Community celebrates Kilkenny's only remaining Blue Dot river - the cleanest and most ecologically valuable waters

The Local Authority Waters Programme in collaboration with the Nore River Catchment Trust held a Blue Dot event at the River Douglas in Muckalee last Thursday, August 14.

The River Douglas is a Blue Dot, one of Ireland’s highest quality rivers, lakes and coastal waters - the cleanest and most ecologically valuable sites in the country. Blue Dot waters have the highest ecological quality of all our waters and often a greater diversity of species that are sensitive to pollution.They have a natural physical form that has not been changed much by human activities.
TAP HERE FOR MORE NEWS FROM NORTH KILKENNY

The event celebrated Kilkenny’s only Blue Dot river and Mags Morrissey, Senior Community Water Officer introduced the event before handing over to LAWPRO’s scientist Ed Cox, who gave a talk on the science of water quality and the very important interaction between the quality and the physical structure of the river. He took a biological sample using the kick method and the group spent time looking through the invertebrates and discussing the importance of all life in the river.

“It was fantastic to see so many members of the community coming together to learn about blue dots and what they could do to protect them," said LAWPRO scientist Ed Cox.

"Human pressures like nutrient pollution and alteration of the physical habitat have resulted in the loss of nearly all of the pristine waterbodies in County Kilkenny. Only the headwaters of the Muckalee river are relatively unimpacted. To address this stark trend in Kilkenny, and across Ireland, can only be done by all sectors of society working together."
TAP HERE FOR MORE ENVIRONMENT/ECO NEWS FROM KILKENNY

The event attracted a good crowd including Cllrs Maria Dollard and Pat Fitzpatrick, Kilkenny Leader Partnership, members of the board of NRCT, citizen science enthusiasts, farmers and other interested individuals from the locality. There were lots of questions and a good discussion on the pressures facing our rivers.

The Nore River Catchment Trust will commence their Citizen Science in Schools programme in September and it’s heartening to know that the Blue Dot rivers in Muckalee will be part of their focus.