Origins, Challenges, Oportunities

August 2014

In stream works to improve Fish Habitat

Streamscapes Loobagh

Kilmallock

Kilfinane

Bruff

Adare

Ballingarry

Charleville

Hospital

Maigue Rivers Trust Structure

Directors from :

AnglingFarmingCommunityLocal DevelopmentBusinessTourism/outdoor/leisureEducationResearch/BiologistFinanceElected representativeConservation/Wildlife

Where is trust at?

• 11 directors drawn from the sectors listed

• Company limited by Guarantee with Charitable Status

• Member of PPN

• Represented on National Water forum

• The trust meets monthly

The Directors of the Maigue Rivers

Aidan Gleeson

Farming

Tom Harrington

Conservation/Wild life

John Tierney

Tidy Towns

Rhiannon Laubach

Local Development

Catherine Dalton

Education/ Research

Eddie Ryan

Local Government

Sybren Oggel

Tourism/leisure

Dave Buston

Angling

Veronica Santorum

Business

Noreen Ryan

Education

Carmel Fox

Finance

Anne GogginLocal Authority Liasion

Governance

• Accounts

• Returns to CRO

• Returns to Charities Regulator

• Charities code of governance

Ballyhoura Social Enterprise Supports

Our Mission“To protect, enhance and cherish

the rivers and lakes of the Maigue catchment for the

benefit and enjoyment of all.”

Our Vision“The Maigue; a world class

resource, protected, cherished and enjoyed by all.”

Aims, Objectives of the Maigue Rivers Trust

Aims

To Protect To Enhance To promote utilization and enjoyment

Objectives and Actions

1

To Protect

Create Awareness

Education

Monitor ecology & health of rivers though volunteer groups

Website for the Maigue RiversTrust

Outdoor class roomse.g. Riverfly project

Communication/education officer –engage in social media

Community-led participation

Build strong relationships with all who have an interest in or concern for the river

School visits

StreamScapes project for Maigue

Objectives and Actions

2

To Enhance

Improve waterquality

Fish habitat& fisheries

Improve habitat for other species –otters, kingfishers

Locally-led agricultural measures

EIP Catchments Project(multiple stakeholders)

Current status of fish stocks?

Biodiversity

Invasive plant control

In-stream works; extension of OPW EREP programme

Seek funding for research & fishery management initiatives

Catchment-wide biodiversity assessments

Objectives and Actions

3To promote utilization &enjoyment

Encourage local angling tradition

Other recreational& tourism potential

Support juvenile angling programmes & competitions

Support angling clubs in Catchment

Walking, kayaking; ecotourism, archaeology

Access Old Croom-Charleville line as Greenway; riverside walks

Explore with community and Stakeholders; funding opportunities

What has the trust been doing?

• Activities have included:

• Stakeholder Consultation Event

• Fisheries report and meetings with Anglers

• Official Launch

• Website set up

• Signage

• 3rd level placement student

• Submission on RBMP

• European Innovation Partnership (EIP) application

• Mink control programme in co-operation with anglers

• Progressing signage project

• Producing Annual Newsletters

• Drumcamoge ICM project

Kayaking

Pond Dipping

Small Streams Characterisation Course

• Baseline Studies Conducted

River EnvrironmentalStewardship

• EPA/Mary Immaculate College PhD research project

• Project partners: Rivers Trust, Local Citizens, Community Water Officer, Postgraduate Researcher

• Objectives: • Co monitor and develop appropriate citizen

science programmes

• Develop a spirit of stewardship towards the river through citizen science

• Mainstream catchment scale citizen science intiatives

Streamscapes Loobagh

Funding

• Funding applications• Community Water Fund• LA21/community environment action fund• Heritage Council• EIP• LEADER• National angling development fund• Mary I college• JP McManus Benevolent Fund• Community Windfarm Fund• Arts Act• Creative Ireland• Research and Graduate School Office Seed Funding/

Mary Immaculate College• Limerick City and County Council

• Total grants awarded to date €95,000 approx

Funding

• The Wheel: FundingpointDigest for Local Authorities

• LCCC recently subscribed

• Will be distributed to all members of PPN on a 2 monthly basis

• Also other community groups.

Future Plans

• Professionalise!

• PhD Study to start on MaigueTrust

• Recruit “Supporters”

• Further consultation

• Implement recommendation of reports

• Recreation and tourism study

• Get more active on the ground.

River Monitoring Volunteers

Thank you.

Thank you for your attention

www.maigueriverstrust.ieinfo@maigueriverstrust.ie