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Project title

Developing the Concept of Catchment Services for Progress Towards Integrated Water Management (Extra TIMe)

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT)

Lead Applicant

Alec Rolston

Project Abstract

Land that channels rainwater and groundwater into a waterbody, that then delivers water to coastal areas, can be called a catchment area. Benefits received by ecosystems and humans from resources and processes supplied by catchments are termed �catchment services�. With catchment-based initiatives in the UK estimated to cost �100 billion over the next 15 years, understanding and recognising the importance of catchment services in Ireland is paramount to ensure cost-effectiveness of catchment-based actions and engagement with local communities. This �Developing the Concept of Catchment Services for Progress Towards Integrated Water Management (Extra TIMe) Project� will build on the current DkIT TIMe Project to identify the mechanisms for the feasible delivery of the catchment services concept in Ireland through: 1) Identifying national/international concepts and implementation of catchment services programmes; 2) Identifying key components of the catchment services concept in Ireland and how these may change under different future scenarios; 3) Identifying the implications of implementing the catchment services concept on governance frameworks and regulations; 4) Identifying the implications for community engagement and catchment management in Ireland; 5) Identifying the feasibility of implementing the catchment services approach in Ireland; 6) Increasing management and community awareness of the catchment services concept in Ireland. Outputs of the Extra TIMe Project include: 1. Final report detailing all methods, results and conclusions from the project that includes � Review of national and international initiatives that contribute to the catchment services concept, including identification of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for successful ICM initiatives. � Identification of key components of catchment services and assessing how they may change under different climatic, legislative and social scenarios. � Identification of the implications of implementing the catchment services concept for community engagement. � Identification of the implications of initiating the catchment services concept on governance frameworks and regulations. � A feasibility study on the roll-out of the catchment services concept in Ireland. 2. A two page summary report. 3. One publication in an international peer-reviewed journal to be published following the completion of the project. Target journals may include Water Resources Management, Journal of Environmental Management or Water and Environment Journal. 4. One article to appear in a non-peer reviewed publication (e.g. Rural Water News) 5. A project web page associated with the Centre for Freshwater Studies at DKIT. 6. Project outputs will be disseminated through an oral presentation at a peer-reviewed conference

Grant Approved

�74,974.70

Research Hub

Natural Environment

Research Theme

Water - Ecosystem services and sustainability

Start Date

29/02/2016

Initial Projected Completion Date

28/02/2017