Location: Athlone, Co. Westmeath Unique ID: 260448 (including townland in Roscommon) (from PFRA database) Initial OPW Designation APSR AFRR IRR Co-ordinates Easting: 205000 Northing: 239999 River / Catchment / Sub-catchment Shannon and tributaries / Shannon Type of Flooding / Flood Risk Fluvial non-tidal Fluvial tidal Coastal (identify all that apply)

Stage 1: Desktop Review

1.1 Flood History River Flow Path (include review of The River Shannon runs through Athlone and flows southward towards Floodmaps.ie) Lough Derg. There are two main tributaries to the Shannon in Athlone. The Al River flows westerly to it’s confluence with the Shannon near the weir. The Cross River flows easterly to it’s confluence with the Shannon downstream of the weir. Flood Event Records Thirty flood records are listed in floodmaps.ie. The main flooding is from the River Shannon but the Al river also the cause of flooding.

PFRA database comments (in italics): 1.2 Relevant information on OPW comments flooding issues from Designated APSR on the basis of predictive analysis and historical extents. OPW and LA staff Combine with Clonown and Creggan. Flooding from Shannon and Al rivers

LA comments WWTW and Waterworks at risk – Waterworks within 600mm – Nov ‘09WWTW – Golden Island, underwater Nov ’09,- Risk of powerloss due to substations at the lock

Meeting / discussion summary comments:

OPW comments • Athlone floods from the Shannon and has a long history of flooding • River Al south east of town is also a cause of flooding to parts of Athlone.

LA comments • There is a planning application to the east at Creggane for a large development. This site is identified as being in the flood plain of the River Al within the PFRA. Levels in the vicinity of the site are controlled by sluice gates. • Westmeath County Council suggested a range of potential flood risk management options that should be explored for Athlone, including removal of Parteen Weir and a better control of levels within Lough Derg and Lough Ree.

Flood Risk Review Report – UoM 25 26 Athlone V0_A 1

1.4 PFRA Data

1.4.1 PFRA hazard PFRA mapping available in GIS layer: Yes No mapping PFRA mapping included on FRR map: Yes No

1.4.2 Summary of Type FRI score Principal Receptors (if available) Primary_School 252.5

Nursing_Home 25

Hospital 250

WTP 25

UWWTP 25

Arch_Local 3.1

Arch_Regional 197

Arch_National_ 25.5

Monument_LV 42.1

Total 8141.25 1.7 Stage 1 Aspect Clearly APSR Uncertain Evaluation Flood History (1.1) X OPW / LA Information (1.2) X PFRA Evaluation (1.4) X Overall Desktop Evaluation (if any above aspect is uncertain X then overall designation is uncertain)

1.8 Proposed level of Level A Site Visit assessment for Stage 2 site visits Level B Site Visit X

2 Flood Risk Review Report – UoM 25 26 Athlone V0_A

Stage 2: Site Inspection Level B Assessment

Date and Time of Inspection Date: 26/05/11 Time:18:00

Names of inspection team Peter Smyth (including OPW/LA staff if present) James Murray

2.3 Local No on-site comments. knowledge - on-site comments (OPW, LA and any info volunteered by local residents during visit)

2.4 Comments on There are three bridge crossings within the town centre over the river hydraulic Shannon; two road and one rail. constrictions The Athlone weir is at the downstream end of the town. Its span is (bridges, etc.) and approximately 200m. The gates controlling the levels at the weir only span 30 conveyance routes to 40m of this length. The ability of the sluice gates to provide any meaningful control of levels upstream of Athlone during extreme flow conditions is questionable. A large section of the Al River, on it’s approach to it’s confluence with the Shannon is culverted. There are several culverts upstream which could cause a constriction to flow.

2.6 Defence Assets

Formal and Open Channel Watercourses Informal Flood Man-made river channel Flood relief channel Canal Defence Assets Mill leat Drainage channels / back drains (include effective and ineffective Bridges and Culvert crossings assets to inform Single Arch bridge Multi-Arch bridge asset survey and Single Span bridge Multi-Span bridge potential Box culvert(s) Pipe culvert(s) Arch Culvert(s) mitigation measures) Culverted Watercourses (culvert length is greater than just a crossing) Box culvert(s) Pipe culvert(s) Arch Culvert(s) Irregular Culvert(s) Walls and Embankments Embankment(s) Raised wall(s) Retaining wall(s) Control Structures – weirs, gates, dams Fixed crest weir Adjustable weir Dam / Barrage Sluice gates Lock gates Radial gates Storage On-line storage (natural) On-line storage (artificial) Off-line storage Outfalls Flapped outfall(s) into watercourse Unflapped outfall(s) into watercourse

Flood Risk Review Report – UoM 25 26 Athlone V0_A 3

i.e. from smaller watercourses, drains etc. into river / estuary / sea Tidal flap(s) Tidal sluice(s) i.e. from main watercourse into estuary / sea Other Pumping Station Erosion Protection Sand Dunes Additional notes (if required):

2.8 Initial Potential Mitigation Measures

Non-structural Planning and Development control measures Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems Flood forecasting / warning Change in Operating Procedures for water level control: Public awareness campaign Individual property protection Land use management Structural Strategic development management for floodplain development: measures (integration of measures into strategic development proposals) Storage: On-line Off-line Flow diversion: Flood relief channel Flood relief culvert Increase conveyance: Bridge works Channel works Floodplain Flood defences: Walls Embankments Localised works: Defence raising In-fill gaps Trash screen Maintenance works: Culvert / channel clearance Asset maintenance Relocation of properties: Improve existing defences: (describe)

Other (describe):

Outcomes

Recommended APSR not an APSR IRR Designation

Summary Comments There are two different sources of flooding within Athlone; the Shannon (if required) and the Al River. Both of these rivers have very different hydrological characteristics. Athlone has a long history of flooding. The PFRA mapping predicts an ongoing significant flood risk with this conclusion supported by both Local Authorities and the OPW. Athlone was confirmed as an APSR following a desk based assessment, with no on-site verification of this conclusion required.

Flood Risk Review Report – UoM 25 26 Athlone V0_A 4

Photo1: Sluices at weir in Athlone. Photo 2: Weir and sluices in Athlone

Photo 4: View of Road Bridge in Athlone. Photo 3: View of Railway Bridge in Athlone

5 Flood Risk Review Report – UoM 25 26 Athlone V0_A 198500 199000 199500 200000 200500 201000 201500 202000 202500 203000 203500 204000 204500 205000 205500 206000 206500 207000 207500 208000 208500 209000 209500

0 Athlone 0 5 6 4 2 0 0 0 6 4 2 ± 0 0 5 5 4 2 0 0 0 5 4 2 0 0 5 4 4 2 0 0 0 4 4 2 Legend 0 0

5 APSR Boundary Rail Network 3

4 for CARs only 2 Roads Historic Flooding (National Roads Authority)

0 @@! 0 Incidents

0 Airport Land 3

4 Water bodies mapped 2 OPW Embankments from RADARSAT-2 *

0 Historic Flood Data

0 Hydrometric Gauging 5 H G 2 ! Architectural Heritage 4 Stations 2 EPA River Network ^_ UNESCO Sites 0

0 Special Protection Area 0 !R Rail Stations 2

4 Special Area for 2 N ! Nursing Homes Conservation 0

0 Residential Care Proposed National 5 N 1 ! 4 for the Elderly Heritage Area 2 !E Schools National Heritage Area 0 0

0 ] Benefiting Lands

1 ! Ports and Harbours 4

2 Flood Extents (PFRA, 2010) !O OPW Buildings ! 10% AEP Flood Extent 0

0 H 5 !! Health Centres (1 in 10 chance in any 0

4 given year) 2 !G Garda Stations 1% AEP Flood Extent 0

0 H Hospitals (1 in 100 chance in any 0 ! 0

4 given year) 2 !F Fire Stations 0.1% AEP Flood Extent

0 Civil Defence 0 (1 in 1000 chance in any 5 !# 9 ! Head Quarters given year) 3 2 o ! Airports * Data Source - Service Régional de Traitement d’Image et de Télédétection (SERTIT) (acquired on the 5th of December 2009). 0 0 0 9 3 2

Client 0 0 5 8 3 2

Project 0

0 Shannon CFRAM Study 0

8 The PFRA Flood Extents shown are indicative. They have been developed using Flood Risk Review Map 3

2 Title simple and cost-effective methods that are suitable for the PFRA. They should not be Athlone

Drawing Status FINAL 0 used for local decision-making or any other purpose without verification.

0 Job No. 32102500 5 Figure No. Revision 7

3 CAR 6 2 Scale 1:35,000 @ A3 Jun 30, 2011 Checked Review Approved Drawn AD/SF JC KK/JM IB/PS Copyright reserved 0 0.5 1 2 Includes Ordnance Survey Ireland data reproduced under OSi Licence number EN0021011. Jacobs UK Ltd Km Unauthorised reproduction infringes Ordnance Survey Ireland and Government of Ireland copyright, © Ordnance Survey Ireland, 2011. 95 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, G2 7HX