EPA launches Agricultural Measures Mapping Tool

An Agricultural Measures Mapping Tool has been launched by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help farmers and other landholders learn about their local water quality and what can be done to help protect and restore waterbodies throughout Ireland.

Agriculture in Ireland has a significant role to play in helping the country to achieve good water quality targets as set by the Water Framework Directive.

You can access the EPA Targeting Agricultural Measures Mapping Tool using the following link: https://gis.epa.ie/EPAMaps/agriculture

What information is on the EPA Targeting Agriculture Measures Mapping Tool?

The new EPA Targeting Agricultural Measures Map has information under these menu headings:

  • Status & Monitoring
  • Targeting Agricultural Measures
  • Nitrogen/Freely Draining Soils
  • Phosphorus/Heavy Soils

Status and Monitoring

  • WFD status 2016-2021 shows the latest water quality status for all rivers, lakes, estuaries, and coastal waters in Ireland – these are already switched on when you open the map.
  • National Water Monitoring Stations shows the locations where water is monitored.

Targeting Agricultural Measures

  • Targeting Agricultural Measures shows what the issue/pollutant is in waterbodies that are impacted by agriculture.
  • Where agricultural measures are needed to improve water quality, one or more colours indicate the types of water quality issues in that area. This helps farmers in these areas to focus on actions that are likely to have the best water quality results.
  • The map has white for ‘Protect’ in areas where there are no agricultural significant pressures on water quality; in these areas it is still important that everyone takes action to continue to protect water quality.

  • Orange Flag: Priority- High Nitrate.
  • Yellow Flag: Risk of Nitrate Losses.
  • Blue Flag: Phosphorous/Sediment.
  • Blue & Orange Flag: Phosphorous/Sediment & Nitrate.
  • Blue & Red Flag: Phosphorous/Sediment & Point Sources.
  • Blue & Orange & Red Flag: Phosphorous/Sediment, Nitrate & Point Sources.
  • White Flag: Protect.

 

  • River Agricultural Pressures – this shows the river waterbodies where agriculture is a significant pressure on water quality.
  • An agricultural significant pressure can be caused by diffuse and/or point source(s) of pollution
  • Diffuse pollution sources are those spread out, for example, a source which is spread across several fields; point sources are those from a point, for example a farmyard, or drainage outfall pipe
  • Many of our waterbodies have multiple significant pressures

Nitrogen/Freely Draining Soils

  • Nitrogen is more likely to be an issue in areas with freely draining soils, where water tends to drain away down through the soil.
  • Pollution Impact Potential – Nitrate (PIP-N) shows the most likely areas for nitrate losses.
  • The more intense the colour the higher the risk of nitrogen losses in the area.
  • This ‘High PIP’ (Rank 1, 2 or 3) is typically due to the presence of freely draining soils and high livestock intensity

Phosphorus/Heavy Soils

  • Phosphorus and Sediment run off is more likely to be an issue in areas with heavy soils, where water tends to flow overland.
  • Pollution Impact Potential – Phosphorus (PIP-P) shows the most likely areas for phosphorus losses.
  • The more intense the colour the higher the risk of P losses in that area.
  • ‘High PIP’ (Rank 1, 2 or 3) is typically due to the presence of heavy, poorly draining soils and moderate/high livestock intensity.
  • PIP-P Flow Delivery Paths show the paths where water is most likely to flow overland.
  • PIP-P Flow Delivery Points show the points where water flowing overland is likely to enter a watercourse – these are potentially good spots for interception measures, like buffer strip.

For further information or any other queries, you may have regarding protecting water quality, please contact the Environment Section of Cavan County Council on 049 437 8486 or by email at environ@cavancoco.ie.