Forestry (Owner) Coillte
“Catchment Significant Pressures Description: The significant pressures identified by the EPA at the initial characterisation stage were forestry and hydromorphology (river bank erosion). Biological status at the WFD operational monitoring station Br NW of Caunteens had been at high (Q4-5) from 2006 to 2020 but dropped to good (Q4) in 2021. The current hydromorphological condition (RHAT) is only at good in this Blue Dot waterbody. The hydromorphology pressure is being dealt with by ASSAP.”
Referral Significant Issue(s) Description
Sediment was the only issue identified during LCA at Site 1 which is also the EPA monitoring station for Isknagahiny Lough Stream_010 (Maps 1 & 2). More sediment than expected was observed there in September 2020. However, SSIS indicated that the invertebrates communities were not significantly impacted in June 2021 despite the noticeable interstitial sediment. Additional similar habitats assessed further upstream showed similar invertebrate communities. High biological status (Q4-5) was assigned to this site in 2020 however subsequent to LAWPRO’s assessment, the EPA biologists returned a Q4 for this site in 2021.
This forest referral area is within a priority Fresh Water Peral Mussel area. Contiguous to the forested area, the landscape is made up of moors and heathland. The slope within the forestry is on average >40%, therefore stream power would be expected to be very high. This coupled with high rainfall events and rapid run-off have substantial peat and sub-soil erosion potential.
The ongoing risk of impact from sediment mobilisation and future forest management operations is ever present in this catchment. Where necessary, mitigation measures need to be put in place in advance of future forest operations and appropriate management of windblown trees should be implemented to eliminate the risk of sediment loss to the sensitive aquatic environment in this waterbody and others downstream.
Mitigation measures are outside the remit of LAWPRO however, some general proposed measures are outlined below.