Ireland's most polluted river took a step towards recovery last Friday week following the commissioning of a pilot treatment plant at Avoca, Co Wicklow by the Minister for Environment, Dick Roche.
More than 200 years of mining in the catchment area had brought the Avoca river to its knees due to acid leachate from the old copper mines. The net result constitutes approximately 35 litres per second of acid drainage into the lower reaches. Quite understandably, the river currently has a Q value of 1 (very poor water quality). A lost cause, you might say.
Not so. In 2001 the central and eastern fisheries board embarked on a fisheries and habitat survey and initiated a baseline water-sampling programme. The results were very positive and indicated the river was still alive and that salmon and trout parr were present in the system and widely distributed at 74 per cent of sites sampled.
Building on this research and with financial backing of €31,182 under the Tourism and Recreational Angling Measure, the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne was appointed in 2002 to carry out a study on the river and to advise on options to reduce leachate from the mines.
The report established that with assistance from international experts and financial investment, the most polluted river in Ireland could be restored to one of the most prolific salmon rivers in the country. The report also proposed the construction of an active treatment plant as a long-term solution.
The cost for such a plant was high, at €3.6 million, and a further annual operating cost of about €254,000 would be required (2002 figures).
However, on the positive side, the angling potential could generate up to €750,000 per annum and the river, once restored, would bring huge economic benefits to the local community and the State.
As an interim measure and to establish parameters required for an overall treatment system, the eastern fisheries board and Wicklow County Council commissioned the installation of a pilot plant to treat a portion of the acid mine drainage into the river. The scheme, part-funded by a €296,820 grant under the EU Ireland-Wales Interreg IIIA Programme, will run for three months and the findings, when published, will determine the costs and benefits of a full treatment plant.
"Harnessing the copper mining heritage and fishing in this rural community will ultimately raise the profile of Avoca as a tourist destination," said Josie Mahon, angling inspector with the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (ERFB).
Stakeholders, as part of a catchment area management group, include Wicklow County Council, the Department of Marine, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Eastern Fisheries Board, the Vale of Avoca Development Association, the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland, East Coast and Midlands Tourism, Annamoe Trout Fisheries, the Irish Farmers' Association, accommodation providers and local community groups.
In a fitting tribute to recently retired chief executive of the ERFB, Alan McGurdy, it was stated he had worked tirelessly for the past 15 years to secure funding for the Avoca project. Today, the river has its best chance in 200 years to recover.
• The game angling season arrives in earnest each year when I receive the first report from the Great Western Lakes. From opening day in mid-February until March, winter usually maintains its grip on the lakes as anglers eagerly await the arrival of the duck fly season.
In his first report of the new season, angling inspector Kevin Crowley started the ball rolling with a comprehensive rundown of catches from the western region. The Oughterard Development 50 Competition, held over two days the weekend before last, attracted 84 anglers fishing in pairs. Fishing overall was good with the duck fly making an appearance and resulting in 91 trout on Saturday and 59 on Sunday, with fish averaging 0.9kg, a great average size.
The winning team, tackle dealer Sean Maguire and Kevin Curran from Northern Ireland, had 12 trout for 10.38kg. Each received a Davison 5.7m (19ft) Lake Boat, worth €5,400. In second place, local pair Gerry Molloy and Martin Butler landed 11 trout (winning two Dell laptop computers) and third place went to Mike Faherty and Kevin Molloy, also with 11 trout (earning two fly rods, reels and line). The heaviest fish of 2.3kg was caught by Sean Maguire.
On Lough Mask, the warmer weather brought a change in conditions for the better. Sixteen anglers caught 46 trout with most coming to wet fly. Bibio, Green Peter and chironomid patterns were most successful. Sean Moloney and Noel Moran from Ballinrobe had seven trout in one day to wet fly. With milder conditions, the duck fly should soon be up in earnest and prospects look very good.
• Well, it took a while, 54 days to be precise, for the Galway Weir to produce its first salmon of the season - perhaps next year the first fish will be closer to opening day! David Lenihan from Salthill landed a fine sea-liced 5kg spring salmon on a float-fished shrimp and, in line with tradition, donated it to the Cope charity.