Invasive Species
5.0 Health and Safety Guidance
6.0 Frequently Asked Questions
7.0 Useful contacts
8.0 References / Resources / Web resources
9.0 Glossary
10.0Appendices

32. Getting Started
Talk to your community about your ideas
1.Get agreement
2.Find volunteers
3.Finding people with the skills to help
4.Do you need permissions from landowners
5.How will your project be funded
6.Join Mayo Participation Network (PPN) for up-
to-date information on grants, up-coming
trainings etc

38. Agencies Working Together

39. Some examples of funding
sources
Amenity
Grants

40. www.pobail.ie
Leader Themes & Sub Themes 2014 –
2020 –
opportunities for water related projects
40

41. Priority
Areas for
Action
Glore , Lough Carra/Mask, Glenree, Bunowen,
Bundoracha, Newport, Owengarve, Lough
Lanagh

43. I don’t know
what a River
Basin Plan is !!!

51. Article 14 of the Directive
“Member States shall encourage the active
involvement of all interested parties in the
implementation of this Directive…….”

52. Reconnecting with water

54. Biodiversity By Bike
Water Heritage Day 2018 Donegal
Thank You
Info@lawco.ie
www.watersandcommunities.ie
www.catchments.ie
https://www.facebook.com/watersandcommunities/
https://twitter.com/lawco7/