mask river water management unit action plan basin management... · the river flows through...

Mask River Water Management Unit Action Plan

57Number of river water bodies

Mask

Water Management Unit

9Number of lake water bodies

Galway/MayoMain Counties

Western RBDRiver Basin District

888 km2Area

© Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. Licencenumber 2010/15CCMA/Galway County Council.

March 2010

River water bodies labelled on map

Sectoral Total Phosphorus Source(T his do es no t imply impact)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

AG

RIC

UL

TU

RE

AQ

UA

CU

LT

UR

E

BA

CK

GR

OU

ND

FO

RE

ST

RY

UN

SE

WE

_IN

D

UN

SE

WE

RE

D

UR

BA

N

WW

TP

PE

AT

LA

ND

%

Sectoral Total Phosphorus Source(This does not imply impact)

Mask River Water Management Unit Action Plan

57Number of river water bodies

Mask

Water Management Unit

9Number of lake water bodies

Galway/MayoMain Counties

Western RBDRiver Basin District

888 km2Area

© Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. Licencenumber 2010/15CCMA/Galway County Council.

March 2010

Lake water bodies labelled on map

Sectoral Total Phosphorus Source(T his do es no t imply impact)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

AG

RIC

UL

TU

RE

AQ

UA

CU

LT

UR

E

BA

CK

GR

OU

ND

FO

RE

ST

RY

UN

SE

WE

_IN

D

UN

SE

WE

RE

D

UR

BA

N

WW

TP

PE

AT

LA

ND

%

Sectoral Total Phosphorus Source(This does not imply impact)

Mask Water Management Unit Action Plan

The main rivers in the Mask WMU are the Robe river system, the Aille river system, the Finny river system and the Owenbrin river. The most recent EPA status classifications for these rivers indicates that only 2% of all river channel length is of High status and only 20% is classed as Good. The remainder is classed as Moderate (28%) or Poor (42%) and Bad (8%).

ROBE – The Robe river rises in the east of the Mask WMU, between Ballyhaunis and Claremorris. The head waters of the Robe are classed as Poor status, (due to poor fish stock levels). The main channel of the Robe, as it leaves the head waters and until it meets the Ballindine river is classed as Bad, (again due to fish stock). A tributary from Cartonnacross also has Poor status and joins the main channel near Crumlin. The Ballindine river is classed at Bad status as is the river flowing from Ballindell West to the main channel. The Scardaun tributary is classed as Poor status. From the confluence of the main channel with the Ballindineriver, to downstream of Hollymount, the main channel is classed as Poor status. The quality of the river improves from here to Good status until it reaches Lough Mask (through Ballinrobe). Some small tributaries have Poor status which enter this channel. Lough Mask itself is classed at Good status. The tributary, Lough Nacorralea has one section at Poor status, and the main section at Good status. This tributary joins the

main channel downstream of Cloon Lough, which is at Good status.

AUGHINISH (KEEL) – The Aughinish river, which flows from Lough Carra to Lough Mask is classed at Moderate status (fish stock). Lough Carra is classed at Moderate status (although the macrophytes, chlorophyll, physico chemistry and nutrient assessments are rated as satisfactory the lake has been downgraded to Moderate status on the basis of expert opinion related to its conservation status). Nagoyne Lough is also classed at Moderate status. The head waters rivers above the lake have poor status.

AILLE – The main channel of the Aille river is classed at Moderate from its head waters to where it joins the Clonn river before entering Lough Mask.. Three tributaries, including the Claureen (Mayo) are classed at Poor status, including the Claureen river and three tributaries are classed at Good status, including the Camogue river . Cloon Lough is classed at Good status, and Derrew Lough is classed at High status.

CLOON - ThIs river flows from Lough Nacorralea southwards to Lough Mask and is classed as Good (biological monitoring)

SRAH STREAM – River quality on the Srah Stream and its tributaries, rising in Gortbunacuillin townland an dflowing into the northwest corner of Lough Mask, is at Poor status, (fish monitoring)..

GLENSAUL – The upper river section and the tributary coming from the Toorrnakeady Mountains are at Poor status (fish stock monitoring data), but the main Glensaul channel is at Good status. The Glensaul river flows into Lough Mask at Toormakeady .

OWENBRIN – The Owenbrin river is classed at Moderate status along it slength. The river flows through Killateeaun, and into Lough Mask.

SRAHNALONG – The Srahnalong river is classed at Moderate status over its main length (fish stock data), however there is a small section before entering Lough Mask, where the river status is classed as Poor (extrapolation).

FINNY – The Finny river system and main channel are all at Good status. All head waters of the Finny, called the Fooey river are at Good status. The Fooey flows into Nafooey Lough, which is also at Good status. The Finny rivers flows from Nafooey Lough and enters Lough Mask, which is classed at Good status.

CAMMANAGH – The Cammanagh river rises south of Benbeg and flows eastwards to Lough Mask. The Cammanagh is classed at High status.

CLOGHBRACK STREAM – The Cloghbrack stream is situation in the south of the WMU and flows north to Lough Mask. The stream is classed at Moderate status. Upstream of Clonbur, Coolin Lough is at Good status. The river which flows from Coolin Lough is at Moderate status. This river flows into Lough Mask.

CONG CANAL – The Cong Canal is an Artificial water body which connects Lough Mask to Lough Corrib Upper. The Cong Canal is classed at Moderate status.

Status of the main rivers in the WMU

STATUS/IMPACTS

Overall status The majority of rivers (68%) are at Moderate (11), Poor (25) or Bad status (3) the remaining rivers from a total 57 within WMU are at good status (17) or high status (1). (Note: the original Robe river water body WE_30_3370 has been split into 4 water bodies, 2 water bodies at Good , 1 at Poor and 1 at Bad status as a result. The entire water body was previously at bad status).Lake status assigned for all 9 lakes within the WMU with 1 at High, 5 Good status and 3 at Moderate status.

Status elements For the majority of river water bodies within the WMU the Q score dictates status, however the conservation status of the freshwater pearl mussel dictates status in the Dawros catchment. Rivers that are monitored

for physico-chemical elements all pass. There is no chemical monitoring in the WMU. There are 5 lakes included in the lake monitoring programme within the WMU and their status is dictated by nutrient, chlorophyll, macrophytes and fish status combined with expert opinion in some cases. The remaining lake water bodies have extrapolated status.

Lake Status It should be noted that in the case of Lough Carra (WE_30_347) monitoring data indicates the lake to have High status for macrophytes, chlorophyll, nutrients and physical chemistry and to have good fish status but

the lake has been downgraded to Moderate Status on the basis of expert opinion.

SAC -11: Lough Corrib, Ardkill Turlough, Carrowkeel Turlough, Clyard Kettle-holes, Greghans Turlough, Kilglassan/Cahervoostia Turlough Complex, Moore Hall (Lough Carra), Skealoghan Turlough, Lough Carra/Mask Complex, Mweelrea/Sheeffry/Erriff Complex and TowerhillHouse, Ballymaglancy Cave, Cong

SPA – 3: Lough Carra SPA, Lough Corrib SPA and Lough Mask SPA.

pNHAs -16: Maumtrasna Mountain Complex, Lough Carra/Mask Complex, Ballymaglancy Cave, Cong, Lough Corrib, Lough Beg, Carrowmore, Cloonboorhy Lough, Towerhill Lake, Mweelrea/Sheeffry/Erriff Complex, Moore Hall (Lough Carra), Lough Manan, Carrowkeel Turlough, Kilglassan/Caheravoostia Turlough Complex, Greaghans Turlough, Skealoghan Turlough, Ardkill Turlough, Clyard Kettle-Holes.

Nutrient Sensitive Surface Water (UWWT Directive) – none

Surface Drinking Waters – 12: 2 Lake drinking waters - Lough Carra, Lough Mask. 10 rivers – Camoge River, Keel River, Robe River and tributaries of these rivers, several rivers discharging from Lough Corrib, River Bulken, Cloonburn

River, Tributary of Aille River and Robe River. Bathing waters - none.Shellfish waters – none

PROTECTED AREAS

PRESSURES / RISKS

No HMWB. 1 artificial water body within WMU - Cong Canal IE_WE_AWB_CNC within the water body WE_30_300.

HMWB/AWB:

4 water bodies have been determined to be at risk from abstraction within WMU: IE_WE_30_300, IE_WE_30_1587, IE_WE_30_1898 and IE_WE_30_2412.

Abstractions

There are 21 water bodies at risk from morphology within WMU: IE_WE_30_2319, IE_WE_30_272, IE_WE_30_3257, IE_WE_30_3276, IE_WE_30_717, IE_WE_30_3370, IE_WE_30_3447, IE_WE_30_3343, IE_WE_30_1587, IE_WE_30_1996, IE_WE_30_1933, IE_WE_30_2444, IE_WE_30_759, IE_WE_30_2655, IE_WE_30_3201, IE_WE_30_1938, IE_WE_30_1898, IE_WE_30_2991, IE_WE_30_3242, IE_WE_30_2791, IE_WE_30_1934

Morphology

There are 2 water bodies that have been determined to be at risk from sheep dipping

activities within the WMU: IE_WE_30_1523 and IE_WE_30_1461

Dangerous

substances

There are no water bodies at risk from forestry within the WMU.Forestry

There are 7,149 OSWTS within the WMU Boundary which lie within 57 river water bodies. Within the river water bodies 1,090 OSWTS constitute a potential risk to waters because of

where they are sited and constitute a risk to 5 water bodies. At risk RWB’s: WE_30_272, WE_30_3447, WE_30_1933, WE_30_1938, WE_30_3370_4

On-site systems

There are 14 water bodies at risk from agriculture within WMU: IE_WE_30_3370 (split water body), IE_WE_30_1460, IE_WE_30_1063, IE_WE_30_2412, IE_WE_30_2680, IE_WE_30_2444, IE_WE_30_759, IE_WE_30_2655, IE_WE_30_3201, IE_WE_30_1938, IE_WE_30_3242, IE_WE_30_2319, IE_WE_30_1933, IE_WE_30_1934.

Agriculture

9 quarries within WMU with 1 water body at risk from quarries - IE_WE_30_2912.

No Landfills or mines within WMU.

MAYO: 9 Active Quarries within the Mayo portion of the WMU.

7 active landfills/waste permit sites within the Mayo portion of the WMU consisting of waste

recovery facilities, vehicle recover facilities, waste licensed facilities, a waste transfer station

and recycling and reclamation works.

In addition there are 12 expired waste licenses within the Mayo portion of the WMU that may

present a potential risk to water bodies.

Quarries, Mines & Landfills

Mask Water Management Unit Action PlanPRESSURES/RISKS

Nutrient sources Over 90% of Total Phosphorus is diffuse with agriculture accounting for over 85% of TP

Point pressures WWTP – 7: within WMU: Claremorris, Tourmakeady, Roundford, Hollymount,

Ballinrobe, Ballindine, Clonbur.

Section 4 Licensed facilities – 7: within WMU:5 Section 4 licensed facilities within Mayo portion of the WMU, 2 Section 4 licences are in county Galway.

IPPC Licensed facilities - 4: 3 IPPC licenses within Mayo portion of the WMU, 1 IPPC licence in County Galway

WTP – 2: Clonbur /Cornamona WTP and Lough Mask Regional WTP.

In addition there are many group water scheme abstractions within the WMU.

Wastewater

Treatment Plants (WWTP) and Industrial Discharges

Ballindine WWTP - risks to water quality relate to insufficient assimilative capacity in the

receiving water and downstream Q value less than 4 within 3 km of outfall. As a result of

Waste Water Discharge Licence (D0355-01) conditions, Mayo County Council will review

requirements of EPA with the view to providing tertiary treatment or relocating outfall if

necessary. Plant requires capital works, implementation of performance

management system and the investigation of CSO's.

Ballinrobe WWTP - risks to water quality relate to insufficient assimilative capacity in the

receiving water. Plant requires implementation of performance management system.

Claremorris WWTP - risks to water quality relate to insufficient assimilative capacity in the

receiving water. WWTP upgrade is included for in the Needs Assessment 2009-2011. This

existing plant already includes for tertiary treatment. The capacity of the plant will be

increased from 5330PE to 8000PE. Agglomerations requires further investigation prior to capital works, ensure capacity of treatment plant is not exceeded.

Tourmakeady WWTP – no known risks

Roundfort WWTP – no known risks

Hollymount WWTP – risks – currently is operating close to design capacity.

Clonbur WWTP – no risks, new plant commissioned in 2009.

Section 4 Licensed Facilities: Anglers Association - risks to water quality relate to insufficient assimilative capacity in the receiving water.

SELECTED ACTION PROGRAMMENB All relevant basic measures and general supplementary measures/surveys apply

Point Sources WWTP licensing and upgrades will be applied where identified in the needs assessment. Ballindine WWTP will be reviewed as a result of Waste Water Discharge Licence (D0355-01) conditions with a view to providing tertiary treatment or relocating the outfall, if necessary.

Investigation of sewage and trade discharges and licence review where appropriate will also be required. The following Point source supplementary measures have been suggested for certain river water bodies within the WMU for municipal and industrial pressures: Load Reduction, development control, investigate wastewater, verification of risk, decision making tools, removal of specific substances and relocation of outfall.

Diffuse Sources Particular measures will be required to address diffuse pollution pressures from agriculture such as the Good Agricultural Practices Regulations investigations and enforcement.

Supplementary measures apply within WMU for septic tanks (OSWWTS) including compliance with the new binding EPA Code of Practice for Wastewater Treatment Systems and Disposal Systems.

In relation to existing unsewered properties, improvements are required regarding the operational performance, maintenance and monitoring arrangements of septic tanks and other on-site waste water treatment systems serving such properties. In response, the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government intends to bring forward and consult on proposals for legislation during 2010. It is intended that this legislation will be in place by quarter 3 of 2010. The proposed legislation will provide standards for the performance, operation and maintenance of septic tanks and similar on-site wastewater treatment systems. It will also provide for the monitoring and inspection of the performance of such treatment systems and will set out the responsibilities of households served by those systems, including requirements to carry out remedial actions where necessary.

Other Supplementary measures that apply for morphology include: channelisation investigation and remediation and overgrazing remediation. Channel enhancement measures to assist recovery from impact due to channelisation have been identified for WE_30_1898,

WE_Corrib_Carra, WE_30_3370_2, WE_Corrib_Robe_Clooneen_2 and

WE_30_3370_1, WE_Corrib_Robe_Clooneen_1

Overgrazing rehabilitation measures to assist recovery from impact have already been identified for WE_30_1063, WE_Corrib_Owenbrin

Investigation into earth moving activities in the upper reaches of the Robe river should be prioritised.

Protection of drinking waters and future abstraction licensing control will also be important basic measures required to ensure good water quality.

The risk from quarries in the WMU should be investigated further prior to selecting measures for this pressure.

The impact of the toxic pollution noted in Ballindine village should be investigated as this river has experienced continued deterioration (Q2-3 in 2009)

OBJECTIVES

Good status 2015

Alternative Objectives

Heavily Modified/Artificial water bodies - Cong Canal.

Extensions Agriculture (Phosphorous Karst Groundwater) (2021)

IE_WE_30_2655, IE_WE_30_1938, IE_WE_30_3370_1, IE_WE_30_1433,

IE_WE_30_300, IE_WE_30_977, IE_WE_30_1898, IE_WE_30_2319,




IE_WE_30_2791, IE_WE_30_1934

Extension Morphology (2021)

IE_WE_30_1063, (Overgrazing),

IE_WE_30_3370_2, IE_WE_30_3370_1, IE_WE_30_1898 (Channelisation)

Extensions required for wastewater infrastructure to be put in place (2021)

IE_WE_30_2655

Extensions for Status Recovery due to prolonged timescale for improvement to allow measures to become effective (Poor and Badstatus water bodies) (2021)



IE_WE_30_1413

Extension for Agriculture (Phosphorus from Gley Soils) (2021)

IE_WE_30_977, IE_WE_30_2791



Status of river water bodies within the WMU

River water body status ( % number)

30%

19%

5% 2%

44%

High Good Moderate Poor Bad

River water body status ( % Length)

20%

42%

2%8%

28%


2009GESYGHGHYWE_30_1523

2021GESPPYWE_30_1517


2009GESGGYWE_30_1493


2021GESPPGYWE_30_1460

2009GESYYGHGYWE_30_1442

2021GESPWE_30_1517NWE_30_1439

2021GESYMWE_30_3441NWE_30_1433

2021GESPWE_30_1517NWE_30_1413

2021GESPWE_30_1517NWE_30_1402

2009HESYHHYWE_30_1351

2009GESGWE_30_3438NWE_30_1312

2009GESGWE_32_3575NWE_30_1220

2021GESYMHMYWE_30_1063

2015GESYMHMGYWE_30_1033

2015GESMWE_30_1033NWE_30_1028

Date objectiv

e to

be achieved

Objectiv

e

Drin

king W

ater

Nutrie

nt S

ensitiv

e W

aters

Special P

rotectio

n Area

Special A

rea of C

onservatio

n

Chemical S

tatus

Ecological S

tatus

Physio-chemical

Specific

Polutants

Morphology

Phytobenthos (D

iatoms)

Fish

FreshWaterPearl M

ussel

Macroinverte

brates (Q

)

Donor w

ater b

ody

Monito

red Y (E

xtra

polated N)

Member State Code

Protected AreasSupporting ElementsBiological Elements


2021GESBBMYWE_30_3370_1



2021GESYPWE_30_1996NWE_30_3257

2021GESYPHMPYWE_30_3242



2021GESYYMHMYWE_30_300


2021GESYPWE_30_1516NWE_30_2964

2009GESGWE_30_3038NWE_30_2963

2015GESYYMMYWE_30_2912

2009GESGWE_30_3038NWE_30_2892

2009GESGWE_30_3038NWE_30_2877

2021GESPMPYWE_30_2791

2015GESYYMWE_30_300NWE_30_272

2015GESYMMYWE_30_2680

2021GESPWE_30_1517NWE_30_2679

2021GESBGBPYWE_30_2655

2021GESPPPYWE_30_2444

2021GESPHPGYWE_30_2412

2009GESYGGYWE_30_2347

2021GESYPWE_30_1933NWE_30_2319

2009GESGWE_30_3038NWE_30_2087


2021GESBBYWE_30_1938

2021GESYPWE_30_1933NWE_30_1934


2021GESYYMMGYWE_30_1898

2009GESGWE_30_40NWE_30_1587

Date objectiv

e to

be achieved

Objectiv

e

Drin

king W

ater

Nutrie

nt S

ensitiv

e W

aters

Special P

rotectio

n Area

Special A

rea of C

onservatio

n

Chemical S

tatus

Ecological S

tatus

Physio-chemical

Specific

Polutants

Morphology

Phytobenthos (D

iatoms)

Fish

FreshWaterPearl M

ussel

Macroinverte

brates (Q

)

Donor w

ater b

ody

Monito

red Y (E

xtra

polated N)

Member State Code


IE_WE_Mask


2021GESYMHMHYWE_30_977

2009GESGWE_30_3038NWE_30_878

2021GESPPYWE_30_759

2021GESPPYWE_30_717

2021GESPHPYWE_30_3447

2015GESMMYWE_30_3441

2009GESYYGHGYWE_30_3438

2009GESYGGGYWE_30_3370_4

2009GESGHGYWE_30_3370_3

2021GESYPGPGYWE_30_3370_2

Date objectiv

e to

be achieved

Objectiv

e

Drin

king W

ater

Nutrie

nt S

ensitiv

e W

aters

Special P

rotectio

n Area

Special A

rea of C

onservatio

n

Chemical S

tatus

Ecological S

tatus

Physio-chemical

Specific

Polutants

Morphology

Phytobenthos (D

iatoms)

Fish

FreshWaterPearl M

ussel

Macroinverte

brates (Q

)

Donor w

ater b

ody

Monito

red Y (E

xtra

polated N)

Member State Code


IE_WE_Mask


Status of lake water bodies within WMU

Lake water body status (Number %)

11%

56%

33%


Lake water body status (Area %)

0.1%

84.2%

15.7%


2009GESYYYGHHHYMask ( Lough )WE_30_665

2009GESGGGGGYAille LoughWE_30_532

2021GESYYYMHHHHYCarra ( Lough )WE_30_347

2009GESGMHYNafooey ( Lough )WE_30_342

2021GESMMMMYBekan LoughWE_30_341

2009GESGNCoolin LoughWE_30_332

2009GESYGNCloon LoughWE_30_328

2021GESYMNNagoyne ( Lough )WE_30_260

2009HESYHNDerrew L.WE_30_250

Date objectiv

e to

be achieved

Objectiv

e

Drin

king W

ater

Bathing W

ater

Nutrie

nt S

ensitiv

e W

aters

Special P

rotectio

n Area

Special A

rea of C

onservatio

n

Chemical S

tatus

Ecological S

tatus

Physico Chemical

Nutrie

nt E

nric

hment

Morphology

Fish

Chlorophyll

Macrophytes

Monito

red Y (E

xtra

polated N)

NameMember State Code


mask river water management unit action plan basin management... · the river flows through...

Documents