Rivers conservation legislation

All planned works are subject to the Drainage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006. This legislation requires the Agency to consider the effects on the environment of any of its proposed works. Where these are likely to have a major impact the Agency must prepare and publish an "Environmental Statement"; this will include mitigation measures to reduce their effects.

The Agency is required to pay particular attention to those watercourses situated within, or adjacent to, areas protected by conservation legislation (i.e. Areas of Special Scientific Interest, Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Ramsar sites). Maintenance agreements are developed between the Agency and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) for works at such a location and Article 6 assessments are undertaken where necessary.

Rivers Agency also has a duty to consider biodiversity, in the execution of all its works.  All works are assessed by the Agency’s Environment Section, in order to identify possible impacts on, and opportunities for, biodiversity

The ongoing pressure from new European and United Kingdom legislation and other Government initiatives means there is an increasing need for sustainable and environmentally sensitive river management practice. This trend will continue over the coming years, especially with the implementation of the European Water & Floods Directives.