23-07-2025
EU project to focus on Wicklow river's ability to slow down water flow
Wicklow County Council, in partnership with the Wicklow Uplands Council, the East Wicklow Rivers Trust and LAWPRO, has been selected to participate in the project, which aims to improve how Europe manages water, land and climate risks, as one of eight associated regions, chosen from over 70 applications.
Each participating region will develop strategies to implement sponge measures - nature-based solutions that help retain water, reduce flood and drought risks and restore ecosystems. Wicklow's project specifically focuses on restoring the upper Aughrim River's ability to slow down water flow.
The SpongeWorks team in Wicklow look forward to collaborating with landowners in the upper Aughrim River catchment and the Aughrim community to identify opportunities and co-create solutions that will benefit everyone involved.
Wicklow is the only region from Ireland selected for this project and will collaborate with areas from Germany, the Netherlands, France, Greece, Hungary, Belgium, Italy, Finland, Spain, Ukraine and Montenegro.
All participating regions will work together, sharing knowledge and building mutual capacity. The goal is to implement sponge measures that can be scaled up, supported by new tools for their execution and the inclusion of sponge strategies into local governance and planning.
SpongeWorks is a leading initiative in Horizon Europe for nature-based climate adaptation, bringing together 28 partners and 23 knowledge institutions. The project is focused on developing practical, scalable solutions for the implementation of sponge measures, addressing key issues related to effectiveness, financing, governance and stakeholder engagement.
The name 'SpongeWorks' reflects the capacity of our soils and habitats' ability to absorb excess rainfall like a sponge. Sponge measures aim to protect and enhance the landscape's capacity to absorb rainfall, releasing it more slowly back into our rivers.
Wicklow County Council chief executive Emer O'Gorman stated that the Aughrim River project will strengthen partnerships in addressing the challenges of building climate resilience in our river catchments.
'This initiative will lead to reduced flooding, improved water quality, soil protection and restoration of biodiversity,' she said.
'Better water retention in the uplands will also ensure a reliable water supply throughout the year.'
