Sir, – A 27-page document, Dunkellin River and Aggard Stream Flood Relief Scheme – Environmental Impact Statement, was produced by RPS Group, for the OPW, and was published in October 2014. This was a comprehensive study of the factors influencing the floods of 2009 in the Craughwell and greater south Galway area. It proposed various methods for eradicating the flooding problem, giving consideration to the quality of flora, fauna, shellfish, wildlife and hedgerows of the area.
No works were carried out and the village of Craughwell and its hinterland are again under water. Time to wake up and smell the sewage, not the the flowers. – Yours, etc,
ANNE MARIE KENNEDY,
Craughwell,
Co Galway.
Sir, – I have been wondering when we might see evidence of strategic planning of the flow of water from rainfall through feeder streams into rivers, with a view to reduction of flooding.
I understand that it has been established by research that the rate of run-off from rainfall into streams from forest land areas is much less than from pasture.
It would make sense to study the detailed structures of the flooding river basins and contributing streams, and set up a procedure to encourage forest where there is mountain pasture, and areas of tree shelter in farmland, perhaps by expanding hedgerows into shelter-belts, bearing in mind the locations of streams feeding flooding rivers. – Yours, etc,
ROY HW JOHNSTON,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
A chara, – Amidst the usual calls for dredging of our rivers following flooding, I would like to suggest an alternative solution. Dredging, straightening, widening, etc, of rivers is very harmful to our river environment, not to mention the impact it has on protected species such as salmon, freshwater crayfish and pearl mussel, who themselves are already under severe pressure.
A more cost-effective and far less environmentally destructive option would be to allow rivers to flood agricultural or unoccupied land upstream of towns and villages. This mimics what rivers naturally do, instead of trying to corral all the flood water into a river over a short period, which ultimately leads to massive peak flows downstream and the type of flooding we are now witnessing. For their part, landowners could be paid for the use of their land during flood events. Alternatively, the State could create a scheme to purchase the land and rent it back for a nominal fee, with renters having to suffer some flooding (usually in winter) from time to time. This would represent better value to the taxpayer than hugely expensive flood relief schemes and would provide a sustainable long-term solution for those affected. Faced with increasingly severe flooding events associated with climate change, we need to need to recognise that river engineering has its limitations. – Is mise,
R Ó BRIAIN,
Phibsborough,
Dublin 7.
Sir, – Having read of how Bandon has failed to secure funding promised to relieve flooding in the town ("Calls for change to public procurement procedures after flood", December 8th), should the town council now change the name to "Abandoned"? – Yours, etc,
DAVID CURRAN,
Knocknacarra,
Co Galway.