West Wicklow Environmental Network Management welcomes the focus on water quality and the conservation of water resources, however we would like to see a greater focus on nature-based solutions to address climate change and protect water quality.
West Wicklow Environmental Network seeks the addition of the following objective under Water Quality:
To provide practical support to communities concerned about invasive species along waterways. (West Wicklow Environmental Network has been highlighting concern about invasives in the Slaney at Baltinglass for over 18 months and the situation remains unaddressed. We have engaged with the LAWPRO Programme but it seems to require leadership at local level, if leadership came from the Council we believe that volunteers could be found in the local community to assist with the removal of invasive species).
In addition, we request the following change to CPO 13.6 - To encourage and promote the use of catchment-sensitive farming practices, including the avoidance of hill burning, in order to meet Water Framework Directive targets and comply with the River Basin Management Plan. (When land is burned, vegetation is lost, resulting in soil entering streams and rivers, thereby increasing water treatment costs).