East Wicklow Rivers Trust

Protecting, conserving and improving Wicklow’s surface water bodies

The East Wicklow Rivers Trust formed in 2019 from a core group of people who had come together with concerns about the impact of water flow on the Vartry river.

The Trust covers an area of over 1300 square kilometers, stretching from Bray to Arklow. Our area of interest includes the Vartry, Avoca, and Dargle rivers, and all the other rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands that flow to the Irish Sea in County Wicklow.

Trusts are independent community-led charitable organisations that delivery education, water management advice and practical conservation work.

Learn more about East Wicklow Rivers Trust

Events

Events
European Dam Removal Day
Oct 8
European Dam Removal Day

East Wicklow Rivers Trust invites you to join us to celebrate European Dam Removal day on the 8th October in Ashford Community and Heritage Centre at 19.30.

The Freshwater Habitats of BWI’s East Coast Nature Reserve
Oct 19
The Freshwater Habitats of BWI’s East Coast Nature Reserve

East Wicklow Rivers Trust, the Newcastle Biodiversity Group and the Birdwatch Ireland Wicklow Branch invite you to join us for a field outing in BWI’s East Coast Nature Reserve.

Events
Aughrim Village Bat Walk
Sep 17
Aughrim Village Bat Walk
Bird watching walk at Vartry Reservoir
Aug 20
Bird watching walk at Vartry Reservoir
The River Alive
Jul 19
The River Alive
Removing a Barrier to Fish Migration - The Installation of a Rock Ramp at Ballinglen Bridge
May 23
Removing a Barrier to Fish Migration - The Installation of a Rock Ramp at Ballinglen Bridge
Right Tree, Right Place – Upland Gully Woodlands for Climate Resilience
Apr 22
Right Tree, Right Place – Upland Gully Woodlands for Climate Resilience
Does farming impact water more than water impacts farming?
Nov 21
Does farming impact water more than water impacts farming?
Mammals of the Devil's Glen and Vartry River
Nov 2
Mammals of the Devil's Glen and Vartry River
An evening of river ecology and poems
Sep 11
An evening of river ecology and poems
Exploring the Vartry - Celebrating Water Day
Aug 25
Exploring the Vartry - Celebrating Water Day
Vartry River Bird Watching
Jul 16
Vartry River Bird Watching
Exploring pond ecology
Jun 27
Exploring pond ecology
Reconnecting Wicklow Rivers
May 25
Reconnecting Wicklow Rivers
Riverside Workshop: Wicklow’s Bluedot Rivers
May 21
Riverside Workshop: Wicklow’s Bluedot Rivers
Trout in Strange Places
May 12
Trout in Strange Places
News
Aughrim Village bat walk
Aughrim Village bat walk

We had a beautiful balmy evening for our bat walk in Aughrim on the 17th September

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The Shaking Bog’s Riverscapes
The Shaking Bog’s Riverscapes

Yesterday we enjoyed a very special day at Riverscapes in the Glencree Valley, a fantastic event “In a Field by the River” was hosted by The Shaking Bog funded by Local Authority Waters Programme…

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Bird watching at Vartry Reservoir
Bird watching at Vartry Reservoir

We had a beautiful evening and a fantastic turn out for our National Heritage Week birdwatching event at the Vartry Reservoir last night…

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A reflection on the The River Alive event
A reflection on the The River Alive event

The Avonmore Catchment Collective enjoyed a beautiful day on the Avonbeg River in the Glenmalure Valley on the 21st July 2025.


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SpongeWorks On The Aughrim River
SpongeWorks On The Aughrim River

We’re delighted to be partnering with Wicklow County Council, the Wicklow Uplands Council and LAWPRO to participate in an EU Horizon project which aims to improve how Europe manages water, land and climate risks.

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Webinar recording - Restoring Upland Gully Woodland
Webinar recording - Restoring Upland Gully Woodland

Watch the webinar recording focused on our Upland Gully Woodland Community Climate Action Project for Earth Day 2025 in collaboration with Wicklow Uplands Council.

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Ballinglen barrier removal project published as an EU case study
Ballinglen barrier removal project published as an EU case study

Our project to remove a barrier to fish migration has been published as a case study in a European context.

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Webinar recording - The Installation of a Rock Ramp at Ballinglen Bridge
Webinar recording - The Installation of a Rock Ramp at Ballinglen Bridge

Removing a Barrier to Fish Migration - The Installation of a Rock Ramp at Ballinglen Bridge

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Eco Volunteer Of The Year nomination
Eco Volunteer Of The Year nomination

We’re thrilled to have been nominated for the Eco Hero Award 2024 with Outsider.ie

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“Where the river rises” with Jane Clarke
“Where the river rises” with Jane Clarke

On the Lyric Feature on Sunday 2nd February, poet Jane Clarke presented Where the River Rises. Here, through poetry and conversation with local ecologists and naturalists, she explored the Avonmore River in County Wicklow.

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Restoration of Fisheries Habitat on the Ballinglen River
Restoration of Fisheries Habitat on the Ballinglen River
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Avoca and Avonmore Vision Report
Avoca and Avonmore Vision Report

We’re delighted to share a detailed vision document for the Avoca and Avonmore catchment, prepared by Dr. Tom Harrington and Faith Wilson under the direction of East Wicklow Rivers Trust.

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News

Avoca Catchment
Aquatic Invertebrates in the Avoca–Avonmore Catchment
Aquatic Invertebrates in the Avoca–Avonmore Catchment

Aquatic invertebrate species living in the Avoca–Avonmore catchment.

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Fish in the Avoca–Avonmore Catchment
Fish in the Avoca–Avonmore Catchment

Learn more about the six fish species living in the freshwater parts of the Avoca–Avonmore catchment.

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Rivers and Lakes in the Avoca–Avonmore Catchment
Rivers and Lakes in the Avoca–Avonmore Catchment
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Biodiversity in the Avoca–Avonmore Catchment
Biodiversity in the Avoca–Avonmore Catchment

Biodiversity in the Avoca–Avonmore Catchment - protecting nature in Ireland, and what that means for the catchment

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Avoca River
Avoca River
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Avonmore River
Avonmore River
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Avonbeg River
Avonbeg River
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Cloghoge River
Cloghoge River
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The Avoca Mines
The Avoca Mines

The 12-km stretch of the Avoca River from Avoca mines to the sea at Arklow is one of Ireland’s most polluted rivers, principally because of acid mine drainage (AMD) from the mines.

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