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The protection of watercourses from bovines aims to avoid direct pollution of water, thus improving quality.
Requirements
• Participants with an owned bovine enterprise must fence off all watercourses that are identified on the GLAS online system a minimum of 1.5m from the top of the bank of the watercourses, to exclude the bovines (cattle) by 31 May 2017.
• The LPIS parcels selected must be marked on the map submitted.
• The fencing must be stockproof, fit-for-purpose and be undertaken with permanent stakes and wire.
• Livestock drinking points are not permitted. An alternative water supply must be provided for livestock.
If the watercourse is in a designated SAC/SPA and fencing is not allowed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, a derogation may be sought from Johnstown Castle not to fence the watercourse on these parcels. The Derogation must be sought and approved by 31 May.
Where a derogation is approved, the participant will remain eligible for GLAS, but will receive no payment for the fencing of watercourse action for the lengths concerned within the derogation.
Background
Livestock grazing along a watercourse can lead to direct pollution of water with urine and faeces which could mean pathogens entering the water. This can destroy aquatic habitats and lower the quality of water that could potentially enter the water that humans use. Excluding bovines from watercourses will prevent the breakdown of vegetation on the banks of the watercourse.
You can move livestock across watercourse(s) to isolated parcel(s) once both sides of the watercourse are fenced and the cattle are not crossing regularly.
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