Vegetation (Floating River Vegetation) - Office of Public Works
Vegetation (Floating River Vegetation) - Office of Public Works
Vegetation (Floating River Vegetation) - Office of Public Works
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1.0 Introduction<br />
This study was commissioned by the <strong>Office</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Works</strong> in 2006 to assess the ecological<br />
impact <strong>of</strong> Arterial Drainage maintenance activities on floating river vegetation associated with<br />
watercourses designated under European Habitat code 3260 (EU code 3260) as detailed in the<br />
framework document “Screening <strong>of</strong> Natura 2000 sites for Impacts <strong>of</strong> Arterial Drainage<br />
Maintenance Operations”, <strong>Office</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Works</strong>, 2007. To fully appreciate the importance <strong>of</strong> this<br />
and other ecological impact assessments for the <strong>Office</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Works</strong>, it is essential that the<br />
maintenance work undertaken by the <strong>Office</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Works</strong> be clearly understood. In doing so this<br />
chapter will focus on the <strong>Office</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Works</strong> past and present, provide an overview <strong>of</strong> the legal<br />
obligations and commitment to environmental policy to which the <strong>Office</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Works</strong> operate<br />
and finally an overview <strong>of</strong> the objectives <strong>of</strong> this ecological impact assessment. Through the<br />
provision <strong>of</strong> a “bigger picture” in terms <strong>of</strong> environmental dynamics, it is hoped that Environmental<br />
Drainage Maintenance will continue to be developed in a progressive, pro-active manner to ensure<br />
arterial drainage maintenance works are performed in an environmentally friendly manner due to<br />
increased awareness <strong>of</strong> species diversity and practical habitat enhancement measures.<br />
1.1 Historical Background and functions <strong>of</strong> statutory arterial drainage.<br />
The <strong>Office</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Works</strong> or the Board <strong>of</strong> <strong>Works</strong> as it was known at the time was<br />
established in an 1831 by an Act entitled An Act for the Extension and Promotion <strong>of</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Works</strong><br />
in Ireland. As part <strong>of</strong> its new role it also took over that <strong>of</strong> the Directors General <strong>of</strong> Inland<br />
Navigation, the Fisheries Commissioners, the Postmaster General and Civil Buildings<br />
Commissioners. Not only did the Board <strong>of</strong> <strong>Works</strong> have a large expenditure <strong>of</strong> public funds but it<br />
also operated a lending agency to fund the establishment, extension and or improvements works.<br />
Early inland navigation projects undertaken by the Board <strong>of</strong> <strong>Works</strong> included the Upper<br />
Shannon, Lough Ree, and Lough Derg along with the Tyrone, Maigue and Boyne navigations. In<br />
1842 arterial drainage schemes were commenced; providing drainage loans to facilitate the drainage<br />
<strong>of</strong> land. The Great Famine <strong>of</strong> 1846 led to an increase in the rate <strong>of</strong> arterial drainage schemes, as did<br />
the Landed Property Improvement Act, 1847, in the West <strong>of</strong> Ireland. Severe flooding <strong>of</strong> the lands<br />
adjacent to the <strong>River</strong> Shannon in 1861 resulted in the Shannon Act <strong>of</strong> 1874 to bring about flood<br />
prevention (National Archives <strong>of</strong> Ireland).<br />
The Drainage and Maintenance Act <strong>of</strong> 1924 identified with the need to carry out repair,<br />
maintenance and improvement <strong>of</strong> drainage works within Saorstát Éireann (National Archives <strong>of</strong><br />
Ireland). <strong>Works</strong> completed between 1945 and 1995 include:<br />
•34 arterial drainage schemes on river catchments<br />
•5 estuarine embankment schemes (benefiting 650,000 acres <strong>of</strong> land)<br />
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