Waterville, Ballinskelligs, Inny Valley Catchments’ Sustainability Plan
Loch Luíoch, Abhainn Na hUíne, Bá Fhionain, agus Bá na Scealg – Plean inbhuanaitheachta
Presentation to, and consultation with, communities – Preliminary Findings and Feedback
Workshop1: Thursday 23rd July 2020O’Raw Consultancy & Associates:
Paul O’Raw, Dr Brendan O’Keeffe, Niall Walsh, Dr Hrishi Ballal
Project Steering Group
• IRD Waterville,
• South Kerry Development Partnership,
• Kerry County Council,
• Teagasc,
• LAWPRO (Local Authorities Waters Programme)
• Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Format of Presentation
1. Introduction & Project Background – Project Steering Group
2. Outline of project workplan – Paul O’Raw, project coordinator
3. Presentation, Dr Brendan O’Keeffe– Community Survey Response
4. Introducing Geo-Design: interactive community planning
4. Discussion and feedback
5. Next Steps
What is a Catchment?
• We all live in ‘catchments’, whether it is the catchment area for a school or hospital, or a catchment area for a local stream, river, lake or coastal water.
• For water, a catchment is simply defined as an area of land around a river, lake or other body of water.
• Living in a catchment that has healthy water can help a community to have a better quality of life. A healthy water catchment provides high-quality drinking water and supports livelihoods such as agriculture, recreational angling and water sports. It also supports local ecosystems so plants, animals, fish and insects that depend on having healthy water can thrive and flourish.
Project Workplan
Waterville/ Ballinskelligs Catchments Plan
Public workshop to finalise actions section, end Sept.
Interactive community planning workshop (Sept)
Prepare biodiversity profile
Stakeholders Consultation;
Schools Project
Publicise Project to All Stakeholders
Stakeholders Webinar June
Community Consultation June
Drafting of strategic plan / actions section
October to mid-Nov, completing document.
Mid-November, present draft to Steering Group.
End November, final edits.
Interacting / Stakeholder uses of the catchments
Angling
Farming Forestry
Golf Clubs
Hotels & Guesthouses
Cafés & Restaurants
Sea-fishing
Sea Swimming
Ecology Groups
Fish Farm
Sea-Sports
Rowing Club
Seashore Walking visitors
Preliminary Themes & ActionsEmerging Strategic Themes Emerging/ Potential Actions1. Water quality focus Set water quality targets,
2. The Agri-Environmental Role is
Vital.
Close collaboration with farmers,
Agri/ Forestry Environment Scheme e.g., EU LIFE
3. A Strong Science-Based Approach Collaborate with IFI / STAMP outcomes,
Identify sustainable river bank erosion measures,
Include measures to deal with invasive species,
4. Economy/ Tourism/ Facilities Develop river walks, loop walks, connect with The Kerry Way,
More signage/ bilingualism,
Develop a broader tourism offering,
Mitigate any differences between anglers and blue-water activities
5. Citizen & Community Science/
Awareness & Education
Community/ citizen science actions to be identified,
Awareness of connectivity between
Support development of a marine awareness centre,6. A Sense of Place Cultural and heritage actions to be identified.
Emerging Values – Stakeholder Consensus❑Solid science and data as the basis for decision-making
❑Healthy waters
❑Farming as custodian of the landscape
❑ Community cohesion for communication, cooperation, facilitation and information dissemination,
❑The catchments are spectacular, unique, “almost pristine”.
❑A sense of identity - through place, heritage, history, folklore
❑Involvement of all interests in the process
❑Tangible benefits for the community
Community Survey ResponsesDr Brendan O’Keeffe
These survey findings convey the views of local people.They are independent of the views of the Steering Group, consultants or any agency.
What does a sustainability plan look like?
Building on previous work and knowledge
Potential collaboration with other communities
The Cabragh Wetlands Trust was registered in 1993 in an effort to save a vast area of wetland
habitats from destruction after the filling-in of the settling pools by the Thurles Sugar Factory during its closure. These lagoons used to be an oasis of wildlife, particularly birds.
The Shannon Wetland Restoration Project is a community initiative undertaken by
members of Dúchas na Sionna, Shannon Tidy Towns and Shannon Men’s Shed as well as
other interested individuals. The committee has cleared conifers that have been
drying the site and pond construction has also commenced.
The aim is to return the area to its original wetland state thus enhancing biodiversity
and creating an attractive local amenity for all.
The project is supported by Clare County Council, the Local Authority Waters and
Community Office, The Heritage Council and BIM’s FLAG West fund. Local businesses Ei and Avara also support the project.
Engaging youth and the young at heart
https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/projects/lego-competition
Learning from others / Benchmarking our data
Profile of Survey Respondents
Other18%
An Corrán / Waterville
42%
An Dromaid / Cillín Liath
15%
Baile an Sceilg12%
Elsewhere in Iveragh
11%
Elsewhere in Kerry
2%
30% of respondents are farmers.
Favourite Locations
0 10 20 30 40
All of them
An Gleann Mór
The Glen
The Cummeragh
Waterville / An Coireán
On the SOUTHERN shores of Ballinskelligs Bay…
On the NORTHERN shores of Ballinskelligs Bay…
Along The Inny
Around Lough Currane
No. Respondents
Ecosystem Services – Lough Currane
Ecosystem Services – The Inny
Ecosystem Services – Bá na Scealg
Knowledge of Water Quality
Perceptions of Water Quality – mean scores
3.25 3.3 3.35 3.4 3.45 3.5 3.55 3.6
Inny River
Ballinskelligs (freshwater)
Ballinskelligs Bay
Lough Currane
The Cummeragh
Mean level of quality0 = heavily polluted5 = pristine
Factors affecting water quality - perceived
Factors affecting water quality - perceived
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Waste Water from Waterville
Septic Tanks
Forestry
Fish farming
Industry
Farming / agriculture
Climate change
Land drainage
Changes to the river structure
Aquaculture
Changes in land use
Water abstraction
Percentage of Respondents
Good effect No Effect Bad effect
Strategic approaches / options for development- Lough Currane / Loch Luíoch
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Lough Currane should be preserved primarily forangling, and blueway activities should be minimised.
There is scope for angling and blueway (recreationale.g., kayaking / rafting) activities to carry on
simultaneously on Lough Currane.
There needs to be more promotion of blueway(recreational) activities (water-based recreation) on
Lough Currane.
Percentage of respondents
Strongly Agree Agree Neither Agree nor Disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Strategic approaches / options for development- Inny River / Abhainn na hUíne
Strategic approaches / options for development- Bá na Scealg
Support for Agri-Environmental Initiatives
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Agri-environmental schemes such as GLASshould be extended and mainstreamed
(extended to all farms).
Farmers should be better supported andincentivised to protect watercourses on their
lands.
Percentage of respondents
Strongly Agree Agree Neither Agree nor Disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Values / Principles
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
There should be limitations on the number ofanglers in the catchment.
There should be stringent limitations on thevolume of fish that anglers can remove.
A portion of the fees and licences should be ring-fenced for the catchment.
The ‘polluter pays’ principle
Percentage of respondents
Strongly agree Agree Not sure / no opinion Disagree Strongly Disagree
Breakout Room Questions
1.General response to the presentation?
2.What would be the consequences if we do nothing?
3.What are some of the key priorities that should be
included in a plan?
Next Steps:
Stakeholder’s Geo Design planning workshop 1st week September,
Community Geo Design planning workshop 3rd week September,
Presentation of draft plan for finalisation, early October,
Thanks for your participation and contribution.
O’Raw Consultancy & Associates