Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

204 Chapter 8: Water A challenge for agriculture is that many of the measures to address water quality are voluntary schemes. In addition, incentives are not always sufficient to get measures where they are needed, or measures are not sufficiently targeted to address the specific issues in the locations where they are needed. While ASSAP has a high farmer engagement rate, a review of the programme identified the lack of funding for voluntary measures as a barrier to progress. 6 A key response to this is a new Farming for Water EIP, which was launched in March 2024. This will provide funding to farmers for implementing specific, targeted measures to protect and restore water quality. Hydromorphological measures Impacts on hydromorphology arising from multiple sectors are the second most prevalent pressure on our waters, affecting 448 water bodies. Current measures to address hydromorphology include control of agricultural land drainage (via the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (S.I. No. 296/2018)), best practice guidelines for drainage works 7 and a barriers assessment programme; 8 however, it is acknowledged in the Water Action Plan 2024 that controls on pressures that impact the physical condition of waters need to be strengthened. One such control is the introduction of a regulatory regime to address the impact of abstractions on water quality. The Abstractions (and Associated Impoundments) Act (No. 48 of 2022) was published in 2022 and regulations to give effect to the Act were published in August 2024. Another key measure in the Water Action Plan is the introduction of a regulatory regime to control activities that involve works on, or in, water bodies that may impact their hydromorphology. The control of such activities is a requirement of the WFD, and Ireland’s failure to have adequate controls in place is the subject of a European Commission infringement case. 6 www.teagasc.ie/media/website/crops/ASSAP-Expert-Review-Final-Report---pdf--22-Nov-2021.pdf (accessed 24 June 2024). 7 www.floodinfo.ie/frs/media/filer_public/b0/5a/b05a1126-7de1-4921-bdb2-1c2579470171/environmental_guidance_-_drainage_ maintenance_and_construction_2019_web_part-1.pdf (accessed 24 June 2024). 8 www.fisheriesireland.ie/what-we-do/research/national-barriers-programme (accessed 24 June 2024). 9 www.gov.ie/en/publication/forestry-policy-and-strategy/#shared- national-vision-for-trees-and-forests (accessed 24 June 2024). Irish rivers are heavily fragmented by barriers such as weirs, culverts and bridges, which block the movement of fish and impact the overall habitat and biodiversity of rivers. The new National Barriers Programme, established by Inland Fisheries Ireland, will develop the evidence base to identify, risk assess and develop suitable restoration programmes to mitigate the impacts of barriers. This work will support the objectives of the EU Nature Restoration Law (Regulation (EU) 2024/1991) to deliver free-flowing rivers. The implementation of measures to address and regulate activities that impact hydromorphology has received little attention, limiting the state’s ability to manage this pressure. The actions set out in the Water Action Plan need to be prioritised and resourced to make progress in this area. Forestry measures Forestry is the third most significant pressure impacting water quality, and there has been little change in the relative scale of its impacts between the assessment periods. Water quality declines caused by forestry operations, such as afforestation, harvesting and thinning, can often be substantial; however, there is evidence that water bodies can recover following these events and remain in good condition when the forests are stable. Forest creation can also be used as a mitigation measure for other pressures; for example, to intercept overland loss of phosphorus or sediment from agricultural activities from entering water. In 2023, the Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland by 2050 9 was published, calling for: The right trees in the right places for the right reasons with the right management – supporting a sustainable and thriving economy and society and a healthy environment.