Public meetings begin for River Basin Management Plan for Ireland
Public meetings have started in priority areas for action in the River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) for Ireland 2018–2021.
These will inform the public of planned RBMP activities on local water bodies.
The RBMP sets out a new approach for protection and management of water quality in rivers, lakes, estuaries, groundwater, and coastal waters.
The RBMP lists 190 water bodies for focused actions up to 2021, these are known as priority areas for action on water quality improvement. On-the-ground actions include stream walks by catchment scientists to gain a better understanding of the issues affecting water quality in the priority areas, and to develop solutions that are relevant and workable locally.
Earlier this year, IFA national environment chairman Thomas Cooney welcomed commitments to work with farmers and rural communities in the new plan, which identifies agriculture as a significant pressure in 780 out of 1,460 “at risk” water bodies, mostly in the eastern half of the country, particularly areas of poorly drained soils such as Cavan, Monaghan and Meath, where excess phosphorus is the issue.
In southern areas where soils are free draining, estuaries are impacted by excess nitrogen.
More than 20,000 farmers will receive advice as part of the RBMP. Along with agriculture, pressures on water quality include urban waste water, forestry, peat extraction, septic tanks and changes to the physical condition of water bodies.
In Munster, one of the public information meetings takes place tonight, starting at 7.30pm in the Ballyhahill, Co Limerick Community Hall.
One of the information meetings takes place next Wednesday, commencing at 7.30pm, in the Dingle Benners Hotel in Co Kerry.
