Our Aquatic Environment: Conservation and Restoration
Workshop to explore the future of water protection across the island of Ireland. A one‑day workshop, Our Aquatic Environment: Conservation […]
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Archive
Celebrate World Wetlands Day on 2 February 2026
World Wetlands Day takes place every year on 2 February. It is a chance to recognise the vital role that […]
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FarmPEAT: farming with nature in the midland raised bog landscape
The FarmPEAT Programme is a locally-led, innovative, results-based pilot programme for farmers who manage lands that surround some of Ireland’s […]
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EPA Conference Series: Peatland Restoration and Water Quality
This article builds on a presentation by Enda McDonagh of Bord na Móna at the EPA Water Conference, where he […]
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Creating a vision for Dundalk Bay Rivers
Dundalk Bay is an important area for shellfish, wetland birds and a range of marine and coastal habitats including vegetated […]
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ESManage – understanding how to manage freshwaters and the ecosystem services they provide
Of all the ecosystems on the planet, freshwaters are under the greatest pressure and are likely the most endangered. Human […]
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The Bord na Mona Raised Bog Restoration Project
If you travel through the Irish midlands, you will eventually come across Bord na Móna peat production bogs. These areas […]
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Trout Fishing Event hosted for Wicklow Youths
An introductory trout fishing event for Wicklow Youths was hosted by Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Dublin Angling Initiative recently at Annamoe […]
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Tackling invasive species – biosecurity needs to be second nature to us all
In Ireland we are experiencing the same phenomena as seen globally, that is an increase in the number of non-native […]
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Biodiversity – the variety of life
The terms ‘nature’ and ‘biodiversity’ are interchangeable. Human beings are an intrinsic part of biodiversity and interact with it on […]
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 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 Local Authority Waters Programme.
Local Authority Waters Programme
The Local Authority Waters Programme 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.