Bathing Water Profile - Traught, (2013)

Bathing Water: Traught, Kinvara Bathing Water Code: IEWEBWC160_0000_0100 Local Authority: County Council River Basin District: Western Monitoring Point: 133970E, 213821N

1. Profile Details:

Profile Id: BWPR00182 Toilets Available: Yes Year Of Profile: 2013 Car Parking Available: Yes Year Of Identification 1992 Disabled Access: Yes Version Number: 1 First Aid Available: Yes Sensitive Area: Yes Dogs Allowed: Yes Lifesaving Facilities: Yes

Figure 1: Bathing Water 2. Bathing Water Details:

Map 1: Bathing Water Location & Extent

Bathing Water location and Traught Beach Bathing Area is located outside Kinvara Town on the shores of Galway Bay in the Kinvara extent: Water Management Unit of the Western River Basin District.

The beach is approximately 450 metres long with a bathing area of approximately 900m2

Main features of the Bathing Type of Bathing Water: Traught beach is long sandy beach on the edge of and the karstic Water: limestone fringes the surrounding shore and extends into the sublittoral. The beach area itself is composed of a lower sand/mud shore with shingle on the upper shore. At the northern and southern ends of the beach a rocky shore, composed of limestone bedrock exists. It is an exposed beach and the sea can be quite rough at times.

Tidal Range and Depth: Traught Beach has a mesotidal range (2-4m) with medium and maximum depths of the bathing area varying in relation to the tide height and position.

Fauna/Flora/Riparian Zone: The sandy shore has a gentle slope and often carries large amounts of seaweeds on its strandline, especially after heavy weather. Species present can include Bootlace Weed (Chorda filum), Bladder wrack (F.vesiculusos) among others. Casts of burrowing worms are dominant at the southern end of the sandy shore indicating higher levels of mud in this area. Seashells are abundant and include large numbers of Razorshells (Ensis spp.), Periwinkles (Littorina spp. e.g Littorina saxitalis), Dogwhelk (Nucella lapillus) and their egg cases, Mussels (Mytilus edulis), Cockles (Cardium edule), Scallops (Pectinidae spp.), Oysters (Ostreidae spp.) and Sea Potato (Echinocardium cordatum). Flocks of waders are commonly seen feeding on the shore in winter. The splash zone is well developed at the northern end and southern end of the beach (that is both ends of the promenade). Vegetation occurring in this zone includes Sea Beet (Beta vulgaris), Mayweed (Tripleurospermum maritinum). The upper shingle shoreline is sparsely vegetated. The associated flora is dominated by plant species of frequently disturbed maritime habitats. The rocky shore supports a very diverse range of flora and fauna. The limestone is highly pitted and the crevices support a myriad of rock pool communities. Barnacles, mussels and periwinkles coat the rocks with armies of limpets (Patella spp.) and periwinkles feeding upon them. Brown, green and red seaweeds cling to the rocks and in the rock pools, anemones, sponges, red algae, crabs and shrimps are abundant.

Sensitive Areas: Galway Bay is one of the most important ornithological sites in the western region and Traught Beach and its surrounding areas provide good vantage points for bird watching. The shallow waters provide excellent habitat for Great Northern Divers, Black-throated Divers, Scaup, Long-tailed duck and Red-breasted Merganser. All of these populations are of national importance. Traught Beach is located within the SAC of Galway Bay Complex (Site Code: 000268) and the SPA of Inner Galway Bay (Site Code: 004031). The SAC designation is due to the diversity of the shoreline which as complex mixtures of bedrock shore, shingle beach, sandy beach and fringing salt marshes. The intertidal sediments support good examples of communities that are moderately exposed to wave action. Sub-littorally the area has a number of important communities. Inner Galway Bay also provides good quality habitat for Common Main features of the Bathing Water:

Seal (Phoca vitulina) and Otter (Lutra lutra) which are sometimes spotted along the Kinvara coastline

Land Use: Agriculture with cattle rearing and milk production as well as some tillage.

Visitor Numbers:

Max. number of visitor during a day in high season:300

Approx number of visitor during the bathing season:9000

Activities available at the Swimming and bathing are popular activities in the summer months, with some surfing also undertaken if Bathing Water: waves are suitable. There is occasional good shore angling off the rocks behind the pier, and the pier itself when the mackerel are running and the tide is in. There are also sea angling boat trips organized locally from the pier.

Activities prohibited are those listed in Beach Bye-Laws for the County Health District of Galway included in this profile as Appendix 1

Contributing catchment Contributing Catchment: /Kinvara Bay is situated in in the Kinvarra Water details: Management Unit of Western River Basin District. The area is 27.1 km² in area and is located in the south- eastern corner of Galway Bay on the west coast of . The contributing catchment of the area is 1,030.57 km2 in area. The principal freshwater inputs are the Clarin, and Ballynamanagh rivers. The principal centres of population are Clarinbridge, Kilcolgan, and .

Soils/Subsoils/bedrock: The geology of the catchment is dominated by carboniferous limestone and there are a number of turloughs and underground river systems in the area.

Topography and Land Use: The land is generally low lying and is used predominately for cattle rearing and milk production as well as some tillage. There are approximately 55,000 cattle and 80,000 sheep within the catchment. These figures are in line with national averages.

Centres of Population: The principal centres of population are Clarinbridge, Kilcolgan, Craughwell and Athenry. The catchment is within the commuter belt for Galway City which has resulted in a significant demand for one-off housing. The population of the catchment is approximately 23,000, and the principal centres of population along the coastline being Kinvara with a population of 620, Clarinbridge with a population of 389 and Kilcolgan with a population of 207 (CSO,2011).

Monitoring point details: The monitoring point is located centrally in the bathing area at E 133970 N 213821.

Reason for selection of the It is considered to be a suitable location for determining the quality of the water within the bathing area. monitoring point: This monitoring point has been used historically. It is not considered that the water quality varies significantly throughout the identified bathing area.

Water quality assessment: Based on the results obtained from 2006 to 2009, the classification under the Bathing Water Regulations, 2008 was determined as excellent for the four years. The bathing area was generally compliant with the standards set in the regulations during this period. There was one non-compliance obtained for E Coli( guide) and for Enterococci parameter in 2009. The non-compliant result for Enterococci in 2009 resulted in the loss of the blue flag for the 2010 bathing season. Good Quality water status has been maintained for 2010-2012 bathing seasons with the exception of 2011 where the water was recorded as of sufficient status.

3. Identified Pressures: Map 2: Bathing Water Catchment

3.1 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing no risk: Description: Agriculture Source: Pressure Posing No Risk Type: Run off from agricultural land Short Term Pressure: No

3.2 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing risk: Description: On-site wastewater treatment plants Source: Pressure Posing Risk Type: Waste Water Treatment plant Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: Low Risk Frequency: unknown Duration: < 72 hours Risk Assessment A walk over survey of the area was carried out in 2010 Methodology:

Risk Assessment A number on-site wastewater treatment plants were identified as being a possible risk. The toilet Results: block servicing the beach and a nearby Caravan Park was also identified as being a possible risk. The wastewater treatment plant for the toilet block was upgraded recently and the Caravan Park is not permitted to operate until such time as a new wastewater treatment plant has been provided. Details: As detailed above, the water quality in the area is generally very good; therefore, the risk of short term pollution is low.

Management Measures: Investigative monitoring is carried out on a prioritised basis throughout the county. If the water quality at the bathing area continues to decline investigative montioring will be carried out under the National Inspection Plan for domestic wastewater treatment systems, subject to resources.

3.3 Other Risks: Assessment of the potential for proliferation N/A of cyanobacteria:

Proposed management measures for N/A cyanobacteria:

Assessment of the potential for proliferation N/A of macroalgae:

Proposed management measures for Monitoring of this beach indicates that there is no significant potential for an accumulation of macroalgae: Marine Phytoplankton in quantities likely to pose a danger to human health

Assessment of the potential for proliferation Monitoring of this beach indicates that there is no significant potential for an accumulation of of marine phytoplankton: macroalgae in quantities likely to pose a danger to human health

Proposed management measures for marine N/A phytoplankton:

Additional Information: None

4 Bathing Water Status From Previous Sampling Years:

2010 2011 2012 2013 Traught, Kinvara Good Sufficient Good Good

5 Contact Details:

Contact: Galway County Council Email: [email protected] Address: Environment Section, Prospect Hill, Galway Phone: 091 476402