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Project Code [2014-W-DS-23]

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Project title

Delivering Integrated Water Management through the bottom-up approach: A critical analysis

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

IRD Duhallow

Lead Applicant

Fran Igoe

Project Abstract

The proposed research will examine Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) best practice in Ireland and internationally. Particular focus will be on partnership approach of the INTERREG IVC project TRAP (Territories of River Action Plans) and IRD DuhallowLIFE+ which provided an integrated catchment management approach to the River Allow catchment in North Cork. International research and experience of ICM will be identified and their potential application to the Irish context will be examined. Effective methods to motivate a community to be more involved in water management will be identified with practical experience being cited. The research will also examine how ICM can improve the interface between the land use planning system, water services delivery and WFD implementation. In this context, international examples such as the UK�s �Upstream thinking� will be examined. The research will analyse the potential ecological, social and economic benefits and cost savings of the bottom-up approach and community involvement in water management. An output will be to ascertain how ICM can be integrated into the preparation of land use local plans to resolve water quality issues while also improving local environments, public amenity and increasing biodiversity. The outputs of the report will be mainly focused on policy makers and the potential role of ICM at a community level in Ireland. The research will analyse the relationship of policy formulation in the land use planning system and the WFD (Report 1). It will analyse models of international best practice in terms of ICM (Report 2). A report examining ICM practices and the �bottom-up� approach in Ireland will be produced. The research will analyse the potential economic benefits and cost savings of the bottom-up approach and community involvement in water management in Report 4.

Grant Approved

�74,961.00

Research Hub

Natural Environment

Research Theme

Understanding, managing and conserving our water resources

Start Date

05/01/2015

Initial Projected Completion Date

04/01/2016