Better Farming for Water – Blackwater Catchment Action Plan
The Better Farming for Water campaign aims to support farmers in the adoption of sustainable farming practices that minimise the impact of agriculture on water quality. Each of the initial eight river catchments will have a bespoke plan prepared to provide a pathway to deliver water quality improvements. This is the Action Plan for the Blackwater Catchment.
By Teagasc
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The Blackwater or Blackwater (Munster) has a catchment drainage area or “watershed” predominantly in north county Cork but reaches into counties Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford also. An Abhainn Mhór (The Great River) is the Irish name for the river. All streams and tributaries that contribute to the main channel are included in the catchment drainage area. The most westerly point of the waterway is near Ballydesmond. These waterways drain from west to east towards tidal water and the estuary located between East Point and Knockaverry, Youghal, Co. Cork.
The total area is approximately 3,311 km² (331,100 ha). The largest urban centre in the catchment is Mallow. The other main urban centres in this catchment are Fermoy, Mitchelstown, Youghal, Kanturk and Millstreet. Its long-term average flow rate of is 89.1 cubic metres per second (m3/s).
The Blackwater is notable for being one of the best salmon fishing rivers in the country. The catchment is divided into 28 sub-catchments and has 162 surface water bodies and 34 groundwater bodies.
The Better Farming for Water campaign will initially concentrate on the following eight river catchments: Bandon-Ilen, Barrow, Blackwater, Boyne, Lee, Nore, Slaney and Suir. The EPA has identified these river catchments as ‘Catchments of Concern’ where nitrogen concentrations are too high. The campaign to improve water quality in other river catchments will also continue.