Board of Directors, back row, left to right, Pat Fahy, Christy Reilly, Kevin O'Crowley, Richard Bohan.
Front row, left to right, Rod Tye, John Gibbons, Tom Rogers (Group Chairman), Con Boyle and Peter Byrne. Missing from photo - Chris Huxley.

Overview:

The Carra Mask Corrib Water Protection Group was set up in early 2000 by the anglers of the Great Western Lakes, Carra, Mask and Corrib. This was done in a direct response to the very obvious decline in water quality on these lakes and the resulting loss in worthwhile fishing. The Group is set up as a limited company with a Board of Directors and has an office in Headford, Co Galway, which is staffed by a CEO and administration staff.

The Group deal with a large variety of water quality issues affecting, or likely to affect the water quality of the catchment. The Group in conjunction with the angling clubs and Federations keep a watching brief on developments and licenses that have potential to impact water quality.
The Group pays close attention to all emerging environmental legislation be it EU or National. The Group monitors the implementation of this legislation by the local authorities and will lobby and provide feedback where appropriate. The group participates in and put forward submissions to the National Environmental NGO’s under its umbrella Group SWAN (Sustainable Water Networks) focusing mainly on the Water Framework Directive.

Major Objectives:

1. Be the focal point for water quality issues impacting the catchment.

2. To take specific, urgent action when water quality is deemed to be at risk due to breach of legislation or the development of unauthorised programmes or events.

3. To review, discuss and provide feedback on all EU and National environmental legislation.

4. To monitor the implementation of all environmental practices impacting water quality and take all necessary action to ensure compliance.

5. To lobby politicians and Local Authority personnel to ensure water quality issues remain high on their agenda.

6. To increase public awareness and participation in water quality awareness programmes.