Thread by @IrelandsEnviro

1/n Hi All, @BlueDotWaters here again!👉🔵😄
Hopefully by now we’ve given you a good taste of what #BlueDots are, why they’re worth protecting, what pressures are affecting them and what the various sectors can do to address them.
BUT.......

2/n What else is going on and how can you and others get involved?🫵
Well it so happens that @WatersProgramme has been working with #communities👥 since 2016 to facilitate engagement with our wonderful water resources and aquatic environment.👉🏞️

3/n Our #CommunityWaterOfficers are available to guide and help enthusiastic members of the public, be it...
👥community groups
🎣angling clubs
🚣‍♀️water sports clubs
🏐GAA clubs and;
💧rivers trusts
...among many others to connect with and help to enhance our #waterbodies💧

4/n As part of these #outreach efforts we provide #funding through the Community Water Development Fund to help pay for worthwhile projects that will raise awareness of or even better, improve water quality.💦
Over €520K has been granted for projects in 2023 alone! #CWDF2023

5/n Not only do applications under this fund receive preference if they are in a #BlueDot area, there is also a separate pot each yr dedicated to projects in #BlueDotsWaters!
Why not grow your #BlueDot project ideas with your local #CommunityWaterOfficer: lawaters.ie/team/communiti…

6/n To give a taste of the kinds of projects we fund we’ll give a few examples recent examples below...👀

7/n We’ve both been #giving and #facilitating talks to various groups. 🗣️🔵
As you may have noticed it’s hard to stop us talking about #BlueDots once we get going! Here I am talking them up to East Wicklow Rivers Trust in Ashford.
Follow the Trust on FB: facebook.com/EastWicklowRiv…

8/n We’re facilitating several river walks for people to go out and experience #BlueDotWaters with expert ecologists guiding them and telling them about the aquatic biodiversity supported by these amazing places.
Keep an eye out for upcoming #BlueDot walks in Cork and Wicklow.

9/n Our CWOs have also been visiting schools ⬆️ and ⬇️ the country to inspire the next gen to get involved in protecting our #waterquality.
Many kids don’t know that their local river, lake or coast is one of the best in the country and who doesn’t enjoy a bit of pond dipping?

10/n Our #CommunityWaterOfficers and #CatchmentScientists assisted Kinnitty Community to erect #BlueDot Signage on the Camcor River to celebrate their local water quality.
These have QR codes which lead to @WatersProgramme's website with more information about #BlueDotWaters🔵

11/n A booklet by @Corkcoco, @WatersProgramme and @EPACatchments celebrating the Coomhola catchment in Cork was recently produced by @StreamScapes. 🎨🖌️
This is a lovely resource describing the #historical, #cultural and of course #environmental heritage of the area.

12/n Similar resources are currently being developed for other areas including #Connemara, #Mayo and other areas of #Cork, funded through the dedicated #BlueDot fund.

13/n ANNND ACTION! 🎥🎬
#Video projects showcasing #BlueDots are currently under development in Mayo and Connemara.
These will show the value of these waterbodies and their catchments as well as their meaning to local people. #CelebratingBlueDots #BlueDotWaters🔵

14/n Scoping Studies for #RiverRestoration⛏️ were performed in several locations.
One example is the Straid in Donegal. This project looked at the feasibility of overcoming a #riverbarrier 🚧issue by improving #fishpassage over a bridge apron.🐟

15/n In late 2022 our western CWOs ran an awareness campaign for 🔵rivers.
Here are some 📸 from a day out on the beautiful Failmore River in the Maam Valley, Co. Galway. This walk and talk were led by Dr. Ken Whelan and supported by Coiste Forbatha An Mháma & @InlandFisherIE.

16/n #CommunityWorkshops👥 have also featured - helping to identify a roadmap of actions - here is the Abhainn Dá Loilíoch Woodland Group working with Prof. Mary Kelly-Quinn on a plan for the Abhainn Dá Loilíoch (Owendalulleegh) River, one of our last #BlueDots in east Galway.🔵

17/n We hope this inspires and 'wets' some appetites to hit up your local #CommunityWaterOfficer (lawaters.ie/team/communiti…) with ideas for projects to protect and restore water quality in your local #BlueDot Catchment. Get in touch!🔵💦
#BlueDotWaters
#CommunitiesandWater