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Project Summary

The overall NS SHARE study area of 26,877 km² is equivalent to around ¼ of the land area of the island of Ireland and is a major river basin project.

The North Eastern River Basin District itself lies to the north-east of the project area and includes much of the Belfast city area, Strangford Lough, the famous Glens of Antrim and the renowned Giants Causeway. It is most obvious that natural forces have shaped this region, from the raised beaches of the Antrim coastline, caused by uplift after the weight of glaciers was removed, to the basalt extrusions that formed the giant's steps facing across to Scotland at the Causeway.

The North Eastern RBD has total area of 4,081 km² including the marine elements. It drains large parts of counties Antrim, Down, and a section of county Derry / Londonderry. See the interactive map below showing the location of the River Basin District.

This River Basin District lies wholly within Northern Ireland where the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) co-ordinates the implementation of the WFD.

The overall objective of the project is to strengthen inter-regional capacity for environmental monitoring and management capacity at the river basin district level, to improve public awareness and participation in the water management issues and to protect and enhance the aquatic environment and dependent ecosystems.

The NS Share River Basin District project is the vehicle for delivering the objectives of the WFD within the North South Share River Basin Districts between August 2004 and March 2008.

The following is a summary list of tasks set to achieve the objectives of the WFD in the NS SHARE Project:

1. Development of ecological Classification Systems for water quality;
2. Develop a mechanism to define Heavily Modified Water Bodies (HMWB) and Artificial Water Bodies (AWB); and determine the maximum ecological potential achievable;
3. Produce a list of relevant dangerous substances and proposals for Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) for the candidate list. Review the analytical capabilities of the Relevant Agencies;
4. Initial Characterisation of the Study Area;
5. Prepare a register of protected areas;
6. Prepare a pressure and impact analysis to identify to what extent human activities may be placing the attainment of the WFD environmental objectives at risk;
7. Economic Analysis of water use;
8. Geographical Information Systems and mapping;
9. Review of monitoring needs;
10. Further characterisation and the identification of significant water management issues;
11. Development of a programme of measures;
12. Prepare River Basin Management Strategies;
13. Interested Party Participation
14. Capacity building
15. Harmonisation of methods/approaches to implementation of the WFD between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

For further information on these issues you may find the European Commission website on the Water Framework Directive at http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/water/water-framework/index_en.html to be of use.