The management of water resources based on catchments or river basin districts have been instigated at European Union level with the introduction of the Water Framework Directive in the year 2000. The European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003 enacted on the 22nd December 2003 brings this legislation into Irish law and states that by June 2009 all local authorities will have to have a River Basin Management Plan adopted. A co-ordinated programme of measures to achieve at least “good status” for rivers, lakes, ground water, estuarine waters and coastal waters needs to be provided. Ireland has been divided into 7 No. river basin districts and Consultants are currently engaged in the drafting of river basin management plans in close consultation with the local authorities involved.
County Leitrim falls into 3 of these River Basin Districts as follows:
- The Shannon RBD covering all of the River Shannon and its tributaries;
- The North South Share RBD covering the River Erne(part of the Shannon/Erne Waterway, Cullies River, Lough McNean) and its tributaries and Lough Melvin catchment area;
- The Western RBD covering the Bonet River and Lough Gill catchment.
Download Map displaying location of River Basin Districts
A Characterisation Report for each RBD has been forwarded to the EU in March 2005. This report indicated the main pressures and threats to achieving the required ecological status for all surface waters and required status for groundwater within each River Basin. It describes water bodies in each district in terms of:
- Status
- The pressure on them
- The activities which are likely to cause problems
- What must be done to protect them
The Characterisation Reports were followed by a timetable and work programme in 2006 for the production of a draft river basin management plan for each district.