Good water management is not only essential for nature and the animals that depend on having access to good clean water, but it also underpins the economic health of a country. Countries where water is not managed properly, resulting in either unsanitary conditions or water shortages, invariably struggle to provide for their people. Therefore it is in everybodys interest to manage properly and sustainably and where necessary conserve water as a valuable resource not to be wasted. The LIFE project appreciates the importance of good water management, as recent changes in landuse practices, industrial and urban development in Ireland have led to negative impacts on our water resource. This has resulted in altered hydrologic regimes and a deterioration in water quality. The impacts on the environment are obvious - increased flash flooding, algae and increased nutrient driven plant growth in rivers and lakes to declines in Freshwater Pearl Mussel salmon stocks and other aquatic species. Whilst the actions within the LIFE project aim to address the habitats of these and other species, the wider water management issues, or lack of management, will continue to negatively impact on these species, unless addressed through good planning and governance. This is why the LIFE project has teamed up with the INTERREG IV TRAP project trapproject.eu. Project co-ordinator Dr. Fran Igoe recently presented at The Strategic Environmental Assessment/Appropriate Assessment Regional Forum hosted by the Mid-West, South East and South West Regional Authorities, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Irish Planning Institute on 7th November 2013. He outlined the objectives and successes of the LIFE project todate and pointed out that without coherent planning and water management, efforts to protect the water resource and important native species will be futile in the longer term. He was asked specific questions at the end of the project. Q1.Do you believe that catchment management projects like DuhallowLIFE should be rolled out to all catchments in Ireland and how could they be paid for? Yes. Each catchment is different with its own problems and potential solutions and the only way to address these is for targeted projects, such as the DuhallowLIFE and MulkearLIFE to be put in place, as these involve the local stakeholders proactively and are targeted in nature. As for who should pay for these? Ultimately these projects would have to be exchequer funded but maybe through a variety of Government Departments working together (e.g., Environment agencies working with health, social inclusion, enterprise, heritage and even tourism). A holistic approach is needed that basically involves everyone with an interest in good management of this country. Naturally EU funding would be welcome. Q2. Do you think the LIFE project will save the Freshwater Pearl Mussel? Most of our measures compliment the NPWS Freshwater Pearl Mussel sub-basin action plans and the actions we are carrying out will hopefully buy the Freshwater Pearl Mussel time until these Freshwater Pearl Mussel Sub-basin plans (drafted since 2010) are implemented. The reality is that a project such as the LIFE project cannot deal with issues outside of its control such as planning and enforcement, but it can make significant inroads on the ground through specific practical measures (actions such as fencing off river banks and planting trees etc.) and help educate people and bring stakeholders together. But we believe that we must at least try and make every effort to save the Freshwater Pearl Mussel, and by doing that in itself we will be helping other aquatic species such as Atlantic salmon, otters and brown trout. Whilst the recession means that there are less financial resources available, many of the requried changes can be cost neutral or even cost effective in the longer term when we look at the bigger picture; e.g., soil erosion, water quality, invasive species management and flooding. It is too easy to give up and walk away which is something we wont do! Q3. Do your silt traps in farm drains work? Yes. Our initial trials show that they can dramatically reduce both suspended solid concentrations and fine silt being carried along the river bed. They are designed primarily for recently maintained farm or forestry drains. Q4. Do you think that one large trap is better or a series of smaller ones? Our preference is for a series of smaller ones acting as a treatment train. Space is a limiting factor in the areas where we wish to place the traps (e.g., farm drains etc) so a large pond for most locations is not a runner. Also from a health and safety point of view, the smaller traps are less likely to pose a hazard to people (e.g., anglers or children) crossing these drains. Maintenance is however an issue, which we are grappling at and have a potential solution in mind, which will be tested shortly. Thank you. The same presentation was subsequently presented at the Water Framework Directive and Planning Working Group at the Customs House on Thursday 21st November. The DuhallowLIFE project is part funded under the LIFE financial instrument of the European Commission
Posted on: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 10:05:58 +0000