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MINIMISING THE PRESSURES AND IMPACTS ON
FRESHWATER FROM AGRICULTURE IN THE UPPER
BALLINDERRY RIVER SAC
M Horton and A McGarel
Ballinderry Fish Hatchery Ltd, Orritor Road, Cookstown, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland,
E-mail: mhorton@bfhltd.wanadoo.co.uk
SUMMARY
With funding from HSBC and EHS, WWF has established the Ballinderry River
Enhancement Project in partnership with Ballinderry Fish Hatchery. It aims to
identify and reduce the causes of deteriorating water quality within one of the river’s
tributaries.
The tributary displays a variety of pollution pressure points with detectable impacts
on water quality. Agriculture is one of the main sources, and measures to reduce its
impact have been considered.
Pollution reduction is being achieved through encouraging better uptake of agrienvironment
schemes and water protection measures and providing knowledge and
incentives to farm to higher environmental standards.
Low-cost solutions to reduce the risk of pollution are also being developed and
tested on a demonstration farm in the catchment. Management practices being
adopted include the separation of clean and dirty water, secure storage and handling
of dirty water and farmyard waste, water conservation and efficient application of
organic and inorganic fertilisers.
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