Last updated: November 2024
Two new wetlands were established in Dodder Valley Park as part of the Dublin Urban Rivers Life Project (DURL). This project aimed to create integrated constructed wetlands (ICWs) at strategic locations in South Dublin County to purify wastewater and storm-water before it discharged into rivers. The ICWs consisted of a series of cells resembling shallow ponds, typically 200 to 300 mm deep. Heavily planted with specific vegetation, these cells treated water by removing nutrients and harmful impurities, resulting in cleaner, purer water being discharged. The water flowing into the wetlands came from wastewater of misconnected appliances and storm-water pipes located under public roads, which collected rainwater from roads, footpaths, and the roofs and patios of houses. These wetlands also provided important benefits, including flood alleviation, bioretention of particulates and nutrients, improved habitat conditions, and enhanced biodiversity. The project aimed to promote the relationship between green infrastructure and public well-being, creating a complex biological system that supports a diverse range of plants, animals, microorganisms, and hopefully attracts frogs, newts, and birds. To increase native biodiversity, the wetlands were designed with pollinator-friendly plants and trees, making them visually appealing for park users and the public. A Wetland Planting Day took place on September 9, 2022, with over 40 participants, including residents and representatives from local organizations. This phase of the project fulfilled not only the objectives of the LIFE project but also those of the River Basin Masin Management Plan 2022–2027, the Water Framework Directive, the Climate Change Action Plan, the Floods Directive. (1, 2, 5)
Wetlands at Dodder Park
Ref. 4
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Improvements to water quality
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social interaction
- Environmental education
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- River flooding
- Urban flooding (stormwater)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Invasive alien species
- Poor water quality
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Rapid urbanization
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Creation of artificial wetlands, Improved governance of green or blue areas, Establishment of inclusive governance mechanisms involving local communities, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Habitat mapping, restoration and monitoring-focused management
Project objectives
To purify stormwater.
To create two wetlands in Dodder Valley Park.
To improve water quality and aquatic ecosystems.
To reduce flood risk.
To store carbon to mitigate climate change.
To enhance habitat conditions and biodiversity by planting native vegetation in the wetlands.
To add to the quality of public amenities.
To reduce the impact of untreated domestic wastewater discharges into aquatic environments by implementing effective waste management practices that involve community discussions and surveys.
To foster community engagement and social interaction by organizing and promoting hands-on environmental activities, such as the Community Wetland Planting Day.
To enhance environmental awareness and education by organizing guided tours of the Dodder Valley wetlands. (1, 2, 6)
Implementation activities
An ongoing door-to-door assessment work, where the project team has assessed stormwater quality has been in place. Stormwater assessors conduct door-to-door assessments in the affected catchment areas. To ensure the scalability of these efforts, the project is also developing a Decision Support Tool—a detailed roadmap that guides local authorities through the process of planning, designing, and constructing ICWs. This tool aims to facilitate the replication of the project’s successes across other regions. Monitoring will be carried out on a regular basis at selected locations for river water and stormwater outfall [water quality monitoring] physicochemical and microbiological attributes. Macroinvertebrate monitoring will also be carried out. In addition to these technical and administrative measures, the project actively involves the local community. (3,6)
A community event was held on September 9th, 2022, at Dodder Valley Park wetland. Over 40 participants, including local residents and representatives from organizations like Dodder Action, Tallaght Litter Mugs, Tallaght Community Council, and Dodder Anglers Association, took part in planting native vegetation in the wetlands (1). Additionally, a guided tour is scheduled for September 12th, 2024, at Dodder Valley Wetlands. The tour will educate participants about actions being taken to improve water quality, alleviate flooding, enhance local habitats and biodiversity, and promote public well-being (6).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Implement sustainable urban drainage schemes to manage stormwater
Climate change mitigation:
- Protect and restore in-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors aiming at sequestering carbon dioxide and storing it in their soil
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Create new habitats
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
- Means for conservation governance
- Biodiversity offsets
- Public engagement
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project is a joint effort between South Dublin County Council (SDCC) and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC), with half of the funding coming from the EU LIFE Programme (2). To involve the local population stormwater assessors conducted door-to-door assessments in the affected catchment areas. The project will develop capacity building systems to educate and empower stakeholders in this area. Key personnel from local authorities will be trained to use the decision support tool and to champion the cause of misconnections in their areas.Also, local residents and several NGO groups were involved in the planting day such as Dodder Action, Tallaght Litter Mugs, Tallaght Community Council and Dodder Anglers Association (1).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(Water Framework Directive, the River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021 (3), the River Basin Management Plan 2022–2027, the Floods Directive (1))
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Climate Change Action Plan 2019-2024 (3), the draft Biodiversity Plan (1))
Type of enablers
Support from transitional governance actors, NBS research project (e.g., H2020, Urban Living Labs, national research projects)
Financing
Total cost
€2,000,000 - €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- EU funds
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Storm / wave induced erosion and flooding
- Expected storm / wave induced erosion and flooding
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Expected enhanced carbon sequestration
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Expected improved water quality
- Improved stormwater management
- Expected improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Expected reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Expected increased number of species present
- Enhanced support of pollination
- Expected enhanced support of pollination
Economic impacts
- Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
- Expected generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
South Dublin County Council (n.d.). Wetlands - What's happening now. Dublin: South Dublin County Council, Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE project (n.d.). INTEGRATED CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS - DODDER VALLEY PARK . Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE project , Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
3.
South Dublin County Council (n.d.). Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE Project - Dodder Valley Park Wetland Sod Turning Event. Dublin County Council, Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Echo (2023). Nature on our doorsteps: Ponds in the parks. Echo, Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
5.
South Dublin County Council (n.d.). Integrated Constructed Wetlands. South Dublin County Council, Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
6.
South Dublin City Council (2024). Dublin Urban Rivers Life. Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Brooks, S. (2021). New Wetlands For Dodder Valley Park. NewsGroup, Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
8.
South Dublin Country Council (n.d.). THE SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY LOCAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY PLAN 2016 2021. South Dublin Country Council, Accessed on September 12, 2024, [Source link];
Dodder Valley Park Wetlands Community Planting Day
Ref. 1
ICW
https://www.sdcc.ie/en/services/environment/dublin-urban-rivers-life/integrated-constructed-wetlands/
ICW
https://www.sdcc.ie/en/services/environment/dublin-urban-rivers-life/integrated-constructed-wetlands/
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.