Background

The Shannon IRBD Project has been established by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government to assist the local authorities in the Irish portion of the District to implement the Water Framework Directive (WFD), and is funded through the National Development Plan. It is led by Limerick County Council, while Roscommon and Clare County Councils are the two other lead authorities for the Project. All 18 local authorities, the relevant government departments, state agencies and public authorities are actively participating in the Project. Click here to download details (PDF - 69kb)

Purpose

New European legislation – the Water Framework Directive – requires all member states to protect and manage their water resources on the natural, geographic boundaries i.e. the river catchment or basin. The key objectives of the Water Framework Directive for the Shannon International River Basin District (IRBD) are aimed at:

• maintaining "high status" of waters where it exists;
• preventing any deterioration in the existing status of waters and;
• achieving at least "good status" in relation to all waters in the Shannon IRBD by 2015.

These objectives will be achieved through the development of a management plan for the Shannon IRBD. Similar management plans will be developed for the other seven river basin districts throughout the island of Ireland and for all river basin districts across the EU.

Developing the Management Plan.
The Directive sets out clear guidelines and a timetable for the development of the management plan. The initial stages of this timetable has already been completed for the Shannon IRBD. A Characterisation Report including an analysis of pressures and impacts on water in the District and an economic analysis of water use was submitted to the European Commission in March 2005 as part of a national Characterisation Report. A summary report for the Shannon IRBD was also produced and can be downloaded by clicking on the following link - Shannon IRBD Characterisation Report Summary (PDF - 5306kb)

The steps toward developing the management plan and ensuring that waters in the Shannon IRBD reach good status are as follows;

• 2004
  An analysis of pressures and impacts on water in the Shannon IRBD has to be completed including an Economic analysis – Characterisation Report.
• 2006
  A Monitoring Programme for the Shannon IRBD has to be designed and made operational as the basis for the Water Management Plan.
  
  
  • Water Framework Directive Monitoring Programme - Main Report (PDF - 1.8Mb)
  • Appendix 2.1 - Priority Substances and Relevant Pollutant List for Surface Waters and Groundwater (XLS - 58kb)
  • Appendix 7.1 Rivers Monitoring Programme version 1.4 3 May 2007 (XLS - 3.8Mb)
  • Appendix 8.1 - EU WFD Monitoring Programme for Lakes V 1.4 (XLS - 299kb)
  • Appendix 10.4 - Groundwater Monitoring Locations V1.4 (XLS - 330kb)

A timetable and work programme for the completion of the management plan has to be published and allow six months for public consultation - click to download (PDF - 187kb)

• 2007
  A report on the significant water management issues for the Shannon IRBD has to be published and allow six months for public consultation - click to download (PDF - 1.7Mb)

• 2008
  A draft River Basin Management Plan for the Shannon IRBD has to be published and allow six months for public consultation.

• 2009
  The first River Basin Management Plan for the Shannon IRBD has to be published and made operational.