Bathing Water Profile - Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane) (2014) Bathing Water: Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane) Bathing Water Code: IESWBWC150_0000_0100 Local Authority: Kerry County Council River Basin District: South Western Monitoring Point: 52411E, 58395N 1. Profile Details: Profile Id: BWPR00275 Toilets Available: Yes Year Of Profile: 2014 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 The beach at Doire Fhȓonáin (Derrynane) is located on Derrynane Bay, approx 2km from the village of extent: Caherdaniel in South Kerry. The beach is approximately 15km from Waterville and 25 km from Cahersiveen. The identified bathing water is approximately 160m in length, however, it is part of a larger beach which extends from Abbey Island eastwards beyond Derrynane House. The bathing waters are included within the South Western River Basin District Main features of the Bathing Type of Bathing Water Water: Doire Fhȓonáin (Derrynane) is a sandy beach backing onto sand dunes. The beach faces south westerly and, while somewhat sheltered by Abbey Isalnd, is exposed to Atlantic wave action and to westerly winds. Flora/Fauna, Riparian Zone The beach is backed by a sand-dune system, and beyond this is a mixture of woodland, wetland and un- enclosed upland/rough grazing Land Use The land in the immediate vicinity of the bathing water is part of the state-owned estate of Derrynane House. Land use is mainly low intensive farming, with Derrynane House and gardens immediately alongside the beach. Activities available at the The beach is very popular with bathers and walkers. The beach is also used by surfers, windsurfers, Bathing Water: canoeists, & anglers. Derrynane Pier is nearby and is used for fishing and leisure purposes. Regulation and control of a range of activities on the beach are dealt with under the Kerry County Council Beach Bye- Laws. Contributing catchment Derrynane Beach is located in the townland of Caherdaniel, approx. 25km south west of the town of details: Cahersiveen in South Kerry. The beach is situated at the eastern side of Derrynane Bay on the coast of County Kerry. There are no significant waterbodies discharging directly into the bathing area. The Coomnahorna River, to the east of the bathing area, is the main freshwater input into the coastal waters of Derrynane Bay. Land cover in the contributing catchment is mainly grassland and woodland. The topography of the catchment comprises sloping hills rising to a height of 100m in the northern end of the catchment. Contributing catchment details: The lands in the immediate vicinity of the bathing water are part of the state-owned estate of Derrynane House. Land use is mainly low intensity farming. There are also a number of dispersed rural dwelling within the catchment. Monitoring point details: The grid reference for the bathing water monitoring point is 52410.8, 58395.3. The precise location of the bathing water monitoring point can vary as referred to below depending on tides & weather influences. Reason for selection of the The bathing water monitoring point is located where most bathers are expected to use the bathing waters. monitoring point: The bathing water monitoring point location chosen is always within the area patrolled by the Lifeguards. This area can vary somewhat on this beach depending on tidal & weather influences. Water quality assessment: Doire Fhȓonáin (Derrynane) has been a designated Blue Flag beach for a number of years and has shown consistently good water quality. For the 2012 bathing season, Doire Fhȓonáin (Derrynane) achieved good water quality status and complied with the EU guide and mandatory values. Good bathing water quality was also achieved for each of the preceeding nine years. On this basis, it is anticipated that bathing water quality will continue to be good over the 2014 and subsequent bathing seasons. However, there is a possibility that water quality at this bathing area may be subject to short-term pollution due to climatic events, such as heavy rainfall. Where bathing water quality is impacted in such circumstances, it may be necessary to apply a derogation/departure for samples taken during the course of any such short-term pollution event. Provision for such is provided under Article 7(4) of the Bathing Water Quality Regulations, 2008 (S.I. No. 79 of 2008), whereby samples taken during short-term pollution may be disregarded. 3. Identified Pressures: Map 2: Bathing Water Catchment 3.1 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing no risk: Description: There is a small number of un-sewered properties within the contributing catchment. Source: Unsewered Properties Type: Septic Tank Short Term Pressure: No 3.2 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing risk: Description: Much of the land-use within the catchment is agricultural, therefore, there may be some risk of short term pollution arising from run-off from agricultural land. Source: Agricultural Activity Type: Run off from agricultural land Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: Low Risk Frequency: <1 / year Duration: < 72 hours Risk Assessment As part of the risk assessment process, reference has been made to information contained in the Methodology: River Basin District Management Plan. The risk assessment methodology in this instance has been based on the Source-Pathway-Receptor model. • The source in this particular instance would be microbial contamination from agricultural activities in the catchment. It is noted, however, that there are no intensive agricultural enterprises within the catchment (eg. intensive pig or poultry producers) and that livestock densities within the catchment appear to be very low. • The pathway in this instance would primarily be surface water flow (overland and/or directly via surface water streams) within the catchment. • The receptor in this instance is the identified bathing water at Doire Fhȓonáin. Risk Assessment Animal stocking densities within the catchment are low and there is a low level of surface water Results: discharge directly to the identified bathing waters. However, a large proportion of the soils within the catchment are poorly draining and there is extensive evidence of shallow bedrock in the locality (ref. GSI Groundwater Protection Data). In addition, the topography within much of the catchment is steeply sloping. Given the above, there may be some low-risk of short-term pollution arising from run-off from agricultural land, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall. Details: Much of the land-use within the catchment is agricultural, therefore, there may be some risk of short term pollution arising from run-off from agricultural land. Management Measures: A risk matrix has been developed by Kerry County Council for the bathing water area in question, based on rainfall intensity levels. The bathing area at Doire Fhȓonáin (Derrynane) has been given a vulnerability rating of 1, which indicates a high susceptibility to rainfall impacts for rainfall intensities in excess of 30mm over any 24 hour period. The matrix in question is used to predict the likelihood of short-term pollution. If adverse weather is anticipated, warning notices are erected in circumstances where a high risk of short-term pollution has been identified. In addition, the Lifeguard Service is notified, together with incident notification to the EPA. 3.3 Other Risks: Assessment of the potential for proliferation Monitoring of the beach since it attainted Blue Flag status indicates that there is no significant of cyanobacteria: potential for proliferation of Cyanobacteria on this beach. Proposed management measures for N/A cyanobacteria: Assessment of the potential for proliferation Monitoring of the beach since it attainted Blue Flag status indicates that the bathing waters are of macroalgae: not subject to excessive growth of macro-algae (seaweed). There are, however, occasional accumulations of seaweed on the beach, generally following periods of storm. Proposed management measures for Excessive accumulations of seaweed are generally cleared off the beach by local authority macroalgae: personnel. Assessment of the potential for proliferation Monitoring of the beach since it attained Blue Flag status indicates that there is no significant of marine phytoplankton: potential for proliferation of Marine Phytoplankton on this beach. Proposed management measures for marine N/A phytoplankton: Additional Information: Contact Details : Contact : Kerry County Council Email : [email protected] Address : Environment Department, Maine Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry. Phone : 066-7162000 4 Bathing Water Status From Previous Sampling Years: 2010 2011 2012 2013 Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane) Good Good Good Good 5 Contact Details: Contact: Kerry County Council Email: [email protected] Address: Environment Section, Maine Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry Phone: 066 7162049.