Coastal Lagoons: Ecology And Restoration

Project AttributeProject Details
Project TitleCoastal Lagoons: Ecology And Restoration
EPA Project Code2018-W-MS-39
Lead OrganisationAQUAFACT INTERNATIONAL SERVICES LTD
CoordinatorBrendan 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 DatesStart: 04/02/2019
End (if applicable): 04/02/2022
Revised End Date (if applicable):
EPA Project TypeMedium Scale Project
EPA Award TypeSTRIVE – Project Based Awards
Current Project StatusGrant Awarded
Total Funding Amount350000.00
Project Abstract/DescriptionThe 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 OfficerLisaJohnson

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