€20 million Waters of LIFE project to protect 6 of Ireland’s pristine river catchments
- Published on: 2 May 2022
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan has launched the Waters of LIFE strategic project. Managed by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the strategic project involves 16 partners including government departments, State agencies, Local Authorities, and local development companies, with an overall budget of €20 million. The aim is to reverse the long-term trend of decline in Ireland’s “high status” waters. High status rivers are those considered to be in pristine condition and rich in biodiversity and Ireland is one of a small number of EU member states that still has a number of high status water bodies. However, the number of remaining high-status sites has declined from 31.5% (1987-1990) to 19.9% (2017-2020), representing an almost 37% decline in number according to EPA data.
The 6 catchments included in this scheme are:
- The Shournagh, Co Cork, near Tower and Blarney
- The Awbeg, Co. Cork, near Kanturk
- The Island River in the Galway/Roscommon area near Ballymoe
- Rivers in the catchment of Lough Graney, Co. Clare
- The Avonmore, Co. Wicklow
- The Sheen, Kerry, as a control river for the strategic project
The total budget under this LIFE Integrated project is €20,369,805 of which €9,500,000 has been committed by the European Union. The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. Since its creation in 1992, it has co-financed some 5000 projects across the EU, with a total contribution of approximately €6.5 billion for the protection of the environment and climate action. These programmes are typically run by government agencies such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service, local authorities, with involvement of community groups, third level institutions, and private companies. Further information on Ireland’s LIFE Projects.
Key objectives of the Waters of LIFE strategic project up to 2028 will be:
- increase understanding of the causes of status change in these types of rivers, which can be sensitive to even minor land management changes within a catchment
- enhance public awareness of the ecology, ecosystems and natural capital of high-status waters and their catchments
- develop locally tailored solutions in consultation with local landowners and communities. This will include development of a results based agricultural payments scheme, which will be implemented in 3 of the 6 catchments
- make recommendations that will inform the development of future agri-environment and forestry policies and provide for the long-term sustainable management of high-status catchments
The project will include a demonstration project to develop, test, and validate integrated catchment management measures to halt and reverse the declining number of high status water bodies in Ireland.
Speaking at the project launch, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan, said:
“The ongoing loss of high status waters is among the most concerning, protracted and persistent water quality trends in Ireland. The 6 high status rivers selected for this scheme – and the communities, industries and local economy surrounding them – will benefit greatly from the implementation of locally-tailored solutions to be delivered through this scheme. No doubt many learnings will be found and can be applied to our future efforts to preserve and improve our high status waters.
"With 16 partners involved, this project will be highly collaborative in nature and the shared expertise among these partners will bring great benefit to the scheme. I also look forward to working together with the communities and landowners in each of the selected regions to bring out the best in these rivers.”
Further information can be found on the Waters of LIFE website.
Notes
Pressures on water quality
The primary pressures acting on high status objective water bodies are:
- hydromorphology: 29%
- agriculture: 22%
- forestry: 29%
- unknown anthropogenic: 11%
- extractive industries (peat and quarrying): 5%
- domestic wastewater: 4%
Project partners
The DHLGH is the lead authority for the project and there are 16 different project partners, including:
- Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine
- Teagasc
- Local Authorities Waters Programme
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Coillte
- The Forest Service
- local development companies
The 6 catchments included in the scheme
River name: The Shournagh
Water Framework Directive Reference: Lee SC 060
Location: Co Cork (near Tower and Blarney)
Significant Pressures: Agriculture, Hydromorphology, domestic wastewater, urban runoff, OPW Area for Action
River name: The Awbeg
Water Framework Directive Reference: Blackwater SC 060
Location: Co. Cork (Near Kanturk)
Significant Pressures: Agriculture, Hydromorphology
River name: The Island River
Water Framework Directive Reference: Suck SC 020
Location: Galway/Roscommon near Ballymoe
Significant Pressures: Agriculture, Urban Wastewater
River name: Rivers in the catchment of Lough Graney
Water Framework Directive Reference: Graney SC 010
Location: Co. Clare
Significant Pressures: Forestry, Single house treatment systems
River name: The Avonmore
Water Framework Directive Reference: Avonmore SC 010
Location: Co. Wicklow
Significant Pressures: Forestry, Agriculture
River name: The Sheen
Water Framework Directive Reference: Sheen SC 010
Location: Kerry
Significant Pressures: Not at risk (Control)