WFD Cycle 2

Catchment Lower Shannon

Subcatchment Shannon[Lower]_SC_080

Code 25D_6

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Generated on: 11 Jan 2019

1 Generated by WFD Application

Assessment Purpose

This assessment has been produced as part of the national characterisation programme undertaken for the second cycle of Water Framework Directive river basin management planning. It has been led by the EPA, with input from Local Authorities and other public bodies, and with support from RPS consultants.

The characterisation assessments are automatically generated from the information stored in the WFD Application. They are based on information available to the end of 2015 but may be subject to change until the final 2018-21 river basin management plan is published. Users should ensure that they have the most up to date information by downloading the latest assessment before use.

2 Evaluation of PrioritySubcatchment Issues

Of the 11 surface water bodies in this subcatchment, four are NOT AT RISK, the Ardcloony_010, Bridgetown (Clare)_010, Lough Derg Highly Modified Water Body (HMWB, SW_25_191b) and Kilmastulla_050. Three water bodies are at REVIEW: Grange (Tipperary)_010 and Kilmastulla_020. Four water bodies are AT RISK: Lough Derg TN (SH_25_191a), Kilmastulla_010, Kilmastulla_030, Kilmastulla_040 and the Shannon (Lower)_010.

There are a number of significant issues in this subcatchment. The Grange (Tipperary)_010 Stream has no biology data but satisfactory chemistry data, however the stream was shortened by developers at one point and will likely require engineering works to slow the flow and prevent gravel/bank erosion; there is also livestock access. Derg Lough is a HWMB identified as such during the first WFD cycle due to power generation. It has Good ecological status and is therefore NOT AT RISK. Derg is linked to the Shannon (Lower)_050 which is at Moderate ecological status and also receives wastewater discharges as a pressure (eutrophication and main suspected cause of pollution). Irish Water are doing work in this area however, notably in relation to the Basin and Dublin Water Supply Project; additionally however fish are also impacted due to the impoundment on this water body.

Lough Derg TN is one of the largest lakes in , however only the southernmost 50m of the lake are present in this subcatchment. Lough Derg is currently at Poor ecological status (2010-2015). There are a large number of pressures on the lake, principally diffuse agriculture, hydromorphology and fish passage issues, invasive species (approximately 14 species, including zebra mussel and Asian clam), urban wastewater and the inputting river, the Shannon (Lower)_050.

The Kilmastulla River (made up of 4 water bodies) as well as the Garryard water bodies are within the vicinity of the old lead and zinc mine at Silvermines. As a result of the historic mining activities these water bodies have very high concentrations of zinc (up to 11,000ug/l for example), as well as highly elevated lead, nickel, suspended solids, and cadmium to a lesser extent. However zinc remediation shows signs of working as salmon have been detected coming back to these rivers in small numbers; it will need to be discussed with the Department on whether less stringent WFD objectives would be more appropriate for these water bodies.

There is one High status water body, the Ardclooney_010, based on macroinvertebrates and hydrology (2010-2015) which is currently achieving its High Status Objective.

3 Map Subcatchment Risk Map

4 River And Lake Waterbodies: WFD Risk

The following river and lake waterbodies are in the subcatchment. Code Name Type WFD Risk Significant Pressure IE_SH_25_191a Derg TN Lake At risk Yes IE_SH_25K040120 KILMASTULLA_010 River At risk Yes IE_SH_25K040800 KILMASTULLA_030 River At risk Yes IE_SH_25K040910 KILMASTULLA_040 River At risk Yes IE_SH_25S012500 SHANNON River At risk Yes (LOWER)_050 IE_SH_25G100100 GRANGE River Review Yes (TIPPERARY)_010 IE_SH_25K040300 KILMASTULLA_020 River Review Yes IE_SH_25_191b Derg HMWB Lake Not at risk Yes IE_SH_25A030100 ARDCLOONY_010 River Not at risk Yes IE_SH_25B230100 BRIDGETOWN River Not at risk No (CLARE)_010

5 Map Subcatchment Water Quality Status Map

6 River And Lake Waterbodies: Water Quality Status

The water quality status of river and lake waterbodies in the subcatchment is as follows. Code Name Type 2007-09 2010-12 2010-15 IE_SH_25A030100 ARDCLOONY_010 River High High High IE_SH_25B230100 BRIDGETOWN (CLARE)_010 River Moderate Moderate Good IE_SH_25_191b Derg HMWB Lake Good High Good IE_SH_25_191a Derg TN Lake Poor Poor Poor IE_SH_25G100100 GRANGE (TIPPERARY)_010 River Unassigned Unassigned Unassigned IE_SH_25K040120 KILMASTULLA_010 River Moderate Moderate Moderate IE_SH_25K040300 KILMASTULLA_020 River Unassigned Unassigned Unassigned IE_SH_25K040800 KILMASTULLA_030 River Moderate Moderate Moderate IE_SH_25K040910 KILMASTULLA_040 River Moderate Moderate Moderate IE_SH_25K041000 KILMASTULLA_050 River Moderate Good Good IE_SH_25S012500 SHANNON (LOWER)_050 River Moderate Moderate Moderate

Potentially Dependent Transitional and Coastal Waterbodies

The Transitional and Coastal waterbodies listed below intersect spatially with river and lake waterbodies in the subcatchment « Code Name Type Local Authority WFD Risk

Potentially Dependent Groundwater Waterbodies

The groundwaters listed below interset spatially with river and lake waterbodies in the subcatchment « Code Name Type Local Authority WFD Risk IE_SH_G_009 Ardnacrusha Groundwater Clare County Council Review IE_SH_G_052 Castleconnell Groundwater City & County Council Review IE_SH_G_095 Broadford Gravels Groundwater Clare County Council Review IE_SH_G_157 Lough Graney Groundwater Clare County Council Not at risk IE_SH_G_178 Nenagh Groundwater Tipperary County Council Review IE_SH_G_213 Slieve Phelim Groundwater Limerick City & County Council Not at risk IE_SH_G_229 -Newmarket on Fergus Groundwater Clare County Council Review IE_SH_G_248 Historic Mine (Silvermines) Groundwater Tipperary County Council At risk IE_SH_G_250 Silvermines Gravels Groundwater Tipperary County Council Review IE_SH_G_257 O'Briensbridge Gravels Groundwater Limerick City & County Council Review

7 Protected Areas intersecting River and Lake Waterbodies

The Protected Areas listed below intersect spatially with river and lake waterbodies in the subcatchment « Code Name Type Waterbody Name Association Type IE0002165 Lower SAC SAC ARDCLOONY_010 Overlapping / partly within Protected Area IE0002165 Lower River Shannon SAC SAC GRANGE Overlapping / partly (TIPPERARY)_010 within Protected Area IE0002165 Lower River Shannon SAC SAC KILMASTULLA_050 Overlapping / partly within Protected Area IE0002165 Lower River Shannon SAC SAC SHANNON Overlapping / partly (LOWER)_050 within Protected Area IE0002165 Lower River Shannon SAC SAC Derg TN Overlapping / partly within Protected Area IE0002165 Lower River Shannon SAC SAC Derg HMWB Overlapping / partly within Protected Area IELK_SH_1994_00 Lough Derg on the River Shannon Nutrient Derg HMWB Overlapping / partly 07 Sensitive Area within Protected Area IELK_SH_1994_00 Lough Derg on the River Shannon Nutrient Derg TN Overlapping / partly 07 Sensitive Area within Protected Area IELK_SH_1994_00 Lough Derg on the River Shannon Nutrient SHANNON Overlapping / partly 07 Sensitive Area (LOWER)_050 within Protected Area IEPA1_SH_25_191 Derg TN Drinking Water Derg TN Within Protected Area a IEPA1_SH_25S012 SHANNON (LOWER)_050 Drinking Water SHANNON Within Protected Area 500 (LOWER)_050 IESHBWL25_191a_ Bathing Place at Portumna Bathing Water Derg TN Overlapping / partly 0100 within Protected Area IESHBWL25_191a_ , Lough Derg Bathing Water Derg TN Overlapping / partly 0200 within Protected Area IESHBWL25_191a_ Ballycuggeran Bathing Water Derg TN Overlapping / partly 0300 within Protected Area

8 Pressures

Below is a list of all significant pressures identified in the subcatchment. Code Name WFD Risk Pressure Category Pressure Sub Category IE_SH_25_191a Derg TN At risk Hydromorphology Dams, barriers, locks, weirs IE_SH_25_191a Derg TN At risk Urban Waste Water Agglomeration PE of 2,001 to 10,000 IE_SH_25_191a Derg TN At risk Invasive Species Invasive species IE_SH_25_191a Derg TN At risk Agriculture Pasture IE_SH_25K040120 KILMASTULLA_010 At risk Extractive Industry Mines IE_SH_25K040800 KILMASTULLA_030 At risk Extractive Industry Mines IE_SH_25K040910 KILMASTULLA_040 At risk Extractive Industry Mines IE_SH_25S012500 SHANNON (LOWER)_050 At risk Hydromorphology Dams, barriers, locks, weirs IE_SH_25S012500 SHANNON (LOWER)_050 At risk Urban Waste Water Agglomeration PE of 2,001 to 10,000 IE_SH_G_248 Historic Mine (Silvermines) At risk Historically Polluted Mines Sites IE_SH_25G100100 GRANGE (TIPPERARY)_010 Review Hydromorphology Channelisation IE_SH_25K040300 KILMASTULLA_020 Review Extractive Industry Mines IE_SH_G_009 Ardnacrusha Review Anthropogenic Unknown Pressures IE_SH_G_052 Castleconnell Review Anthropogenic Unknown Pressures IE_SH_G_095 Broadford Gravels Review Anthropogenic Unknown Pressures IE_SH_G_178 Nenagh Review Anthropogenic Unknown Pressures IE_SH_G_229 Tulla-Newmarket on Fergus Review Anthropogenic Unknown Pressures IE_SH_G_250 Silvermines Gravels Review Anthropogenic Unknown Pressures IE_SH_G_257 O'Briensbridge Gravels Review Anthropogenic Unknown Pressures

9 Further Characterisation Actions

The following further characterisation actions have been identified. These are necessary to help understand more fully issues in the subcatchment and their likely cause. Code Name Action Responsible Organisation IE_SH_25_191a Derg TN IA1 Provision of Information Environmental Protection Agency IE_SH_25K040120 KILMASTULLA_010 IA1 Provision of Information Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government IE_SH_25S012500 SHANNON (LOWER)_050 IA1 Provision of Information Irish Water IE_SH_25S012500 SHANNON (LOWER)_050 IA7 Multiple Sources in Multiple Areas Tipperary County Council IE_SH_25_191a Derg TN IA9 Lake pressures Clare County Council IE_SH_25_191a Derg TN IA1 Provision of Information Galway County Council IE_SH_25K040300 KILMASTULLA_020 IA1 Provision of Information Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government IE_SH_25G100100 GRANGE (TIPPERARY)_010 IA1 Provision of Information Inland Fisheries Ireland IE_SH_25_191a Derg TN IA1 Provision of Information Environmental Protection Agency IE_SH_25_191a Derg TN IA9 Lake pressures Tipperary County Council IE_SH_25K040800 KILMASTULLA_030 IA1 Provision of Information Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government IE_SH_25K040910 KILMASTULLA_040 IA1 Provision of Information Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government

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