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OPW: Past Coastal Erosion Database

The OPW has launched an online platform that enables members of the public to report coastal erosion and share local observations from around Ireland’s coastline.

The Past Coastal Erosion Database, located at reportcoastalerosion.ie, will receive and log reports of coastal erosion that have occurred or are occurring in Ireland, building a centralised body of local knowledge to support the management of coastal change.

The platform enables coastal local authorities, members of the public and any other interested parties to submit reports of coastal erosion quickly and easily, complementing the OPW’s ongoing monitoring and assessment of Ireland’s coastline.

These reports will help strengthen our evidence base of how our coast is changing in response to the impacts of climate change and other factors. They will help identify emerging trends and enhance ongoing coastal monitoring and assessment, whilst also highlighting local impacts or recent changes that are not captured through routine monitoring alone.

Local Authorities may continue to apply in the normal manner for funding to deal with local coastal erosion issues that arise through the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.

Visit reportcoastalerosion.ie

How to report past coastal erosion

Learn more

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About author

EPA Catchments Unit

Administrator

The EPA Catchments Unit is based in Dublin, and the team is involved with catchment science, chemistry, ecology, hydromorphology, modelling, Geographic Information Systems and planning. We work with the wider EPA, all of our local authorities, the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and other public bodies and Departments to ensure we have the best available data and information about our catchments.

Who is involved?
Quite simply, everyone in Ireland has a role to play. This can be from something as simple as making sure you don’t pollute your local stream, or a local community working together to establish a Rivers Trust to enhance the rivers and lakes in their area, to a Government Department or Agency helping a Minister implement a new policy to help protect and enhance all our water bodies.

This website has been developed and is maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency, and is a collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the River Basin Management Service.

River Basin Management Service

The River Basin Management Service coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and supports local community and stakeholder involvement in managing our natural waters, for everyone’s benefit.

Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA is responsible for coordinating the monitoring, assessment and reporting on the status of our 4,842 water bodies, looking at trends and changes, determining which waterbodies are at risk and what could be causing this, and drafting environmental objectives for each.

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Department is responsible for making sure that the right policies, regulations and resources are in place to implement the Water Framework Directive, and developing a River Basin Management Plan and Programme of Measures to protect and restore our waters.