| Project Attribute | Project Details |
|---|---|
| Project Title | Coastal Lagoons: Ecology And Restoration |
| EPA Project Code | 2018-W-MS-39 |
| Lead Organisation | AQUAFACT INTERNATIONAL SERVICES LTD |
| Coordinator | Brendan O’Connor |
| EPA Research 2014 – 2020 Theme(s) | Water: Theme 4: Understanding, Managing and Conserving our Water Resources EPA Research Pillars |
| Project Start and End Dates | Start: 04/02/2019 End (if applicable): 04/02/2022 Revised End Date (if applicable): |
| EPA Project Type | Medium Scale Project |
| EPA Award Type | STRIVE – Project Based Awards |
| Current Project Status | Grant Awarded |
| Total Funding Amount | 350000.00 |
| Project Abstract/Description | The proposed research seeks to address the two pressures of water pollution and hydrological modification on lagoon ecology by answering a number of questions: which nutrient limits growth in the lagoon or is growth light limited? What is the fate of these nutrients once in the lagoon? Do they accumulate in lagoonal sediments or are they exported to sea? Are sediment-bound nutrients available to the ecosystem and will they persist, even if additional imports cease? Does breaching/piping under the lagoon barrier accelerate the export of nutrients to sea? If breaching/piping under the barrier occurs, what effect will changes in salinity have on the lagoon’s ecosystem? By studying a single site, we would hope to describe and review the major factors involved in lagoon degradation and propose restoration methods applicable to other sites. While the initial outcome of the project will be a detailed plan to restore the Lady’s Island site, the project will also result in methods to quantify excessive nutrient inputs and impacts of lagoon turnover or flushing rates on conservation status for all Irish lagoons and suggest a suite of techniques which could reduce nutrient loading. Expected outputs of this project will be a report including a practical manual on how to improve the ecological status of Lady’s Island Lake and other lagoons, attendance and presentations at appropriate Irish and European scientific conferences, scientific papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals and a deeper understanding of the ecology of saline lagoons. |
| EPA Scientific Officer | LisaJohnson |