Consistent with Article 19 of the Directive, a draft summary of the Initial Assessment, Determination of Good Environmental Status and Establishment of Environmental Indicators is being prepared and will be made available by September 2013 for further consultation.  However, to ensure all interested parties are given an early and effective opportunity to participate in the implementation of the Directive and, following on the publication of the information document, Ireland’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive Implementation in December 2012, ‘pdf’ versions of the reporting sheets are available. To view these reporting sheets and for further information on the consulation and how submit a response to the go to the Department website by clicking here.

36 hours to protect our water quality

In the next 36 hours your MEPs will be voting on key reforms of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy. For almost 50 years the CAP has subsidised increasingly intensive agriculture which has polluted rivers, lakes and bays around Ireland and Europe. Email your MEPs to vote stop CAP reform polluting our water. Its quick and easy to do click here

Hogan announces septic tank grants scheme of up to €4,000 to help protect water quality

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., today (17 December 2012) announced a grant scheme to provide financial assistance to households whose septic tanks and other domestic waste water treatment systems, require remediation or upgrading following inspection under the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012.

Read more

A new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA)

This report describes how the natural cycle of water availability is continuously coming under threat from a variety of different pressures like droughts and water scarcity, pollution, and flood risks which all increase the vulnerability of the freshwater ecosystems and societies. Land use, water abstraction and climate change are human-induced changes that alter the natural flow regimes that exist in water bodies.

To view/download this report click here

EPA Drinking Water Report for 2011

The recently published EPA report states that  ‘The quality of drinking water from private supplies is a growing cause for concern.  This year, the HSE reported a doubling of the number of VTEC cases, which is a harmful member of the E. coli family.  VTEC can be transmitted in a number of ways, e.g. person to person, waterborne, or foodborne.  The second most common transmission route reported by the HSE this year so far is waterborne transmission.”

To view a summary of the main findings of the report click here

To view/download a copy of the full report click here

Implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive:

Tackling Marine Litter with Drinks Containers Case study

Monday May 27th 2013   Trinity College Dublin 9 am – 4 pm  followed by reception

This workshop aims to

• Provide an overview of marine litter monitoring and reduction targets on the island of Ireland in the context of implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)

• Explore and agree how to achieve full public participation in MSFD on the marine litter topic.

• Exchange information on waste management and marine litter avoidance initiatives

• Bring forward solutions to some marine litter problems, taking the drinks container deposit on return as case study for financial incentives, green jobs and a significant litter reduction.

• Inform and facilitate exchange of experience on avoiding new marine litter, products and materials which turn into problem marine litter.

View the workshop programme at Coastwatch Marine Litter workshop Dublin May 27 th

Registration Fee: 30 euro including refreshments. Concession 10 euro, including those who participated in the litter poll. Registration form is available here.

Coastwatch is carrying out an opinion poll on ways to tackle drinks container litter. You are likely to be among those who  buy a bottle, can or tetra pack  occasionally and  even more likely to have been irritated by the empties littering shores and road sides. So  what is your view on tackling this?

There are only 3 drinks questions in the poll  - please click litter poll to respond. Thanks a  mill!

Further information: Karin Dubsky Coastwatch kdubsky@coastwatch.org tel 00 353 86 8111 684, or Maxime Masini maxime.masini@gmail.com

Working Together for Biodiversity Conference

Date: 9.30am – 4.00pm 1st May 2013
Location: Crown Plaza Hotel, Dundalk, County Louth

Action for Biodiversity Project is hosting a one-day conference about working positively together to achieve more for people and nature. The conference will explore biodiversity policy and practice at a European, National and Regional level. The conference aims to bring together a range of international and national speakers to share their experiences, demonstrate what collaboration and working together has achieved and can achieve for biodiversity. People who are recommended to attend are: Representatives from Local Authorities, Government Agencies, Third Level Institutes, NGO’s, Associations and individuals interested in biodiversity.

This workshop is free to attend. Register at
http://www.morrowevents.com/event_details.asp?eventid=422

An Taisce National Spring Clean

Month of April 2013

National Spring Clean is Ireland’s most popular, well recognised and successful anti-litter initiative. Now in its 15th year, the campaign encourages every sector of society to actively participate and take responsibility for litter, by actually conducting clean-ups in their own local environment. National Spring Clean traditionally takes place throughout the month of April.

For further details on how to take part and visit the website here

SEALING THE DEAL ON A GREENER CAP

Wednesday 10th April- Croke Park Conference Centre

The European Commission proposals for a new CAP were intended to make this policy greener and fairer. After one and a half years of negotiations the Irish Presidency is willing to find an agreement between the Council and the European Parliament and Commission. At the same time concerns are growing that this new CAP will not only fail to be greener but might even be going backwards in terms of impact on the environment.
This  conference will represent a timely opportunity to exchange views on the latest developments in the Parliament and Council with a focus on the key role the Irish Presidency will play in trying to seal the deal and that it will be a tailored platform to debate whether the original purpose and ambition of the reform can still be secured and how. This conference will also be the support for the launching of a study EEB commissioned to the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) which assesses the use of equivalence
mechanisms for complying with greening requirements under the new CAP.

Registration is free. To register for this conference click here.

To view the programme click Draft Programme EEB conference in Ireland 02-04

ECO-UNESCO – Celebrate World Water Day 2013 22nd March

To mark World Water Day and highlight that 2013 is the International Year of Water Cooperation,  ECO-UNESCO, Progressio Ireland and Engineers Without Borders, in the spirit of water co-operation, are jointly organising World Water Day. This event will take place in Dublin and will celebrate the value of water for human life and its fundamental role for peace and sustainable development.

To celebrate this special day we are inviting teachers and TY students to join us on Friday, March 22nd, between 10.00 and 12.30am at a convenient Dublin city centre venue (tbc) to discuss, explore and embrace water issues relevant here in Ireland and around the world.

We have a number of exciting activities planned for the event.

Programme:

10.00am Welcome and opening address (Details of our inspirational speaker will be announced shortly)

10.20am Students split into three groups and are introduced to the workshops. The groups will take part in 2 workshops (45 minutes each).

10.30am – 12.00pm Workshops

12.00pm – 12.30pm Introduction of Water Challenge and closing of event

For more information visit their website here

Annual Meeting of Irish Freshwater Biologists 2013

The 2013 Annual Meeting of Irish Freshwater Biologists will cover a wide range of topics with specific focus in the morning session on ‘recent advances in freshwater fish biology’. Advance registration and payment of the €15 non-refundable booking fee is necessary click here

To see the programme list click here
Date: Friday, 8th of March 2013
Location: University College Cork
Cost: €15

Estimating the effects of land-use and catchment characteristics on lake water quality: Irish lakes 2004-2009

by John Curtis and Edgar Morgenroth (ESRI & TCD)

to be delivered

on

Thursday 7^th February 2013 at 6.00 pm

at the

Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2

Abstract:  This paper attributes the variation in water quality across Irish lakes to a range of contributory factors such as human population, septic tanks, urban waste water treatment, phosphorous excreted by livestock, as well as catchment soil and geology. Both linear and non-linear quadratic models were estimated in the analysis, which attempts to account for point and non-point sources of pollution affecting water quality in 216 lake catchments. The models show a clear link between activities within lake catchments (e.g. agriculture, population, etc.) and lake water quality, finding that the relationship is neither simple nor linear. The analysis also shows that it is important to account properly for the type of and intensity of land-use particularly in relation to agriculture.

for full paper click here

Non-members are welcome to attend and participate in the discussion

Annual Meeting of Irish Freshwater Biologists 2013

Organising committee: Dr. Simon Harrison (UCC), Pascal Sweeney (Sweeney Consultancy), Dr. Mary Kelly-Quinn (UCD), Dr. Ian Donohue (TCD), Dr. Eugenie Regan (National Biodiversity Data Centre), Maria Walsh (National Biodiversity Data Centre). The 2013 Annual Meeting of Irish Freshwater Biologists will cover a wide range of topics with specific focus in the morning session on ‘recent advances in freshwater fish biology’. Advance registration and payment of the €15 non-refundable booking fee is necessary at:
http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/home-page/event-registration/
If you’d like to give a presentation on your research please email a title and abstract (150 words) to info@biodiversityireland.ie by the 22nd of January 2013.
Date: Friday, 8th of March 2013
Location: University College Cork
Cost: €15

Cork Environmental Forum Annual Environmental Awards Event 2012
Firkin Crane Theatre, Shandon, Cork City
13^th December 2012  7pm – 9.30pm

For more information please click here

The EPA commissioned research in this area to

1. Review  existing legislation relevant to the protection and management of high status sites 2. Review international best practice on protecting these sites; and 3. Recommend new approaches to ensuring that high status water bodies remain at high status.

This research  will influence policy in the Water Framework Directive Area.

This full report and the Summary of Findings are available on the EPA Website:  http://www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/research/water/

The report has been published and proposes key strategies to protect & manage high status waters.

MEPs reject restricting pharmaceuticals in water

An article in the European Voice describes how Members of the European Parliament’s environment committee voted on the  28 November 2012 to reject a European Commission proposal to restrict the presence of certain pharmaceuticals in EU freshwater.

The Commission proposed adding 15 chemicals to the current list of 33 ‘water priority substances’ in the Water Framework Directive. This would mean they must be monitored. In addition, it proposed to establish ‘environmental quality standards’ for the substances, which would restrict their presence in the water.

Three of these nominated chemicals were pharmaceutical substances – the first such nomination. Pharmaceuticals can enter the water through human waste.

But today the Parliament’s environment committee decided by a large majority not to give the three pharmaceuticals environmental quality standards, as it did for the other 12 substances. Instead, the three were only added to the priority substances list. So they will be monitored, but not restricted. Quality standards may be set for the pharmaveuticals in four years, depending on the results of the monitoring.

Centre-right Austrian MEP Richard Seeber, who is guiding the legislation through the Parliament, was concerned at the effect the move could have on the availability of the pharmaceuticals – two of which are used in birth control. The environment committee today agreed with him, rejecting the inclusion on the list of the two substances used in contraceptive pills, EE2 and E2, and the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac.

The risks identified in the pharmaceutical substances do not outweigh the “importance of human health considerations”, Seeber said in his report on the matter. “Water policy should not determine directly the health policy of member states.”

But environmental campaigners disagreed. “By delaying action on these three pharmaceuticals for another  decade, the environment committee has set a dangerous precedent by ignoring the robust scientific evidence,” said Sergey Moroz of campaign group WWF. “Unfortunately, the problem is not going to go away and will only get worse and more difficult to solve.” He said the decision by MEPs was political, following pressure from pharmaceutical companies, rather than scientific.

Member states have been divided on the issue of including pharmaceuticals on the list, and were unable to come to an agreement on the dossier during the Danish presidency of the Council of Ministers. Talks will resume under the Irish presidency. A plenary vote in the Parliament has been scheduled for April, to give member states time to agree a common position.

• Location: Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork
• Time: Friday & Saturday: 2 nights
• Cost: €70 euro (members), €90 euro non members

Each summer since 2001, IWDG has delivered a series of weekend Whale Watching courses on Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork. These weekends offer a unique learning experience on one of Ireland’s most stunning offshore Islands, and comprise a series of indoor lectures, as well as cliff and boat based whale watches. These courses also provide a really good opportunity for sightings of a range of cetacean species ranging in an informal setting. They are ideally suited for anyone interested in learning more about cetaceans, their ecology, and how to observe, identify and record them in Irish waters.

Bookings/enquiries:

• padraig.whooley@iwdg.ie or Mob: 00 353 (0)86-3850568
• Further info: www.iwdg.ie homepage

Law and the Environment Conference 2013

Towards Coherent Reform of Environmental Law

Thursday 25th April University College Cork

this year will focus on the theme of Reform of Irish Environmental Law. The Conference Programme contains an extensive list of expert speakers addressing a wide range of topics organized into a number of Specialist Sessions, including:
- Mapping the Future of Environmental Justice;
- Constitutional Reform for Environmental Protection;
- Reform of Energy Policy and Climate Change Law;
- Reform of Marine and Coastal Environmental Law;
- Options for Environmental Enforcement; and
- Options for Imposing Environmental Liability. The conference is aimed at a broad range of environmental professionals, including the legal professions, policy-makers, regulators, industry and environmental interest groups, and provides an opportunity for the dissemination of information on the latest legislative and judicial developments, research results and evolving best practice in the area of Environmental Law, Planning Law and Natural Resources Law.

To view the programme and for registartion details click here

Freshwater Invasives -Networking for Strategy (FINS) Conference9^th to 11^th April 2013

Galway Bay Hotel and Conference Centre, Salthill, Galway, Ireland

FINS is the Freshwater Invasives – Networking for Strategy conference being hosted by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and the European Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Commission (EIFAAC). FINS  will address key topics relating to freshwater invasive species and harmful aquatic pathogens.

The primary objective of the conference is to provide a forum where international scientists, policy makers and stakeholders will address designated themes with a view to informing management and policy development in this increasingly important area.

For full information visit the website here

Dodder Action Group Clean Up April 6th

The Dodder Action group are organizing a big clean up day on April 6th 23rd and are appealing to the public for their help in cleaning sections of the river and its surrounding banks and pathways. A preliminary plan in place to clean from the M50 right downstream to Ringsend and if they get enough support even further upstream.

They are a small group and would be looking for some individuals who could help manage small groups of volunteers on the day or work as a club.

They are currently talking to the various authorities and councils who will provide some level of bags, gloves, pickers etc. And will remove the waste from collection points along the river.

contact dodderaction@hotmail.com

see their facebook page for further details here

EPA Public consultation on Fracking

The end of this week (8th March) is the deadline for responses to the EPA public consultation on the proposed Terms of Reference for a programme of research on FRACKING. For more info and to access the documents click here

MulkearLIFE / Inland Fisheries Ireland Talks on the Lower Shannon Special Area of Conservation.

MulkearLIFE / Inland Fisheries Ireland are delighted to announce details of an exciting block of free illustrated talks taking place in February 2013. The talks form part of MulkearLIFE’s Environmental Education Programme, an outreach programme in local schools and the local community in the Mulkear catchment. The talks will focus on the extraordinarily rich natural heritage of Ireland and in particular the Lower Shannon Special Area of Conservation.

For further details on these talks click here

IPCC’s Hop To It Frog Survey 2013

To celebrate World Wetlands Day, take part in the IPCC Hop to It Frog Survey 2013. If you see an adult frog or frogspawn this spring please let us know by filling in a survey form on line. Every year IPCC needs the help of people all over Ireland to record where frogs, spawn and tadpoles occur in the Hop to It Irish Frog Survey. All you have to do when you find frog spawn, tadpoles, adult frogs or froglets is fill in the survey form on the website. You can request a printed copy of the survey card from the IPCC office if you prefer. Just email your request to the email address below. You can also contact us if you would like us to send you a survey card in the post.
Date: 2nd February 2013

Contact: Email: bogs@ipcc.ie

visit the website for more information click here

Irish Wildlife Trust Cork City Otter Project Presentation

Saturday December 15th, 2012 11:00 AM

Fota Wildlife Park will host a talk about the Cork City Otter Project. Presentation will be given on the results and what we found out about otters in Cork, our conclusions and introduction of our Otter Education Project.

You will find out how many otters live in the city, where they can be found and how we are promoting otter conservation.

Places are limited. Please, book your place by emailing to IWT Cork Branch corkbranch@gmail.com

To read more about this visit the webpage here

To download the  report  click here

More than half of EU surface waters below ‘good’ ecological status

The EEA have published a report this week ‘European Waters- Assessmentof Status and Pressures. Water pollution and physical modifications are still affecting the ecology of many of Europe’s lakes, rivers, transitional water bodies and coastal waters. These problems are likely to prevent the water bodies reaching ‘good’ status by 2015, a target set by the EU’s Water Framework Directive (WFD). A copy of the report can be downloaded from the EEA website here. To read a brief summary click here.

2.      The Marine Strategy Framework Directive in Ireland: Requirements, implications and opportunities for environmentally sustainable management of our marine waters.

3.      Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Ireland – Meeting Water Framework Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive targets for Ireland’s transitional and coastal waters through Integrated Coastal Zone Management.

Tender applications are invited for each individual research project and applicants may tender for one, two or all three of the research projects.  In the case of the suite of 3 being tendered for, an individual tender for each work package must be submitted, which will be assessed individually and the deliverables will be a discrete and separate report for each research project.

1. Aquaculture development in Ireland: Interactions with the Water Framework Directive & the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and implications for the status of Ireland’s waters

This research project will provide a well referenced overview of EU and Irish policy, legislation and guidance regarding aquaculture and implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).  It will further provide an evidence-based critical analysis of aquaculture impacts (individual and cumulative) on the environment in Ireland, set in the context of relevant policy and legislation and, specifically, existing Irish aquaculture planning, licensing, monitoring, control and reporting.  It should also have regard to the potential implications of Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth and Food Harvest 2020 production targets for the aquatic environment.

Based on the above research the contractors will draft a set of recommendations on how to best plan and manage aquaculture – both strategically and by site - in Ireland, in order to achieve WFD and MSFD objectives.  The recommendations will draw on work abroad and include case studies to illustrate key points and encourage best practice.  It will cover both future and existing aquaculture activities, and should also include recommendations for mitigation and restoration measures.

2. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive in Ireland: Requirements, implications and opportunities for environmentally sustainable management of our marine waters.

This research will provide an analysis of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), its requirements and implications for Ireland and its potential for addressing pressures on Ireland’s marine waters.  It will also investigate and outline any overlaps/synergies with Water Framework Directive (WFD) implementation and objectives and with integrated coastal zone management approaches.  The overall objective of this work package is to develop a set of evidence-based recommendations for how best to implement the MSFD in Ireland in order to meet the requirements of the directive and address the pressures on Ireland’s marine environment.  This will be supported by international best practise where applicable to Ireland and by a critical analysis of the current legislative and policy regime, including implementation and enforcement arrangements currently in place.

3.  Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Ireland – Meeting Water Framework Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive targets for Ireland’s transitional and coastal waters through Integrated Coastal Zone Management

This research report will comprise an analysis of integrated coastal zone policy and legislation governing the coastal zone in Ireland.  The key objective of the research is to provide evidence-based recommendations for how to best implement integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) in Ireland in order to meet Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) obligations for Ireland’s transitional & coastal environment, supported by European and international case studies and best practise, where applicable to Ireland and in the context of a detailed critical analysis of current policy and legislative provisions pertaining to coastal pressures and their drivers.

Each research report must be supported by references to up-to-date literature, EU guidance, international case studies and best practise and carried out in the context of a critical analysis of current relevant policy and legislation in Ireland, including, where appropriate, the requirements of the WFD and MSFD and the potential implications of Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth and Food Harvest 2020 targets for the aquatic environment.

An important element of each research project will be focused consultation with a number of key decision-makers and relevant stakeholders.

More detailed individual tender briefs for each of the 3 projects are available on request from info@swanireland.ie

The project is time-critical with a deadline of Friday December 15^th 2012.  The budget for each paper is in the region of €5,000 – €5,500.

Proposals should be submitted by email to Sinead O’Brien, Coordinator, Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) at sobrien@swanireland.ie or info@swanireland.ie by midday Friday November ^9th 2012.

Christina Pantazi, a Cypriot official whose county holds the rotating presidency of the EU, said discussions held this summer in Nicosia between EU environment ministers called for implementing legislation – including the water framework, nitrates and groundwater directives – rather than making sweeping new proposals.

To read the full article please click here.

What can we do:

1. Have one meet-free-day a week
2. Choose meat raised on grass
3. Do not waste food

It is worth reading an interesting infographic story on water consumption of how much water we use and what can we do: http://www.angelamorelli.com/water

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The importance of boundaries in international river management

Science for Environment Policy article:  The importance of boundaries in international river management. DG Environment News Alert Service, European Commission.

A new study has compared the impacts of managing rivers according to two different boundaries in Europe and Africa: the physical boundary of the river itself and the socio-political boundaries of the nations and regions that surround it. To read the full article please click here.

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Ireland noncompliant with the EU legislation to draw up marine strategies to protect Ireland’s seas.

Ireland has been asked by EU Commission to comply with EU legislation to draw up marine strategies to protect Ireland’s seas. Ireland has not informed the Commission about the transposition of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, which should have been in place by 15 July 2010 and if it fails to do so the EU Commission may refer its case to the EU Court of Justice, which can lead to financial sanctions. Also delays in implementing the Directive lessen the chances of achieving good status of marine waters in Ireland and could have implications on Europe’s seas.

To read the full press release please click here.

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Water is for life: How the Water Framework Directive helps safeguard Europe’s resources

The European Commission has produced a brochure on WFD objectives and implementation: Water is for life: How the Water Framework Directive helps safeguard Europe’s resources and a leaflet on the same topic.

Please note that the size of the brochure is 9.58MB

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River Basin Management Plans 2009-2015 Information on availability by country

Following extensive consultations on Water Framework Directive River Basin Management Plans should since 22.12.2009 be available in all River Basin Districts across the EU.

The deadline for publishing River Basin management Plans (22.12.2009) and the deadline for reporting these plans to the Commission (22.3.2010) have expired ! The Commission services are currently assessing the status of the reports received.

To find out more about the River Basin Management Plans available in each River Basin District , as well as the status of consultations which are still ongoing in the different EU Member States please click here.

To view Ireland’s River Basin Management Plans please click here.

For more information on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Ireland please visit WFD Ireland website and Europa-European Commission-Water website