Flood risks at eleven areas throughout Donegal will come under the spotlight this week as a major study will plan to manage both existing and potential future flood threats at these locations.
The work will rely on the public to help determine the potential hazards and associated impacts identify measures to manage the risks and prepare a strategic Flood Risk Management Plan (FRMP) to deal with these problem areas.
The consultation is primarily focussed on ensuring that the flood mapping is accurate and to gather any local feedback with regard to the accuracy or otherwise of the mapping presented.
Two Public Consultation Days have been organised to provide an opportunity for all interested persons to view and comment.
The meeting for flood issues affecting Ardara, Bundoran, Donegal Town and Killybegs will be held this Wednesday, March 25 between 3pm and 7pm in the Donegal Public Service Centre, Drumlonagher, Donegal Town.
A separate meeting for the Ballybofey-Stranorlar area will also take place between 3pm and 7pm on the same day but at the Villa Rose Hotel in Ballybofey.
Consultations will continue the following day, Thursday, March 26 between 3pm and 7pm at the Old Courthouse, The Diamond, Lifford for the Castlefin, Convoy, Killygordon and Lifford areas.
The Letterkenny Public Services Centre on the Neil T Blaney Road will be the venue for consultations for those affected by any flooding issues in the Letterkenny and Newtowncunningham areas. This also takes place between 3pm and 7pm on Thursday 26 March.
RPS is conducting the North Western – Neagh Bann CFRAM Study on behalf of the Office of Public Works (OPW) and with the support of Donegal County Council, has produced Draft Flood Maps for several areas in County Donegal.
These meetings are taking place because Donegal is part of the North Western – Neagh Bann Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study which commenced in the North Western and Neagh Bann districts in April 2012. It will run until the end of 2016.
The Draft Flood Maps will be on display on the dates stated and will also be accessible on the study website www.northwestcframstudy.ie from 3pm on the day of the event.
Interested persons may provide observations on the Draft Flood Maps at the public consultation events and/or through the study website.
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Notes for Editor
The North Western district is a cross-border river basin district with approximately 7,400 km2 in Ireland and 4,900 km2 in Northern Ireland. It takes in all of Donegal, large parts of Fermanagh, Cavan, Derry, Monaghan and Tyrone, significant areas of Leitrim and Longford and a small portion of Sligo. The district is home to less than half a million people and has a low average population density. Less than 2% of the land area is urbanised and many people live in small villages or single dwellings in rural areas.
Most or the main urban areas are located at rivers, including Ballybofey, Buncrana, Cavan town, Donegal Town, Letterkenny and Lifford. The fertile soils of the Foyle and Erne basins support beef, dairy, sheep and pig farming as well as crop cultivation. Further west the landscape is mountainous, with many coniferous forest plantations and some sheep and cattle grazing. The spectacular coastline, the surfing beaches and the remote beauty spots attract many tourists.
Study
Floods pose a risk to human life and wellbeing, often cause extensive damage to property and can have negative environmental consequences. The EU Floods Directive (2007/60/EC) is the driving force behind flood management throughout Europe and requires a catchment-based approach to assessing and managing flood risks. The North Western – Neagh Bann CFRAM study has been commissioned in order to meet the requirements of the Floods Directive, as well as to deliver on core components of the 2004 National Flood Policy, in the North Western and Neagh Bann districts.
Aims
The main aims of the North Western – Neagh Bann CFRAM Study are to:
• assess flood risk, through the identification of flood hazard areas and the associated impacts of flooding;
• identify viable structural and non-structural measures and options for managing the flood risks for localised high-risk areas and within the catchment as a whole;
• prepare a strategic Flood Risk Management Plan (FRMP) and associated Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) that sets out the measures and policies that should be pursued to achieve the most cost effective and sustainable management of flood risk;
• ensure that full and thorough public and stakeholder consultation and engagement is achieved.
Risk and protection
A preliminary flood risk assessment was completed by 2011 to identify areas that need further assessment to determine their risk of flooding. For these risk areas, flood risk maps and flood hazard maps will be drawn up by mid 2015. Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) will be developed by 2016. FRMPs will include measures in relation to flood prevention, protection and preparedness. Emergency response to flooding, recovery from flooding and incorporating lessons learned will be important elements of the FRMPs. Issues such as climate change, land use practices and future development will also be addressed in the FRMPs. The public will have a right to access the CFRAM programme information and to have their say in the development of FRMPs
Members of the North Western – Neagh Bann CFRAM Study project team will be available to discuss and explain the maps to all attending on the days and to collate any local flooding information.
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