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Project Metadata Element | Details |
Project Title | Assessment of extent and impact of barriers on freshwater hydromorphology and connectivity in Ireland (ReCONNECT) |
Research Area | EPA Water Pillar: Understanding, Managing and Conserving our Water Resources |
Project Acronym | ReCONNECT |
Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | Mary Kelly-Quinn |
Lead Institution or Organisation | University College Dublin (UCD) |
Lead Country | Ireland |
Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 53.30837462580087,-6.225326657295227 |
Lead Funding Entity | Environmental Protection Agency |
Approximate Project Start Date | 01/03/2016 |
Approximate Project Finishing Date | 28/02/2019 |
Project Website (if any) | |
Links to other Web-based resources | |
Project Keywords | Freshwater science; Hydromorphology; Connectivity; Barriers; Electronic newsletter; Citizen Science |
Project Abstract | The overall objective of this project is to harness the knowledge base and develop a validated methodology for prioritising selection of barriers for modification or removal to improve hydromorphology and connectivity in Irish freshwater systems. The research will be undertaken in collaboration with Inland Fisheries Ireland. It will initially involve an appraisal of methods for mapping barriers. Following identification of effective and efficient methods a number of catchments/sub-catchments will be selected for surveying and production of a geo-referenced layer of barrier structures in rivers and lakes. In the regional of 20 of these barrier sites will be selected and sampled for macroinvertebrates, macrophytes and fish, upstream and downstream, using both eDNA techniques and routine field methods. Hydromorphology will be characterised to inform assessment of both impacts of barriers and likely responses to their removal. The research will identify and evaluate the applicability of existing tools to simulate the effects of barriers and their removal on river regime and morphology, and the resulting implications for ecology. An economic analysis of barrier removal/ modification/other measures will be undertaken. Finally, a validated multi-criteria decision-making methodology, incorporating information derived from the morphological/hydrological, ecological and economic domains, will be produced to facilitate practical management decisions. The research will yield at least 13 peer-reviewed papers in high impact, international journals. A website will be maintained where progress reports and research news will be made accessible by stakeholders. A biannual electronic newsletter will be produced through the life of the project. It will be downloadable from the website and also circulated electronically to those on a stakeholder distribution list that will be compiled at the commencement of the project. Three PhD theses will be completed and the student will be skilled in applied freshwater science. Final technical and synthesis reports will be compiled, the synthesis report will be particularly useful for communicating the research results to a wide audience. A validated methodology will be produced for multi-criteria decision making in relation to the removal, modification or design of new barriers, which will be of particular use to fisheries and water resources management. A mobile app will be produced to engage professionals and citizen science in the location of barriers, and will be a project legacy item. The training and engagement of citizen science will allow expanded coverage of the country and population of a geo-references GIS layer of barrier locations |