Action demanded on Lough Sheelin pollution

A serious algae bloom has developed on Lough Sheelin, resulting in a deterioration in water clarity and quality and health concerns over the consumption of fish caught in the lake. The Lough Sheelin Trout Protection Association (LTSPA) believe this is clear evidence of continual pollution in the area.

The committee discussed the current water quality situation on Lough Sheelin at a specially convened meeting.
Association member and former secretary, Michael Callaghan, told The Anglo-Celt: “The LSTPA are deeply concerned regarding this latest setback and fear that current conditions within the water bed will have a serious negative impact and will put the entire ecology of Lough Sheelin at risk yet again.” He added: “There may also be health issues for those who use the lake as a water supply and there are concerns that tourism in the area will suffer.”

 

Beyond belief
Mr Callaghan continued: “It is beyond belief that, despite all we have experienced over a period of 40 years, we are facing this massive problem once again.” 
Fishing commenced on the lake on March 1: “Some people who catch fish are asking ‘is it safe to eat it?’ I don’t know what the answer to that is,” continued Mr Callaghan, who said that fish stocks are also under threat.
“The water looks very dirty to the naked eye and there is very little visibility. Natural light will be blocked from getting down to the bed of the lake and plant life will suffer and, in turn, the food chain to the fish will suffer,” further explained Mr Callaghan of the problem.
He dismissed the theory that the problem was caused by recent weather conditions, pointing out that another lake in the area had not been affected.

 Action demanded

The LSTPA is now calling on the Department of the Environment to set up, as a matter of urgency, a task force comprised of all the relevant authorities to deal with this worsening situation, to identify the root cause of nutrient enrichment within the Sheelin catchment and to put plans in place for a long-term solution to the problem.
The association has been in existence for over 100 years and have records dating back that far in time.

 

Council to identify source
A spokesperson for Cavan County Council informed The Anglo-Celt this week that Lough Sheelin and the surrounding waterbodies have been identified as recommended areas for action during the characterisation process of the current river basin management plan. 
“The area will be targeted by a specialised regional team from LAWCO (Local Authorities Water and Community Office), working on the ground to field scale level. 
“They intend to identify the sources of pollution and break the pathway for same to waters. This work will commence when the regional teams are finalised in the coming weeks and will run from 2018 to 2021.
Cavan County Council and other key stakeholder bodies will be working with these regional teams as each situation demands.”

 

IFI to inspect farms

Director of Inland Fisheries Ireland, Amanda Mooney, explained that responsibility for water quality monitoring for all rivers and lakes, including Lough Sheelin, falls under the remit of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the local authority, Cavan County Council. 
“Inland Fisheries Ireland monitors the fish stocks, angling and planning and developments that may impinge on the resource,” she clarified.
IFI staff also monitor the tributaries of Lough Sheelin for incidences of pollution as well as blockages and impediments to free fish movement or migration. 
“This includes inspecting outflows from waste water treatment plants, industrial and production facilities and agricultural premises, nutrient spreading and other activities that may affect the fishery.”
She pointed to the success of previous monthly water sampling programmes operated by the IFI in the 70s and 80s that improved water quality on Lough Sheelin and saw an increase in fish stocks. However, in recent years, as overall responsibility for water quality monitoring has become the responsibility of the EPA, the IFI no longer has a dedicated water quality laboratory.
Despite that, and given the recent algae bloom, the IFI has increased farm inspections in the catchment to monitor any potential pollution threat. In 2017, there were 626 farm inspections alone. IFI takes water samples where a potential pollution prosecution is warranted and report all relevant information to the EPA and Cavan County Council.