AQW 14019/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 01/07/2024
Answered On Date: 11/07/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail the work that (i) has gone into; and (ii) is going into (a) determining the features of land bordering rivers, lakes and streams that places them at greater risk of eutrophication, for instance, land use, size and any other factor; and (b) working with the owners of those more at risk in reducing the threat level.

Answer:

My Department continues to deliver a number of measures aimed at improving water quality in catchment areas. This includes a review of the current Nutrients Action Programme (NAP), which aims to improve the use of nutrients on farms and, as a result, improve water quality. My Department is also delivering the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme, which provides farmers with detailed analysis of soil nutrients, acidity (pH), and run off risk maps. These maps identify areas at high risk of nutrient loss during rainfall events and help farmers to identify field areas, which may benefit from interventions, such as buffer strips, to minimise nutrient run off into water courses.

The Environmental Framing Scheme (EFS) offers five options aimed at improving water quality, with the aim of having these at placed in the right location to improve water quality. As part of a complex monitoring programme a recent published study has shown that the measures under EFS can help to reduce the causes of Eutrophication of our rivers.

NIEA also provides funding to not-for-profit organisations and councils through its annual Water Quality Improvement Strand of the Environment Fund. Grantees work with land owners, putting in place measures like fencing to prevent livestock access to water bodies, leaky dams to 'slow the flow' and riparian planting and buffers to prevent nutrient run-off into waterways.