The Board's environmental function which entails not only protection of water quality but of the fisheries habitat, is overseen by a team of three Fisheries Environmental Officers. A significant element of the Board's environmental work program is ensuring that physical planning and development, civil engineering works, water abstraction and land use practices (e.g. agriculture, forestry, peat harvesting, pipeline installations, mining, etc.) do not impact negatively on the fisheries environment. The Board through its Environmental Officers prepares policy documents and submissions on such matters as: the Review of Forestry Legislation; Guidelines for Forestry and Water Quality; Timber Harvesting; Aerial Fertilisation; Nutrient Use in Intensive Agricultural Enterprises, National Roads Authority Guidelines for the Treatment of Ecology, etc. Environmental Officers represent the Board on various monitoring and other committees, and on River Basin District Management Groups.
Local authorities, the NRA and civil engineering contractors routinely refer plans for proposed new roads, motorways and river crossing structures to the Board for fisheries consideration, and we examine and assess these proposals. Large-scale road construction and improvement works entailing installation of culverts and bridges are ongoing throughout the region, and at a number of locations bridge aprons and other structures have been installed incorporating design recommendations from the Board so as to facilitate free movement of fish and aquatic life particularly during low conditions.
Generally, a high level of co-operation is received from the local authorities and contractors concerned, but prosecutions have been taken where fish kills consequent on poor work practices have occurred.
In the area of forestry development, planting, felling and aerial fertilisation proposals are referred by the Forest Service, Coillte and various contractors to us. We provide advice and guidance on the carrying out of forestry works in a 'fish friendly' manner. Developers are encouraged to plant broadleaves adjacent to waters to provide dapple, shade and a mixed insect food supply beneficial to the fisheries resource. The Board has found it necessary in a number of instances to advise against aerial fertilisation at forestry sites where a risk to water quality as a result of nutrient loss was considered likely. In all such situations, the proposed aerial fertilisation was not undertaken. Sampling by the Board to identify acid sensitive waters has been carried out, and such areas are categorised and treated as sensitive by the Forest Service when dealing with afforestation proposals.
The Board makes submissions to the EPA and Local Authorities on the imposition under the IPC and Local Government (Water Pollution) Act's licensing provisions of conditions appropriate for protection of fisheries and the aquatic environment. As a matter of policy, and where possible, the Board attempts to resolve issues relating to water pollution, by adopting a co-operative approach.
As well as enforcing provisions of the Fisheries Acts, the Board is empowered to enforce the Water Pollution Acts 1977 & 1990, and at fisheries sensitive locations where industrial, local authority and agricultural discharges have resulted in a serious deterioration in water quality, including fish kills, successful prosecutions have been taken. Throughout the region there are locations at which local authority sewage treatment facilities are either inadequate or overloaded, yet in many instances planning permissions are granted leading to further overloading of treatment facilities.
This Board has and continues to appeal decisions of local authorities to grant such permissions, with the majority of appeals been upheld by An Bord Pleanala, who in response to our detailed technical submissions either preclude developments proceeding, or stipulate that only after sewage treatment plant installation or upgrading, as appropriate, may developments proceed.
The Board continues to place particular emphasis on education and training in the environment area. Working with Teagasc and private sector farm advisors, we provide training to REPS participants throughout the region. In conjunction with some third level institutions, we assist in provision of training to those working in the forestry sector and within the 7 Regional Fisheries Board's. Training and awareness presentations to staff employed by the Heritage Service and by Drainage Boards are also provided, and in co-operation with local authorities in the region we provide information sessions for farmers concerning nutrient losses and organic pollution from agriculture.
For further water quality information: http://www.epa.ie/OurEnvironment/Water/