Local history with Monica McGill: River Camac can’t cope with what may be ahead

CLIMATE change is causing more frequent and larger floods, affecting Ireland’s rivers, low-lying areas and coastal regions.

In recent years particularly, higher tides combined with heavy, sudden and prolonged rainfall occur more often and to a greater degree. Our River Camac, although inland, can’t cope with what may be ahead.

When rivers become suddenly swollen, the extra water finds the line of least resistance, inundating where it must to find rest. This can involve damage to houses and their contents – and sometimes worse.

EU Directive – River Camac Flood Alleviation Scheme

To combat the increasing threat of climate change, an EU Directive was passed into Irish law as S.I. 122 of 2010. As a result, various Authorities have come together to investigate and decide what can or should be done nationally and locally.

In the Camac’s case, experts from the Office of Public Works (OPW), Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council have joined to draw up the River Camac Flood Alleviation Scheme (RCFAS).

This examines the Camac from its source at Mount Seskin to where it enters the River Liffey under Heuston Station.

Proposals will be prepared when all the available information and possibilities have been considered.

Camac at County Council Offices, Clondalkin. (Photo by © Monica McGill)

Public consultations Part of the RCFAS process involves public consultations. They are underway, with the latest ones on 17th and 18th April this year.

If you couldn’t attend any, your observations and suggestions are still welcome. Email them to camacfas@aecom.com . Lots of information is available online on the CamacFAS website HERE. Those interested in the Camac and flood alleviation are asked to suggest how our river and its tributaries could relieve flooding, balanced with what’s best for the river’s health and its natural flora and fauna.

House Insurance Adding to the misery of floods, nowadays the cost of house insurance premiums has risen. In some cases, insurance companies refuse to continue insurance cover.

It seems the OPW will inform Insurance Ireland (the insurance governing body) when the flood alleviation schemes are completed, so we will all hopefully benefit from lower house insurance costs

Patient Camac The Camac has been patient, warning us since at least 1932 that things weren’t going right. Some of our houses flooded then.

1982 was really bad. Places all over Dublin – including Clondalkin – suffered severe flooding from extremely heavy rainfall lasting for hours.

Some years ago, man-made ponds were created in Corkagh Park to accommodate flooding then, but are considered insufficient now.

Possible new proposals Perhaps the new proposals will include the mill-races, all the ponds and sluice-gates that once controlled the Camac to serve our mills at, for instance, (Old) Nangor Road, Corkagh Park and Mill Lane.

Some millponds were filled by uncaring builders.

Emptied, they might still be useful as safe places for floodwater.

Some millponds silted up, becoming a habitat for wildlife of all sorts.

Using care for this wildlife, weirs and hidden sluice-gates controlling the river’s flow might help to alleviate flooding, but only if the Authorities are aware of these elements and that’s not always the case.

Local knowledge People who work in the relevant Authorities may not be aware of the information that local groups and individuals have.

Such knowledgeable input is essential for protecting our homes, taking care of wildlife and the health of our River Camac for years to come.

Locals with years of experience and knowledge about the Rivers Camac and Sruleen, their present courses and conditions, their flood plains and characteristics, please make an input into the consultation process.

Important resource

The River Camac has always been essential to Clondalkin. It’s been our benefactor since before Christianity arrived here.

It’s partly the reason for our village’s location, its streetscape, and our industrial heritage.

In the past, the river provided drinking water for animals, a building material for our (now) heritage buildings, and an irrigation system for our crops.

In time, we changed its natural course and harnessed it to provide a reliable motive power for industrial and commercial use.

Abuse

Sadly over the years, we abused the Camac.

Locals recall its foul smell as it emerged from Clondalkin Paper Mills and the different colours we “donated” to it.

We weren’t the only ones either. For instance, the Nugget Shoe Polish factory further downriver increased the effluents too.

We also used the Camac as a rubbish dump, narrowed it or paved its riverbed with concrete in places when it suited us.

Over time, we forced it to run through inadequate pipes and lowered the headroom of some of its bridges.

With heavy rains, debris more easily became caught in these smaller openings.

Floods ensued.

Some say that blinkered planning permissions for housing in inappropriate places have added to the flooding problem, firstly by allowing houses to be built on age-old flood plains well known to locals.

Secondly, the river was further restricted or ignored by authorities as demands grew.

Leisure Despite this long-term abuse, the Camac nowadays delights us mainly as a place to reconnect with nature.

Local voluntary groups like Friends of the Camac mind our river and know it well.

They often clean it of detritus and offer meaningful liaison with our County Council. Thanks to co-operation, expertise and care, along its banks and pools we can take our leisure.

Our river responds generously, given a decent chance and enough time.

Natural habitats in and around the Camac attract many kinds of birds.

The flitting insects upon which they feed and raise their young come to the Camac to feast on the “weeds” growing lush along its banks.

Fish and other aquatic animals inhabit its waters, prime indicators that riverine water quality improves in tandem with wise management.

Our Camac River is once again an essential resource, this time as a welcome way to accommodate floodwaters due to climate change.

Anyone who cares about the safety of our homes, our environment and our river is invited to contribute their observations to the River Camac Flood Alleviation Scheme via email to camacfas@aecom.com .