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