This article is from page 8 of the 2011-09-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
PLANS to pump water from the River Shannon to supply the Dublin region could have “significant impacts” on fish populations, according to Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Dublin City Council has unveiled plans that if passed would result in 410m litres of water a day being taken from the Shannon at Lough Derg during periods of flooding and when conditions are suitable.
In a submission to the council, the fisheries board states that the estimat ed € 500 million project would affect water levels, having an “effect on the lake shore line with fluctuations in water levels which could have significant impacts on spawning success of coarse fish populations”.
The submission continues, “In the fisheries context we still have concerns about the impact on the lake, the fish habitat and fish in particular. An in-depth fish survey of the lake would be required, with particular emphasis on the Irish Pollan.”
The council states, “Modelling results demonstrate abstractions from Lough Derg will not result in changes to current operating lake levels as outlined in the ‘Regulations and Guidelines for Control of the River Shannon’. The proposed abstraction can be off-set by Ardnacrusha generation activities (with ESB approval), which can be modified to compensate for marginal reductions in flows.”
On concerns over the impact on fish habitats, it states, “The proposed abstraction from northern Lough Derg will be managed in conjunction with the availability of external storage at Garryhinch cutaway bog.” The report continues, “The proposed use of external storage (as per recommended Option F2) enables poten tial environmental issues resulting from residence time increases during low flow periods to be minimised/ eliminated (e.g. nutrient flushing and phytoplankton ecology), which have potential knock-on influences up through the trophic levels.”