Cork farm project achieves 'significant' improvement in river water quality

Impressive improvements in water quality were observed throughout the duration and conclusion of the project on the rivers Allow, Owenanare, and Owenkeal, which flow into the Blackwater. Picture: Denis Minihine

A five-year project just completed in North-West Cork has resulted in a significant improvement in water quality in its rivers and thrown a major lifeline to seriously endangered species such as the freshwater pearl mussel.

The €1.47m Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments EIP programme focused on getting about 100 landowners to help stop run-off pollution into tributaries which primarily feed into the River Blackwater.