The new Boyne Catchment Community Forum – a consultative forum on water quality in the East Midlands (Boyne Catchment Area) – will host an information evening on Wednesday 5 November in Navan’s Newgrange Hotel.

The forum will act as a conduit to regional/national decision making around the management of Ireland’s natural waters. The forum will also allow for local community deliberation on water quality data, support local community action, and influence Local Catchment Management Plans linked to the local environment.

The Boyne Catchment Community Forum is one of five pilots across Ireland proposed under the National Water Action Plan (a River Basin Management Plan for Ireland), to explore avenues to include community perspectives into catchment management work plans. Public Participation in Water Management is a key element of the protection and restoration of water quality across the country.

The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) works on behalf of Ireland’s 31 local authorities to protect and restore good water quality in all rivers, lakes, estuaries, ground and coastal water through catchment science and local community engagement.

Established to fulfil requirements under the EU Water Framework Directive and funded by the Dept of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, LAWPRO co-ordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in implementing the River Basin Management Plan.