1. To maintain the project on schedule and on budget and to oversee coordination between the WPs, team members and the EPA;
2. To ensure reporting schedules are kept and all deliverables are met;
3. To integrate all results and synthesise knowledge into specified outputs.
Work Packages
This 48-month project is based around 7 Work Packages with the project management led by University College Dublin (UCD, School of Biology and Environmental Science) with partners in UCD (Civil Engineering), Trinity College Dublin, Limerick IT (accredited laboratory) and Ryan Hanley Consultants.
1. To communicate efficiently between team members as well as other scientists on related projects & liaison with EPA;
2. To raise the awareness about the project and disseminate the outputs by communicating the relevance of the project to stakeholders, researchers and policymakers.
1. To compile a state-of-the-art report to critically assess the existing eco-hydrological datasets and identify knowledge gaps and analyse information to clarify the spatial and temporal extent of the main water-related problems and potential mitigation measures and technical solutions;
2. To develop a comprehensive, user-friendly database with associated GIS mapping.
1. To establish hydrometric and nutrient monitoring networks in catchment areas covering a range of peatland conditions;
2. To create a database on the variation of nutrient concentrations in runoff from drained and extracted peatlands to inform WPs 5, 6 and 7;
3. To identify the main processes controlling nutrient production and transport in peatland study sites.
1. To assess the extent, significance and causes of the impacts of peatland drainage and extraction on the health of downstream aquatic bodies by monitoring the water chemistry and aquatic biota of several environmental compartments within contrasting study catchments (drained, mined peatlands vs intact and restored peatlands).
1. To carry out experimental field trials to develop technical solutions and mitigation measures to manage the peat/water interface in order to improve water quality (i.e. reducing contaminants) at the peat extraction site and catchment level (for aquatic biota and consumption);
2. To develop guidance to mitigate potential impacts of the peat extraction industry (incl. domestic turf cutting) to reduce pollution;
3. To assess the environmental profile of rehabilitation plans and propose land use management practice for future developments/rehabilitation strategies to meet targets in line with WFD and also for biodiversity and climate change mitigation.
1. To develop hydrological models for industrial peatlands;
2. To model chemical transport and impact of treatment technologies on nutrient retention;
3. To assess expected pollution levels in affected streams.