Flood consultation takes place today
Options arising from a comprehensive catchment-based flood risk assessment study, taking into account parts of Co Cavan, are to go to public consultation at two local venues today.
The plans can be viewed at the Hotel Kilmore, Cavan, and the Community Centre, Ballyconnell today (Wednesday), February 17, from 1-7pm.
Recent flooding in this area affected 83 local roads, damaged almost 20 homes and cut-off 113 more residences. Five homes had to be evacuated and six business premises were also damaged by flooding.
The latest council estimates put the complete bill of repairing damage to roads and implementing preventative measures at some €5m.
The worst affected areas were in Eonish, Innishconnell, Drumard, Quivvy, Clonoskan, Derries Upper and Lower, Killyvalley, Farranseer, Derries (Gowna), Legaland, Monery, Drumullan, Corgarve, Clonandra.
The study takes in all of Co Donegal, large parts of Fermanagh, Cavan, Derry, Monaghan and Tyrone, significant areas of Leitrim and Longford, and a small portion of Sligo.
Representatives of RPS, who conducted the North Western-Neagh Bann CFRAM Study on behalf of the OPW, with the support of Cavan County Council, will be available to discuss and explain the flood risk management options to all attending on the day.
The flood risk management options can also be viewed online at www.northwestcframstudy.ie
The main aims of the study are to assess flood risk in areas, identify viable structural and non-structural prevention measures, as well as preparing a strategic Flood Risk Management Plan (FRMP) for the region.
The next stage of CFRAM project will move to Flood Risk Assessment, examining the impact it has on people, the economy of an area and the environment.
The new CFRAM maps are seen as a vital towards then in identifying potential measures for managing localised flooding and separate the areas studied into three colour-coded categories of risk - 10%, or one in ten chance of flooding in a specific area each year; 1% chance; and 0.1% chance.
Commenting previously, Aidan Harney, project manager from the OPW, said of the Cavan topography: “There are a lot of water courses, When you consider some of the bigger towns in Ireland, there might be one river running through it, whereas with Cavan it’s quite complex because of the high number of tributaries. There are quite a few lakes also, which affects how water flow performs. The hydraulic model built here is as good as there ever has been one built for Cavan so we’re very confident in what we’ve been able to achieve.”