CatchmentCARE

The €13.8 million CatchmentCARE project, funded by the European Union's INTERREG VA Programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body, took place from 2018-2023 and aimed to enhance freshwater quality in the Finn, Blackwater, and Arney river catchments. 

The initiative included the installation of fifty boreholes for water quality monitoring and facilitated cross-border collaboration among community, governance, policy, and scientific stakeholders. Community actions, spanning the Arney, Blackwater, and Finn regions, embraced innovative approaches to knowledge exchange, involving stakeholders like farmers, anglers, community groups, and schools. 

Ecosystem-focused efforts targeted in-stream habitats, river connectivity, riparian zones, and internal phosphorus loading reduction in lakes, aligning with Water Framework Directive targets. The project delved into chemical export issues related to sheep dip and forestry, researching mitigating measures. Groundwater monitoring wells and farm nutrient management studies were also conducted to build resilience and ensure a lasting impact on aquifers, water quality, and nutrient practices.