River Dodder Rainscapes

Dublin , Dublin (FUA), Ireland

City population: 1894440

Duration: unknown – unknown

Implementation status: In planning stage

Scale: Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)

Project area: unknown

Type of area: Roads / Roadsides

Last updated: November 2024

Pollution from roadways is often carried by rainwater into gullies, which then direct this runoff to the nearest watercourse, ultimately polluting local rivers and degrading water quality (1). To address this issue, Dublin City Council is exploring potential green infrastructure solutions to reduce roadway pollution in rivers, focusing on nine pilot sites within the Dodder catchment area (1). Green infrastructure has the advantage of treating pollutants before they enter rivers or watercourses, which can significantly improve water quality in the area (1). In addition to enhancing water quality, green infrastructure helps manage flood risks by slowing water flow to rivers, which can lessen the frequency and severity of flood events (1). These green spaces also foster biodiversity, creating more pleasant and ecologically supportive environments for the community (1). As an added benefit, green infrastructure serves as an important climate change adaptation strategy (1). Upon completion of these pilots, Dublin City Council plans to expand successful methods to other locations across the city and potentially further afield (1). The project will involve creating new green spaces, enhancing existing ones, and transforming certain hard surfaces, all of which will contribute to protecting the Dodder and Santry rivers. By treating roadway runoff before it reaches the rivers, the initiative will also offer valuable benefits to the local community (2). The proposed changes will be designed to support health and well-being, provide informal play areas, attract desirable wildlife, reduce flood risks, and help urban areas adapt to the impacts of climate change (2). The Council also plans to monitor the performance of these green infrastructure measures to assess their effectiveness in filtering pollutants from roadway runoff (1).

Sketch of the proposed rainscapes project at Herbert Cottages

Proposals include the installation of permeable paving in parking areas and the construction of a raingarden. Surface water flow will be collected in the paving and garden and allow for removal of pollutants from the road, prior to discharge to the Dodder

Dublin City Council

Overview

Nature-based solution

Blue infrastructure
Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Green areas for water management
Rain gardens
Sustainable urban drainage systems

Key challenges

Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change adaptation
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Water management (SDG 6)
Flood protection
Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
Improvements to water quality
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Inclusive governance
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Social interaction

Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)

Climate-Related Hazards
River flooding
Urban flooding (stormwater)
Other

Key priorities

Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)

Focus

Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Implementation of green areas for water management (e.g. rain gardens), Improved governance of green or blue areas, Establishment of inclusive governance mechanisms involving local communities

Project objectives

The goals of the Dodder Rainscapes project are to: To adapt conventional drainage systems, typically reliant on gullypots and pipes, into a Rainscape by introducing various Sustainable Drainage features (SuDS). To modify rainfall collection methods to slow water flow to watercourses, enabling the removal and natural breakdown of pollutants and thus protecting rivers. To create new green spaces, enhance existing green areas, and alter some hard surfaces to promote environmental and aesthetic benefits. To provide benefits to the local community while protecting the Dodder River by filtering roadway runoff before it reaches the river. To transform the approach to rainfall management, fostering urban environments that are more resilient to climate change. To support health and well-being in the community by providing recreational spaces To provide informal play opportunities and create gathering spaces for the community. To attract desirable wildlife to local green spaces, enhancing biodiversity. To involve the local community in decision making processes (1, 2)

Implementation activities

To reduce flooding and contribute to healthier blue ecosystems the Doddy River Rainscapes project has engaged in a variety of activites including: 1. Created the project in compliance with the Dublin Water Framework Directive and to further understand the full benefits of this type of approach so that it can be rolled out into other parts of the city in years to come (2). 2. Appointed McCloy Consulting (SuDS designers and Engineers) as a main consultant in delivery of design services (2). 3. Chose a multidisciplinary approach by incorporating Robert Bray Associates (SuDS designers and Landscape Architects) in providing supporting design services (2). 4. Published the Initial concept designs for initial consultation open to review and feedback (2). 5. Conducted site surveys and a public consultation (2).

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

Implement sustainable urban drainage schemes to manage stormwater

Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts

Yes

Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities

Riverfront communities

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity restoration:

Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Restore native species
Restore ecological connectivity

Main beneficiaries

Local government/Municipality
Citizens or community groups
Young people and children

Governance

Management set-up

Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

DCC are funding this project as part of our commitment to comply with the Water Framework Directive and to further understand the full benefits of this type of approach so that it can be rolled out into other parts of the city in years to come. McCloy Consulting (SuDS designers and Engineers) have been appointed by DCC as main consultant in delivery of design services. Robert Bray Associates (SuDS designers and Landscape Architects) are providing supporting design services to McCloy Consulting as part of a multi-disciplinary approach to designing the Rainscapes. Initial concept designs are being developed and there will be public consultation in early summer 2021. (1, 2)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Yes ( EU Water Frameworks Directive (2))

... a national policy or strategy? Yes (Ireland Climate Change Policy (2))

... a local policy or strategy? Yes (Dublin Climate Change Action Plan (2))

Type of enablers

Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships), City network or regional partnerships focused on climate change, sustainability, GI or NBS in the city

Financing

Total cost

Unknown

Source(s) of funding

Public local authority budget

Type of funding

Earmarked public budget

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

Water management and blue areas
Improved water quality
Expected improved water quality
Increased protection against flooding
Expected increased protection against flooding
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Expected increased green space area

Economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Social justice and cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Expected improved access to urban green space
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Expected increased opportunities for social interaction
Health and wellbeing
Improved physical health
Expected improved physical health

Type of reported impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs

Unknown

References

CARO (n.d.). Dodder and Santry Rainscapes. [Source link];

Dublin City Council (n.d.). River Dodder Rainscapes. [Source link];

Dalby, C (2023). Council Plans to Add “Rainscapes” in Five Places in the City to Sop up Heavy Rainfall. [Source link];

Central Statistics Office (n.d.). Census Interactive Map . [Source link];