Better Farming for Water – Barrow 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 Barrow Catchment.
By Teagasc
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The Barrow Catchment is located in the southeastern half of the country, the river rises in the Slieve Bloom Mountains. It includes the area drained by the River Barrow upstream of the River Nore confluence and all streams entering tidal water between the Barrow railway bridge at Great Island and Ringwood, Co. Kilkenny, draining a total area of 3,025km². The Barrow Catchment area covers parts of several counties, including Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wexford and Wicklow. The largest urban centre in the catchment is Carlow, the other main urban centres in this catchment are New Ross, Graiguenamanagh, Athy, Portlaoise, Mountmellick, Portarlington, Monasterevin and Kildare. The larger of the many tributaries include the Lerr, Fushoge, Burren, Greese, Mountain, Owenass, Boherbaun and Stradbally Rivers. The Barrow Catchment is divided into 20 subcatchments with 149 waterbodies, six transitional waterbodies and 50 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.