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The objective of riparian margins is to protect watercourses by creating linear buffer zones, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Watercourses are an important natural resource that need protection from pollution and degradation.
Livestock grazing in the riparian zone can lead to direct pollution of water with urine and faeces, which can lead to pathogens entering the water. Riparian margins will stabilise riverbanks and intercept nutrients transported in overland flow.
Farmers can only select this action if you have watercourses on your land that are identified and marked on the GLAS online mapping system.
Watercourses on commonage land are not eligible for this action. Riparian margins are only eligible in grassland parcels.
Lakes are not eligible watercourses for this action. This action cannot be selected along the same length within a parcel where you have already or intend to apply for a TAMS II sheep fencing grant.
If, through administrative checks or on-the-spot inspections, it is identified that the GLAS participant applied for this GLAS action and a TAMS II sheep fence on the same length within the parcel, penalties will ensue, along with clawback of payments where relevant.
Requirements
1. Establish a 3m, 6m, 10m or 30m riparian margin by fencing it off by 31 May 2017.
An access point for machinery into the margin is permitted to keep it managed. Livestock are not permitted to graze the margin from the time of its establishment until the end of the GLAS contract.
2. Identify the location of the riparian margin on the LPIS parcel selected and mark on the map submitted with your GLAS application.
3. Participants can choose different riparian margin widths within the same LPIS parcels/field, but only on different/separate field/LPIS boundaries.
4. Margin width is measured from the top of the bank or the edge of vegetation (if scrub is present) into the field.
5. The margin must be mulched or mown at least once per year, but not between 1 March and 15 August each year.
Offtakes are allowed.
6. Fertilisers cannot be applied.
7. Pesticides are not permitted, except for spot-treatment of noxious and invasive weeds.
Watercourses designated as SAC/SPA
The Department advises that 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 2017. 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.
Take note
If you select this action, the only other actions you can select on this LPIS parcel are:
Bat boxes, bird boxes, conservation of solitary bees (boxes/sand), coppicing of hedgerows, laying of hedgerows, planting a grove of native trees, protection and maintenance of archaeological monuments (grassland) and traditional dry stone wall maintenance.
SHARING OPTIONS: