Donegal Bay Water Quality Management Plan Main Report Final Draft For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Mr. J Holohan, B.E., C.Eng, MIEI, MIAT. Director Water, Environment, and Emergency Services Donegal County Council April 2002 EPA Export 26-07-2012:00:08:10 Acknowledgements The contribution of the following in the formulation of the Donegal Bay Water Quality Management Plan are gratefully acknowledged; Mr. Jim Holohan, B.E., Director of Water, Environment and C.Eng., MIEI, MIAT Emergency Services, Donegal County Council Mr. David Kiely, M.Sc. Jennings O’Donovan and Partners Mr.Willie Roche Central Fisheries Board Mr. Trevor Champ, M.Sc Sen. Res. Officer, Central Fisheries Board Mr. Brendan Maguire Northern Regional Fisheries Board, Sen. Fisheries Envirn. Officer Mr. Donal Casey, B.Sc., Senior Executive Chemist, Dip. Chem Eng. Donegal County Council Ms. Éadaoin Healy, M.A. G.I.S. Section, Donegal County Council Mr. Noel Foley Forestry Service Mr. P.J. Molloy, Teagasc M. Ag. Sc. Mr. Joe Gatins Regional Manager, Duchas Mr. Alan O’Sullivan, Cross Border Aquaculture Initiative Dip. Sc. Mr. Owen Doyle Bord Iascaigh Mhara The Technical and Clerical staff of the Donegal County Council laboratory Mr. David Friel M.Sc. Project Manager, Donegal County For inspection Council purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Printed on recycled paper EPA Export 26-07-2012:00:08:10 CONTENTS SECTION A: INTRODUCTION A1 The Concept of Catchment Management A2 The Legislative Framework A3 The Administrative Framework SECTION B: GENERAL INFORMATION B1 The Catchment B2 Solid Geology B3 Hydrogeology B4 Hydrology B5 Landuse SECTION C: USES For inspection purposes only. C1 Water Supply Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. C2 Fisheries C3 Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture C4 Tourism and Recreation C5 Nature Conservation C6 Cultural Heritage C7 Effluent Disposal C8 Solid Waste Disposal C9 Sludge Disposal C10 Quarrying Excavation C11 Agriculture EPA Export 26-07-2012:00:08:10 C12 Forestry C13 Bathing Beaches C14 Hydroelectric Installations SECTION D: CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS D1 Introduction D2 An Integrated Framework for Running Freshwaters D3 Freshwater Lakes D4 Donegal Bay Estuarine and Coastal Waters D5 Water Contact Activities D6 Shellfisheries SECTION E: TARGETS E1 Introduction E2 Freshwater Targets E3 Estuarine Targets For inspection purposes only. E4 EU Directives Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. E5 Health Related Targets E6 Aesthetic Quality E7 Control of Intermittent Pollution E8 Control of Diffuse Pollution E9 River Flows E10 River Topography E11 River Management EPA Export 26-07-2012:00:08:10 SECTION F: STATE OF THE CATCHMENT F1 Introduction F2 River Water Quality Assessment F3 River Phosphorous Quality F4 Estuarine Coastal and Estuarine Water Quality F5 Lake Quality Assessment SECTION G: MANAGEMENT OPTIONS G1 General G2 Key Issues G3 Management Options For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. EPA Export 26-07-2012:00:08:10 Donegal Bay Water Quality Management Plan Section A For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyrightIntroduction owner required for any other use. EPA Export 26-07-2012:00:08:10 A1 Concept of Catchment Management A1.1 Catchment Planning Catchment management plans represent a vision of the water environment. A catchment plan sets environmental objectives and guides all uses, and, indirectly, the water environment as a whole, to comply with these objectives. The existing status of the water environment is compared with the objectives and from this comparison, management options are developed. The catchment is seen as the natural management unit for integration of the work programmes of all government agencies relating to water quality, water resources and ecosystem management. Catchment plans summarise relevant data and include an agreed action programme to optimise environmental protection. The catchment planning process is seen as a medium for promoting discussion, resolving conflict, assigning priorities, and setting targets by which progress on key issues can be monitored. Ireland made statutory provision for catchment planning in the Water Pollution Act of 1977. The term used is water quality management plan. In County Donegal plans have already been conducted on two catchments; The Foyle and the Swilly. These more recent plans considerably widened the approach of the earlier plans to encompass all uses of the watercourses including amenities and habitat protection. A1.2 Objectives of Catchment Management For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. The objectives of the management plan for the Donegal Bay Catchment have been determined as follows: 1. To prevent and abate pollution of waters. 2. To safeguard public health. 3. To protect and, where necessary, improve the ecology of the waters. 4. To protect water quality such that many diverse uses may be possible. These may include: - abstraction for domestic, industrial and general uses, - fishery, - recreation and tourism, - wildlife conservation and habitat protection. EPA Export 26-07-2012:00:08:10 5. To identify and protect the major aquifers from pollution. 6. To provide a framework for water quality management on the basis of which the development of the catchment can proceed in a balanced and sustainable manner. 7. To identify monitoring and information requirements such that the resultant information is adequate and sufficient to support water quality management decisions. 8. To confirm the financing of pollution control programmes is based on efficient and effective strategies. 9. To identify the needs for investment in public and private waste water treatment facilities. 10. To facilitate the implementation of relevant EU legislation. For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. EPA Export 26-07-2012:00:08:10 A1.3 Proposals This report presents the initial stage in the development of a water quality management plan for the catchment. It has been produced on the basis of existing information and information obtained from monitoring or other investigations undertaken by public authorities in recent years. A twelve month comprehensive water sampling and analysis programme was undertaken for the purpose of this report, examining the key rivers, lakes and coastal waters of the catchment. The report may be used to inform users of the catchment and interested organisations or individuals on the state of the catchment and on management options. Based on this information, users and interested parties should be able to form a view, reach a consensus and adopt a common policy on different catchment uses and on corresponding environmental objectives. The proposals include the following main elements in so far as they apply to the waters of the catchment, having regard to the finances available for the project and the priority attached to the elements listed:- 1. A description of the administrative and legislative framework relating to water quality management and of water quality protection policies and legislation, particularly as they relate to quality objectives, standards, guidelines and codes of practice. 2. A general description of the catchment, including its geomorphology, landuse, urban settlements, industry, agriculture and fisheries. For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. 3. An inventory of existing and proposed water abstractions. 4. A description of the fishery resource. 5. A description of recreation and amenity resources. 6. A general description of nature conservation and cultural heritage resources. 7. An analysis of the hydrological and hydrometric characteristics of the catchment. 8. An assessment of management options for the protection and enhancement of water quality. 9. An assessment of water quality. EPA Export 26-07-2012:00:08:10 10. Recommendations in respect of water quality objectives. 11. Recommendations in respect of needs for investment in public and private wastewater treatment facilities. 12. An assessment of management options for the protection and enhancement of water quality. For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. EPA Export 26-07-2012:00:08:10 A2 The Legislative Framework A2.1 Introduction The purpose of a water quality monitoring and management system is to provide a framework for the co-ordination of future environmental protection in the Donegal Bay catchment area, including the licensing of discharges and effluents, and to ensure that water quality standards are attained and maintained. Management systems contain objectives for the prevention and abatement of water pollution as well as any other provisions which are considered necessary by the local authorities. The objectives are formulated with reference to relevant environmental policy and legislation issued by relevant national and international institutions. This section provides a general overview of the environmental policies and national objectives for maintaining and protecting water quality. All major legislation which may relate to water quality and pollution control, including European Directives and national legislation, is identified. In addition, specific legislation which may be relevant to this particular catchment is included along with areas which will become the subject of legislation in the near future. For inspection purposes only.