Bathing Water Profile - Lady's Bay, Buncrana (2014)

Bathing Water: Lady's Bay, Buncrana Bathing Water Code: IENWBWT220_0400_0100 Local Authority: Donegal County Council River Basin District: North Western Monitoring Point: 234270E, 431711N

1. Profile Details:

Profile Id: BWPR00247 Toilets Available: Yes Year Of Profile: 2014 Car Parking Available: Yes Year Of Identification 1994 Disabled Access: No Version Number: 1 First Aid Available: No Sensitive Area: No Dogs Allowed: Yes Lifesaving Facilities: No

Figure 1: Bathing Water 2. Bathing Water Details:

Map 1: Bathing Water Location & Extent

Bathing Water location and Lady’s Bay Beach is located close to the town of Buncrana (Bun Cranncha), which is located in Inishowen extent: Peninsula in County Donegal. It is located in the Crana Estuary Transitional waterbody (NW_220_0400) running into the Lough Swilly Coastal waterbody (NW_220_0000) within the North Western River Basin District. The designated bathing area is approx. 0.02633 km2 and the extent along the water is approximately is 550m

Main features of the Bathing Type of Bathing Water: Lady’s Bay beach consists of a sandy beach in Lough Swilly confined by Water: Buncrana pier to the South and a small rocky outcrop 550m to the North. It is one of a series of beaches along the West of Inishowen, which are scattered from Lisfannon Beach at Fahan to Dunree Beach.

Flora/Fauna, Riparian Zone: The riparian zone is semi natural with the paths and car park curtailing the beach to the East. The Lough Swilly SAC is of conservation importance as it contains good examples of at least four habitats listed on Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive (estuaries, lagoons, Atlantic salt meadows, old oak woods) and supports a population of Otter, a species listed on Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive. An area of woodland, scrub and heath occurs above the northeast shore at Porthaw. Oak/Hazel (Corylus avellana) scrub is frequent, and there is a well developed ground flora with species such as Wood-sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), Lady’s fern (Athyrium filix- femina) and Broad Buckler Fern (Dryopteris dilatata). The heath vegetation includes Ling (Calluna vulgaris), Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus), Wood Sage (Teucrium scorodonia) and Tormentil (Potentilla erecta). In the wetter areas, Purple Moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) and Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix) occur.

Lough Swilly is an important site for waterfowl in autumn and winter. The shallow waters provide suitable habitat for grebes and diving duck, while the intertidal flats are used by an excellent diversity of wildfowl and waders. At high tide, the duck and wader species roost on the salt marshes and shorelines, with some species moving to the adjacent pasture and arable fields. In past surveys, 16 species occurred in nationally important numbers as follows Great Crested Grebe, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Scaup, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Coot, Oystercatcher, Knot, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank and Greenshank. Other species which occur in regionally or locally important numbers, and at times may exceed the threshold for national importance, include Brent Goose, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit and Turnstone. The site is also an important area for the Great Northern Diver and the rare Slavonian Grebe.

Water Depth: There is a medium gradient off Lady’s Bay Beach getting to a depth of 1m, 10m out from the shore, continuing out at a medium slope until it reaches the channel.

Tidal Range: The water line within the designated area is approximately 550 meters. Tidal ranges are in the mesotidal range (2-4m) in normal tidal conditions.

Land Use: Land use immediately surrounding the designated bathing area consists of car parking Main features of the Bathing Water:

facilities, sports facility, leisure centre, the town and a park. A public road runs behind the beach to the village.

Local Sites of Interest: The town of Buncrana has numerous facilities including a cinema, swimming pool, shops, restaurants and bars. It is also home to the beautiful Swan Park, which runs from Wilson’s Bridge to the Old Mill Bridge along the Crana River. The Tullyarvin Mill is a renovated 18th century mill on the outskirts of the town. Going North along the coast from Buncrana (approx. 7 miles) is Dunree Head and Fort which is renowned for it’s stunning natural beauty and abundant wildlife are drawing increasing numbers of visitors to one of Inishowen’s most beautiful and peaceful locations. There are a number of sites of historical significance within the catchment area that include standing stones, megalithic tombs, cairns and a castle the mouth of the estuary of the Crana River.

Additional Information: Lady’s Bay Beach is 2km from Lisfannon Blue Flag Beach, which has Lifeguards (seasonal), toilets (seasonal), refuse bins, recycling facilities and notice boards with local and water quality data.

Activities available at the Facilities: Facilities available at the beach include car parking, toilets, refuse bins and recycling bins are Bathing Water: available at the Tourist Office. There are shops, restaurants etc available in Buncrana approximately 300m from the beach.

Visitor Numbers: Visitor numbers to the beach vary throughout the season. The maximum number of visitors to the beach during a high season day has been estimated at approximately 600 people with a large proportion if users using the beach for walking. Throughout the season approximately 8,000 people have been estimated to visit the beach. Visitor numbers are representative of the visitors observed by the water quality samplers and from local information.

Activities: Activities at Lady’s Bay beach include swimming, boating, power boating, jet skiing and other land-based activities on the beach. The path along the beach forms part of a coastal walk leading up to Swan Park, around the coast to Ned’s Point and to other beaches along the coastline.

Contributing catchment Lady’s Bay Beach is located on the outskirts of the town of Buncrana. The beach is situated in front of the details: Leisure Centre and has a car park and a path along the length of the beach. The beach has a large catchment area with two significant rivers coming in to either end of the beach.

Contributing Catchment: The contributing catchment of the designated bathing area for Lady’s Bay Beach is approximately 146.1km2 in area.

Water Bodies draining to Bathing Area: There are two large river systems within the catchment. The Crana River flowing Westerly enters the beach at the Northern side, which includes the tributaries of Cashelnaoer River, Sruhannacarta, Slievemain River, Glashagh River, Glenard River, Owennasop River, Camowen River, Meenatoomish River, Pollannahack River and Evishbreedy River. The Mill River also flows Westerly emerging at the Southrern end of the beach, including the Meenkeeragh River, Owenkillew River, Pollandoo Burn, Maragh River and the Back Burn.

Land Cover and Land Use:

Topography:

The catchment consists of a number of upland areas to the North, East and South East including Slieve Snaght. There is one lake in the catchment, Mintiaghs Lough and a Dam constructed on the Owennasop Riverc alled the Pollan Dam, which is on the Crana River system.

Land Use: Land attributed to peat bog accounts for 43%, moors and heath 18% and pastures 12%, making up the largest portion of the catchment. Coniferous forest and traditional woodland-shrub make up a further 8% and 9% respectively. Even though the beach is situated on the fringe of the town, discontinued urban fabric only makes up 3% of the catchment due to the size of the area.

Soils, Subsoils, Bedrock: The catchment bedrock is predominantly comprised of Fahan Grit Formation (30%), Lower Crana Quartzite Formation (22%) and Fahan Slate Formation (20%). The main soil/subsoil types for the catchment area are blanket peat (70%) in both categories as this is by far the most predominant soil type in the area.

Formal Designations: Lady’s Bay Beach is located within the Lough Swilly National Heritage Area (NHA) (Code 000166) and has a further 4 NHAs within the catchment, namely Slieve Snaght Bogs NHA (Code 002322), Illies Hill Bog NHA (Code 001127), Camowen River Bog NHA (Code 002405) and Umrycam Bog NHA (Code 002406). The beach is also adjacent to the Lough Swilly Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (Code 004075) and the Lough Swilly SPA Special Protection Area (SPA) (Code 002287).

Population Centres: BuncranaTown is the main population centre in the catchment with a population of Contributing catchment details:

3,452 people, the catchment has a population of more than 8,058 (CSO, 2011).

Rainfall: The closest weather station to the designated beach is at Malin Head Weather Station (IC 418 575), which is approximately 30km as the crow flies from the beach. During the bathing water season (2009-2013), the average rainfall (mm) for May, June, July, August and September is 80.1, 76.7, 79.7, 99.3 and 111.2 respectively. Details of the rainfall data can be obtained through www.met.ie

Monitoring point details: The monitoring point for this bathing water is located at the grid reference point IC 342 317.

Reason for selection of the The location of the bathing water monitoring point is the location where most bathers are expected to use monitoring point: the bathing water. This area can vary somewhat on this beach depending on tidal and weather influences.

Water quality assessment: The bathing water quality monitoring carried out at Lady’s Beach since 2003 has shown varying good and sufficient water quality. In the 2010, 2012 and 2013 bathing season, Lady’s Bay Beach has achieved good water quality status, sufficient status was obtained in 2011 in accordance with the EU guide and mandatory values as set out in the Bathing Water Directive (2006/76/EC) and the Quality of Bathing Water Regulations, 2008 (S.I. 79 OF 2008).

In the four year assessment period from 2010 to 2013, the current classification for this bathing water is Good Quality. The 95%ile classification of E. coli and Enterococci are 320.5 and 125.7 respectively.

3. Identified Pressures:

Map 2: Bathing Water Catchment

3.1 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing no risk: Description: Approximately 8% of the land use within the catchment is coniferous forestry. Headwaters of the Crana and Mill Rivers are considered to be at risk from suspended solids and eutrophication from Forestry (NW_39_1227, NW_39_1444). Source: Forestry Type: Other Short Term Pressure: No Description: The plant, which was completed in 1998, is located 11km from the beach, at Illies on the Crana River at grid reference IC 417 338. There is no significant discharge from the Pollan Dam Water Treatment Plant, the filters are washed and the wash water is recycled through the plant. A discharge of filtered water which goes through a settlement lagoon/concentrator is discharged to the Crana river on average once per week. Full time staff and a SCADA system monitor the plant. The plant has it’s own sludge disposal facilities. To date, there has never been an accidental discharge from the plant. Source: Pollen Dam Water Treatment Type: Other Short Term Pressure: No

Description: Slavery Water Treatment Plant is located 2km from the beach outside the town of Buncrana, grid reference IC 349 343. The Water treatment plant discharges to the stream beside the plant, which flows into the Crana River 3km from the beach. There are no bacterial discharges from the plant. Source: Slavery Water Treatment PLant Type: Other Short Term Pressure: No

Description: Bird faeces can affect bathing water as it contains high levels of bacteria (much higher than treated human waste). Source: Seabirds Type: Bird colony Short Term Pressure: No

Description: Approximately 4% of the land use within the catchment is agricultural and natural vegetation with a further 12% being classified as pasture. No intensive agricultural activities are taking place within the catchment. The catchment area is predominantly blanket peat with inadequate drainage capacity. Source: Agriculture Type: Run off from agricultural land Short Term Pressure: No

Description: There are a significant number of individual houses located throughout the catchment, which all presumably have some form of on-site effluent treatment system. Source: On Site Waste Water Treatment Syste Type: Septic Tank Short Term Pressure: No

Description: The quarry is located 2km from the beach to the East of Buncrana at grid reference IC 359 314. It is licensed under Donegal County Council for discharges to water. Donegal Co. Co. samples the discharge twice per year and the licence states that they are to obtain their own monthly monitoring from an independent laboratory. There are settling lagoons to remove suspended solids before discharge. The licence covers pH, suspended solids and aluminium if used. Source: Cassidy's Quarry Type: Sediment disturbance Short Term Pressure: No

3.2 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing risk: Description: Buncrana Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) was commissioned in 1991. It provides Preliminary and Primary Treatment of wastewater from the catchment prior to discharge by an outfall to Lough Swilly. The treatment process consists of preliminary treatment in the form of screening, a communator and a grit chamber prior to settlement in two circular radial flow tanks. The inlet storm overflow chamber is joined with the effluent from the primary settlement tanks and this combined flow discharges through the outfall pipeline along the foreshore to Black Rock and from there through a 515m submerged sea outfall at IC 336 314. Sludge is drawn off from the settlement tank to a picket fence thickener, followed by a sludge holding tank and finally to a double belt press. Dewatered sludge is then transported to approved lands in Inishowen to be used as a fertilizer in the production of willows, in turn used as a bio-fuel. The returned supernatant liquid from the sludge treatment process is returned to the intake of the works. The P.E. of the agglomeration is 6431. The system has 4 storm water overflows and 5 emergency overflows. An Environmental Impact assessment has been undertaken to identify, evaluate and describe the effects of a proposed upgrade to Buncrana WWTW. It is proposed to upgrade Buncrana WWTP to full biological treatment (secondary Treatment) to comply with relevant European and National Legislation.

Source: Buncrana Waste Water Treatment Plant Type: Waste Water Treatment plant Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: High Risk Frequency: not frequent Duration: < 72 hours Risk Assessment Microbial Pollution Potential (MPP) combined with the Water Quality Impact (WQI) grades for Methodology: bathing waters result in the Microbial Pollution Risk (MPR) assessment for pollution sources affecting coastal and inland bathing waters.

Risk Assessment The Microbial Pollution Potential for this discharge is High. The Water Quality Impact grade for this Results: bathing water is B; therefore, the Microbial Pollution Risk (MPR) Assessment for this discharge is High. The discharge could be considered to be a short outfall as the discharge point is located approximately 500m from the beach. This result is consistent with the water quality results obtained at Lady’s Bay Beach during all recent bathing water quality monitoring.

Details: Due to the location of the outfall and level of treatment at the WWTP there will always be a risk of short-term pollution but this is abated by the fact that the plant is running under capacity due to the closure of some industry in the area. Management Measures: The inspector routinely inspects the site. In the event of a problem within the plant, measures have been put in place as described in the Wastewater Discharge License Application Form. The problem will be examined and rectified as soon as possible. In the event of a discharge bathers shall be notified of potential risk to water quality & advised not to use designated bathing waters by signage at the bathing area and by informing lifeguards on duty until bathing water results prove that any possible incident has passed. The WWTP is due to be upgraded by 2015 to provide more adequate treatment.

Description: Heavy rainfall carries an added risk of pollution from surface runoff Source: Rainfall Type: Rainwater discharges Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: Low Risk Frequency: <1/month Duration: < 48 hours Risk Assessment The bathing water vulnerability for short term pollution (STP) events has been examined. The beach Methodology: has been assessed to incorporate the small size of the catchment, the absence of surface water inflows to the beach, and the historical water quality monitoring data over a 10 year period from 2004 to 2013. The STP event was calculated in conjunction with the Information Note on Short Term Pollution (STP) Events specified in the 2008 Bathing Water Quality Regulations (SI No. 79 of 2008) by the OEA Bathing Water Unit 17 May 2013. Risk Assessment Rainfall is not expected to affect the bathing water quality unless there is >20mm of rain in 24hours. Results: Details: Pollution risk is linked to weather systems and rainfall data Management Measures: If heavy rain is anticipated, warning notices will be erected on the beach together with incident notification to the EPA. The public will be informed of the risk, likely duration and nature of the short term pollution, displayed on the beach notice boards.

After a STP event, a sample shall be taken to confirm that the event has passed; if microbiological analysis shows that no contamination was detected, then the event is not considered to be a STP. If necessary, a replacement sample can be taken in accordance with Regulation 7(4), Schedule 2 of S.I. No. 79 of 2008. If the predicted rainfall does not arrive, the warning notices will be taken down.

In the event that bathing water quality is found to be unsatisfactory, the public will be advised of this by way of public notices at the beach and through the lifeguards until the quality has improved to satisfactory standards.

3.3 Other Risks:

Assessment of the potential for proliferation There has been no known incident of cyanobacteria impacting on the Donegal coastline or it’s of cyanobacteria: marine environment. An event of this kind is considered to be extremely unlikely.

Proposed management measures for Nutrient management would be examined in the potential pressures and risk assessments carried cyanobacteria: out on the catchment to calculate and reduce the potential risks. In the event of a problem with cyanobacteria, samples would be taken to determine the levels of chlorophyll. Depending on the concentration found, bathing conditions would be considered in relation to calm weather without surface wave actions lasting for 24 hours or longer and temporary risk signs would be erected for the duration of the climatic conditions. In the instance of high levels of chlorophyll, bathing would be prohibited, signage would be erected for the duration of the bloom and regular sampling and analysis would take place.

Assessment of the potential for proliferation Lady’s Bay Beach location in Lough Swilly at the North coast of Donegal provides some shelter of macroalgae: from macroalgae being washed into the bay during storms. There are no significant problems with macroalgae on this beach.

Proposed management measures for In the event of a large volume of macroalgae being washed ashore, it would be left for natural macroalgae: dispersion with the tides if it were not causing a nuisance or health concern. If macroalgae deposits became an issue, it would be removed and disposed of by the local authority.

Assessment of the potential for proliferation Marine phytoplankton bloom events have occurred on some beaches in County Donegal, though of marine phytoplankton: none are recorded at Lady’s Bay. The previous incidents have occurred when algal blooms have washed into the areas and have taken 2-4 days to disperse.

Proposed management measures for marine If algal blooms develop offshore and their movement can be monitored, attention will be paid to phytoplankton: prevailing winds in the case of the bloom being driven onshore. This will allow for the situation to be monitored closely and action taken accordingly or if necessary. In a serious case in the bathing area, the bloom would be sampled to identify the dominant bloom species. The beach would be closed to the public after consultation with the local authority laboratory and public health professionals. Signage would be erected at access points with an explanation for the closure. Public co-operation would be greatly encouraged.

Additional Information: Information in relation to the quality of the water at each of the 19 designated bathing waters in County Donegal along with their compliance history is available on the EPA’s Bathing Water Website ‘Splash’ available at www.bathingwater.ie

For information on Blue Flag Beaches please visit www.antaisce.ie

Information on the Environmental Protection Agency and the work they undertake is available on the EPA website at www.epa.ie

The Marine Institute is the national agency responsible for Marine Research, Technology Development and Innovation and information is available at www.marine.ie

For information on Donegal County Council and its services please visit www.donegalcoco.ie 4 Bathing Water Status From Previous Sampling Years:

2010 2011 2012 2013 Lady's Bay, Buncrana Good Sufficient Good Good

5 Contact Details:

Contact: Donegal County Council Email: [email protected] Address: Central Laboratory, The Kube, Magheranan, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal Phone: 074 9122787