Bathing Water Profile - Dooega Beach, Achill Island (2013) Bathing Water: Dooega Beach, Achill Island Bathing Water Code: IEWEBWC250_0000_0300 Local Authority: Mayo County Council River Basin District: Western Monitoring Point: 67320E, 298696N 1. Profile Details: Profile Id: BWPR00212 Toilets Available: Yes Year Of Profile: 2013 Car Parking Available: Yes Year Of Identification 1996 Disabled Access: Yes Version Number: 1 First Aid Available: Yes Sensitive Area: Yes Dogs Allowed: Yes Lifesaving Facilities: No Figure 1: Bathing Water 2. Bathing Water Details: Map 1: Bathing Water Location & Extent Bathing Water location and Dooega beach, also known as Camport Bay, is a small coastal inlet situated on the south western shore of extent: Achill Island at the tip of the Menaun Cliffs, adjacent to the small village of Dooega, approximately 10km from Achill Sound, and approximately 16km from Keel village. The length of the Designated Beach Area (DBA) is approximately 200m and extends from the car park at the eastern end to the concrete ramp footpath at the western end. The DBA is approximately 0.06km2. Further along the western end of the beach is a slipway used for launching and retrieving small fishing boats and kayaks. The beach has been designated a Blue Flag Beach since 1996. Main features of the Bathing Type of Bathing Water Water: Dooega beach is a small crescent shaped cove, which is sheltered from most directions but open to the south and as a result large swells can occur at the rocky outcrop towards the eastern end of the beach. From the car park there is a moderately steep shingle gradient down to the high water mark, from where the beach becomes sandy and gently sloping. Flora/Fauna, Riparian Zone Immediately to the rear of Dooega Beach the main local road access and public car park. Further inland is low-lying agricultural land, with Dooega village situated to the north. Either side of Camport Bay is steeply sloping hills of Knockmore at a height of 337m and the Menaun Cliffs at a height of 464m. Water Depth The medium water depth and maximum water depth within the designated bathing water would be 0.5m and 5.0m respectively depending on tides. Tidal Range In general Dooega Beach is Mesotidal with a tidal range of 2-4m, with a maximum of 5.0m during spring tides, based on information for Westport Harbour Tide Tables, which is the nearest Standard Port shown on the Irish Tide Tables. Land Use The land use adjacent to Dooega Beach is agriculture mainly grazing. Overgrazing has occurred in places leading to exposed mineral soil. Peat cutting is carried out in some areas. Sensitive Area Main features of the Bathing Water: Dooega Beach forms part of the Keel Machair/Menaun Cliffs SAC (Site Code 001513). Approximtely 15km to the north west of Dooega Beach is Keel Beach which is also a Blue Flag Becah. Keel Beach also forms part of the Achill Head SAC (Site Code 002268) and the Keel Machair/Menaun Cliffs SAC (Site Code 001513). At Keel Beach there is a caravan and camping park, golf course and watersports facilities. Max. number of visitor during a day in high season: 100 Approx number of visitor during the bathing season: 30 Activities available at the The beach is used by limited numbers of surfers and for fishing. The beach is used by up to 50 canoeists Bathing Water: at a time due to the location of the outdoor education centre adjacent to the slipway at the western end of the beach. Contributing catchment Dooega Beach is located adjacent to Dooega village on Achill Island, Co. Mayo within the Western River details: Basin District (WRBD). The beach lies within an overall catchment of over 294km2, as per the 2009 WRBD Catchment Data, however the main river catchment draining to the beach is Dooega River catchment with an approximate area of 10km2 Water Bodies Draining to Bathing Water Dooega River rises to the north of Dooega Beach at Mweelin at a height of 400m. The Dooega River has been classed as Poor Status by the WRBD based on biological quality. Biological monitoring of the Dooega River by the EPA in 2008 in the lower section of the River assigned Q-values of 3 (Site Code 32D010200). A loss of pollution sensitive taxa was noted in 2008 in comparison to 2005 which recorded a Q-value of 4. Possible causes mentioned included overgrazing of upper slopes, the development of significant numbers of holiday homes in the catchment and the possible use of herbicide to remove Gunnera. In 2011 however an improvement to Good Status was noted with a Q-value of 4 (Site Code 32D010200) being assigned. Dooega Stream is still listed as one of the key polluted rivers in Mayo in the Integrated Water Quality Report 2011 - Galway, Mayo and Sligo published by the EPA in 2012. The main pressure identified was agriculture and in particular the effects of overgrazing. Topography Dooega Beach is enclosed on either side by the steeply sloping hills of Knockmore to the east at a height of 337m and the Menaun Cliffs to the west at a maximum height of 466m. Monitoring point details: The grid reference for the normal bathing water monitoring point is E 067,320 N 298,696. The precise location of the bathing water monitoring point can vary depending on tides and weather influences. Dooega River is also monitored as part of the sampling programme as it enters Dooega Beach, grid reference E 067,407 N 298,737. 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. Water quality assessment: Overall the water quality monitoring carried out at Keel Beach from 2003 to 2010 has shown consistently good water quality status and complied with EU Guide and Mandatory Values as set out in the Quality of Bathing Water Regulations 1992 (S.I. 155 of 1992) and the EC Directive concerning the Quality of Bathing Waters (76/160/EEC). Since 2011, two new microbiological parameters, Escherichia coli and Intestinal enterococci are used for bathing water quality monitoring of identified bathing waters as required under the Bathing Water Quality Regulations, 2008. In 2011 and 2012 the overall status of Dooega Beach was Good. In 2013 there was one failure out of 16 samples for Intestinal enterococci. All remaining bathing water samples for Dooega Beach met the requirements for Good water quality status. It is expected that Dooega Beach will meet the minimum required standard of Sufficient water quality in 2014 and subsequent years. 3. Identified Pressures: Map 2: Bathing Water Catchment 3.1 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing no risk: No pressures identified 3.2 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing risk: Description: There are a significant number of individual houses located throughout the Dooega River catchment all of which would have some form of onsite treatment system. Source: Onsite Waste Water Treatment systems serving houses in the Vicinity of Dooega Beach Type: Septic Tank Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: High Risk Frequency: 1/2 per season Duration: < 72 hours Risk Assessment The lands within the vicinity of Dooega Beach are classfied as being of extreme groundwater Methodology: vulnerability by the GSI with areas of karsified rock near the surface. The GSI Groundwater Response for onsite systems in this area is R2(1). Risk Assessment The combination of the predominance of highly permeable soils within the vicinity of the bathing Results: water and the high number of on site systems in the area would indicate that there is a high risk of effluent not being adequately treated before it reaches groundwater. Given the nature of the topography of the area the natural flow-path of groundwater in this area where the houses are located is to the foreshore adjoining the bathing water. Details: Bathing water monitoring at Dooega Beach indicates that there is a high risk of short term pollution of the designated bathing water following periods of heavy rain. Monitoring during 2012 and 2013 showed one failure (of 32) when bathing water quality failed the guide limits for Intestinal enterococci. The failure occurred after heavy rain. Management If heavy rain is anticipated warning notices will be erected at the beach and notification made to the Measures: EPA. Field studies will be carried out in the lands adjacent to Dooega Beach to try and identify any visual evidence of direct discharges from onsite waste water treatment systems onto the foreshore. Any issues identified will be investigated by the County Council Environment Directorate. Regular monitoring of Dooega River will be carried out on an annual basis. Description: Agriculture is the predominant land use within the catchment of Dooega Beach which consists mainly of grazing Source: Agriculture within the catchment of Dooega Beach Type: Run off from agricultural land Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: High Risk Frequency: 1/2 per season Duration: < 72 hours Risk Assessment Soils within the catchment of Dooega Beach are poorly drained mineral soils. The main agricultural Methodology: activity in the area is grazing, with overgrazing common, leading to exposed mineral soils. The lands within the vicinity of Dooega Beach are classified as being of extreme groundwater vulnerability by the GSI with areas of karsified rock near surface. The Dooega River has been classed as Poor Status by the WRBD based on biological quality. Biological monitoring of the Dooega River by the EPA in 2008 in the lower section of the River assigned Q-values of 3 (Site Code 32D010200). A loss of pollution sensitive taxa was noted in 2008 in comparison to 2005 which recorded a Q-value of 4.