The Minister for Natural Resources, Eamonn Ryan, has taken the first steps to purify one of the most polluted river catchments in Ireland.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pollution of the Avoca River valley in Co. Wicklow is a long-recognised problem. The pollution, which has taken place as a result of acid mine drainage, began around the 18th century when locals began mining copper in the valley.
Rich salmon fisheries that existed on the river in the eighteenth century consequently died out.
However, plans by Green Party TD Eamonn Ryan are to set forth a plan to rehabilitate the area.
A survey of the area, to be carried out by the Geological Survey of Ireland in conjuction with American consultants Camp Dresser and McKee, is currently underway. On completion of the study, a proposed action plan for the valley will be presented to Minister Ryan.
According to Eibhlín Doyle, Principal Geologist with the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) the aim of the survey is to not only to rehabilitate but also to develop a management plan for the area.
The aim of the study is to develop a costed rehabilitation and management plan for the Avoca mine area," said Doyle in a press statement.
"Over the coming months we will be carrying out investigations in and around the site to build a more complete picture so that we can progress the action plan for the Avoca mine site."
The GSI previously studied the geology of the Avoca area with an aim to characterise the site so that all future work in the area would cause no further negative effect in valley.
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