WATERVILLE Lakes and Rivers Trust is a not- for-profit organisation that is concerned with the conservation and enhancement of the rivers, lakes and streams and their flora and fauna for which the region is so well known
Rivers Trusts
Nore Suir River Trust (Kilkenny)
The purpose of the Nore Suir River Trust is to support research, conservation and public education initiatives that will benefit the freshwater fish resources, associated fisheries and environment of the Nore and Suir Rivers, and to preserve for future generations a valuable part of Ireland’s natural heritage.
Maigue Rivers Trust (Limerick)
The Maigue Rivers Trust grew out of a pilot project on the River Loobagh which was run in 2015. The local farmers, anglers community groups and interested individuals got together with the Inland Fisheries Ireland and Limerick City and County Council to explore a new way of looking after our rivers and lakes. They wanted to find a way that didn’t rely on regulations, but rather on the community becoming stewards of their local waterways.
River Moy Trust (Mayo)
River Trust in the Moy catchment area with the objective of resolving issues identified by the community which are having a negative impact on water quality.
Slaney River Trust (Wexford)
The primary objective of the Slaney River Trust is to protect, improve and rehabilitate the stocks of salmon and other indigenous fish including sea trout and brown trout along with the ecology, animal and plant life of the river, its valley and tributaries.
East Wicklow Rivers Trust
The East Wicklow Rivers Trust formed in 2019 from a core group of people who had come together with concerns about the impact of water flow on the Vartry river.
The Trust covers an area of over 1300 square kilometers, stretching from Bray to Arklow. Our area of interest includes the Vartry, Avoca, and Dargle rivers, and all the other rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands that flow to the Irish Sea in County Wicklow.
Galway: An Investigation into Water Quality and the Ecological Status of the Canal System Present in Galway City, in Addition to the concentrations of Heavy Metals Present in the Claddagh Basin and Eglinton Canal
Mia Donnelly, NUI Galway, 2018
Small Streams Characterisation System (SSCS) Course
The course is designed to train those who are interested in small streams on how best to monitor and characterise these small water bodies.
The rationale behind the course is outlined below:
- The course is based on a simple premise: that obtaining high-quality information on the condition of our small streams is key for catchment and fishery managers to put in place plans to protect the high quality water-courses and improve the problematic areas.
- This citizen science based training programme covers the collection of data on fauna, flora and hydromorphology (the physical structure of the stream channel). It provides volunteers with the required skills and training to walk and monitor the small streams in their particular location, both small mountain streams and discrete coastal streams.
- The objective of the assessment is not to intentionally seek out pollution points but to objectively assess the current status of small streams. In many ways identifying and highlighting the presence of pristine streams that have been little impacted by agricultural or forestry practices, is as important as identifying problems in damaged or degraded streams.
- The Institute of Fisheries Management has accredited the course and will issue a Certificate of Achievement to those who successfully complete the SSCS course.
The SSCS courses are run at various times in different areas of the country. There is no one calendar of courses. Best option is to email Ken Whelan ken@kenwhelan.info for details of what’s on and when
The Atlantic Salmon Trust, Small Streams Characterisation System – Two Days
https://wicklowrivers.ie/small-streams-characterisation-system-sscs-course/
Community Water Development Fund
For 2021, the fund was increased to €360,000, up from €225,000 in 2020.
The Community Water Development Fund supports communities in progressing water related projects and initiatives, delivering benefits locally whilst also helping to meet the objectives of the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland and the wider EU Water Framework Directive.
This Fund is open to all community and voluntary groups to assist in the protection and management of water quality, both locally and in the wider catchment.
This can include the development of a catchment partnership or River/Lake Trust, and delivery of local projects to protect and improve water quality in a local waterbody.
Types of projects considered for funding will include:
- Capital projects such as restoration/habitat conservation/natural flood mitigation measures; fish passage projects; invasive species control, etc.
- Projects that promote public awareness/education and events such as biodiversity days, surveys, training workshops, surveys and plans, water conservation initiatives; Citizen Science, etc.
- General amenity such as beach clean, improving amenity areas, bird watching facilities, etc.
Grants awarded will be awarded at 3 levels:
- from €500 to €5,000;
- up to €10,000; and
- up to €25,000.
The Community Water Fund will enable communities to get more involved in the management of their local water environment, delivering multiple benefits for present and future generations.
The fund is administered by the Local Authority Waters Programme on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Learn more:
Resilience Project for Rivers Trusts
The Resilience Project provides funding to two rivers trusts, Inishowen Rivers Trust and Maigue Rivers Trust (Limerick), to each employ a project officer for a period of three years. Funding is provided by LAWPRO to The Rivers Trust to oversee and administer the project.
This project will aim to demonstrate the effectiveness of professionalizing the rivers trust movement in Ireland in terms of delivering on the core objectives of the Inishowen Rivers Trust.
https://inishowenriverstrust.com/new-project-officer/