Catchment characterisation: telling stories with data
Eva Mockler from the EPA Catchments Unit outlines some of the data and models used by Catchment Scientists to assess […]
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Archive
Nutrient modelling indicates most nutrient losses to surface waters are from diffuse sources
New estimates indicate that diffuse sources outweigh point sources in most sub-catchments. The main cause of unsatisfactory water quality in [...]
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Developing the next River Basin Management Plan: a collaborative approach involving communities, stakeholders and public bodies
A River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) requires a clear understanding of what is happening in the rivers, lakes, groundwater, estuaries [...]
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Explaining the Catchment Characterisation Outcomes – Finding the Appropriate Words
Over the last few months, Catchment Unit staff have given numerous presentations as part of the catchment characterisation process. While [...]
Read More The Catchment Services Concept – A means of connecting and progressing Water Framework Directive and biodiversity requirements in the context of ‘Sustainable Intensification’ of agriculture, and climate change
Achieving successful management of our water and biodiversity resources in the context of both the Food Harvest 2020 strategy and [...]
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Water Framework Directive Guidance on Characterisation Methodology V4.0 – September 2016
The purpose of this report is to describe: the role of characterisation in water resources management in Ireland and the […]
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The Story of the Suir
The June 2016 issue of the Catchments Newsletter had several articles telling The Story of the Suir. You can find all […]
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Measuring how the Suir flows, from the mountains to the sea
‘Hydrometrics’ is the measurement of water levels and flow – how can it help us manage the Suir Catchment? The […]
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How healthy is the Suir Catchment?
Do we have the balance right between living and working in, and maintaining a healthy Suir catchment, and if not, what […]
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Article 5 Characterisation (2007)
Article 3 of the WFD requires individual river basins to be identified and assigned to River Basin Districts, which, for the […]
Read MoreWho 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 waterbodies.
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 Local Authority Waters and Communities Office.
Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA is responsible for coordinating the monitoring, assessment and reporting on the status of our 4829 waterbodies, looking at trends and changes and determining which waterbodies are at risk and what could be causing this, and drafting environmental objectives and measures for each.
Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
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 that will be implemented after public consultation, and sign off by the Minister.