Waterford farmer invests €14,000 to protect endangered pearl mussel
Adult freshwater pearl mussel from the Owenmore River, Co Kerry, being re-homed in the Marine Institute’s hatchery facility in Furnace, Co Mayo, as part of a conservation programme.
A Waterford dairy farmer has implemented a series of measures to protect water quality in the River Licky catchment, helping safeguard habitat for one of Ireland's most endangered freshwater species — the freshwater pearl mussel.
The Carrigeen, Co Waterford, farm operated by Michael Dower is among several holdings taking part in efforts to improve water quality within the catchment.
In October 2024, Mr Dower received approval for a €14,006 Farming for Water EIP package to support the implementation of targeted water-protection measures.
The package included investment in a 200m willow filter bed, a nitrogen surplus plan, earthen bunds, rainwater management planning, contractor mobilisation and farmer training.
Read More
Through ongoing participation in the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) and support from the Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP), the farm has undertaken a range of voluntary measures designed to reduce the risk of sediment, nutrient, and contaminated runoff reaching local waterways.
Key risks to waterways from the farm included runoff from silage slabs and farmyards, drainage connections from working areas, farm roadways and gateways, livestock drinking points along streams, and challenges associated with nutrient management and soil fertility planning.
Previously, on the Dower farm, grey water from the yard had the potential to flow into field drains or pass across a sacrificial paddock. The willow filter system slows water movement, captures fine sediment, and promotes nutrient uptake through willow vegetation and natural evapotranspiration processes.
The filter bed forms part of a wider treatment system and complements other measures such as clean-water separation, improved drainage management and enhanced slurry storage.
“For many years, the field was acting as the filter, with the water from the yard soaking away into it from a blocked drain. Through the EIP, I was able to redirect the grey water from the farmyard into a settlement tank and then into the willow bed.
"The willow slips have grown from 9in to 11ft in height in just 10 months, and they are soaking up the nutrients contained in the water. They are doing exactly what they are supposed to do,” Mr Dower explained.
“There is very little space lost — about 7m out into the field, by the length of the willow bed, but the drain was already taking up a few metres of that, so the loss is minimal.
And, when you consider that the field would have been flooded a lot in the past because of the runoff from the drain, I am losing very little ground really. I am looking forward to seeing the difference this winter — that will be the real test,” he added.
Mr Dower also invested in increasing covered slurry storage capacity during 2024 and 2025, providing a surplus of 193 cubic metres above calculated storage capacity, helping minimise the risk of nutrient loss to water.
The farm has also blocked direct yard-drain connections, reducing the possibility of contaminated water reaching streams, and has implemented a detailed nutrient management plan that guides fertiliser and slurry applications on a field-by-field basis.
The project has also attracted international attention. In August 2026, representatives from the River Basin Management Service, the Farming for Water EIP team, and Teagasc welcomed researchers from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to the catchment to examine Ireland's approach to improving water quality through farmer-led action.
The River Licky supports habitat for the freshwater pearl mussel, one of Ireland's most endangered aquatic species. The mussels require exceptionally clean water, stable gravel beds and very low levels of sediment and nutrients. Even minor declines in water quality can threaten their survival.
Freshwater pearl mussels can live for over 150 years and are among the most sensitive indicators of river health. Their decline is often a warning sign of declining water quality, excessive sediment loss and nutrient enrichment within the catchment.
Assessments of the River Licky have indicated the pearl mussel population is under threat due to habitat deterioration and siltation, with very few juvenile mussels present to replace an ageing adult population.
Currently, there are fewer than 50 rivers worldwide believed to be supporting pearl mussel populations, highlighting just how rare and threatened the species is.
By slowing runoff, reducing nutrient losses and improving the management of farm-generated water, the project contributes to wider efforts to maintain and improve the ecological condition of the River Licky.
Encouragingly, water quality in the Licky_010 waterbody is currently progressing towards its target of Good Ecological Status, demonstrating the value of coordinated action at farm and catchment level.
With 79 measures approved across the catchment and eight other farmers participating in the programme, the Dower farm highlights the role targeted on-farm investment can play in improving water quality and protecting one of Ireland's most vulnerable freshwater species.
