Suspected algae bloom at local lake
A deep green-blue colour has come over a section of the waters around Lough Oughter which is a designated Special Area of Conservation.
Crossdoney man Daniel Downey, who is also a member of the Killykeen Conservation Group, came upon the green-blue coloured waters while out walking in Killykeen Forest Park with his dog last Friday (December 13). He noticed “a pale uniform green colour” moving along with the rhythm of the water in the area known as ‘the beach’ in Killykeen, which is where Daniel, and others around Cavan, learned how to swim.
“It has just completely covered the water itself,” he described, adding that it extends for about two metres from the shore into the water.
Upon crossing the footbridge, Daniel said “a line” of what he suspects is blue-green algae is also visible in the water below.
“It’s moving between the two lakes in Killykeen,” he reported.
While Daniel was “a little bit upset” after walking around and witnessing the clearfelled area of Gartnanoul where there is “not much forest left”, he consoled himself with a trip to the water’s edge where he planned to let his dog off the lead to swim.
“I grabbed her as soon as I saw the green algae, I was just horrified.
“That’s where I learned how to swim in the eighties.”
“You can’t go there, you can’t swim there because you’re leaving your dog and yourself at risk of liver damage and worse.”
Daniel said he has seen the waters in this state before, however it was during summer time.
“I’ve never seen it this bad during the winter months, which is a terrible sign for the year ahead,” he warned.
In addition to wildlife and marine life, Daniel also believes that the algae threatens public health and tourism.
“Nobody wants to go into water that isn’t safe to swim in, to go boating in, to go fishing in.
“It’s probably a much bigger problem than what citizens can fix, it has to be down to the State to try and limit the amount of nitrates or nutrition that’s going into the waterways,” he said, adding that warmer summers and milder winters due to global warming are contributing to the issue.
“Is this just a sign of the world that we’re going to be coming into sadly? A world where our waters aren’t safe to bathe in or swim in?”
“Killykeen is and always will be an absolutely beautiful gem to visit, it’s just trying to keep that gem in the crown of Cavan tourism.”
The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) works on behalf of Ireland’s 31 local authorities to protect and restore good water quality in our rivers, lakes, estuaries, ground and coastal water through catchment science and local community engagement. When contacted for comment on what could have caused the colour change in the water, a LAWPRO spokesperson said they “cannot provide a detailed comment on any pollution in Lough Oughter” without conducting an analysis.
However they said: “Cavan County Council has stated that a combination of weather conditions and excess nutrients in the environment are the likely cause of algal blooms.”
Asked what they will do to resolve the issue, the spokesperson said the “primary responsibility for environmental regulation of this type of issue lies with the local authority”.
They stated they will “continue to provide support to Cavan County Council and all local authorities through catchment assessments in Priority Areas for Action”.
They also provide funding support to community groups for “initiatives relating to the protection and restoration of good water quality” through the Community Water Development Fund and Catchment Support Fund.
“Clean, healthy water is essential for aquatic wildlife and for our health and wellbeing. Pollution in water can pose a health risk to wildlife and to humans,” the spokesperson warned.
“Cavan County Council advises people to please exercise caution and avoid contact with algal blooms as they may cause skin irritation or be toxic if ingested. Cavan County Council notes that dogs are particularly sensitive to these blooms, therefore owners should keep their dogs away from water and shoreline build ups.
“We encourage anyone who suspects pollution in their local waterbody to report it to the relevant local authority.”
A spokesperson from Inland Fisheries Ireland, meanwhile, said algal bloom “may be the case” in the waters.
“Certain species of algae can produce toxins that can be harmful to dogs, so pet owners should act to prevent dogs from entering affected waterbodies where there is evidence of an algal bloom – which may be the case here,” the spokesperson said.
“Inland Fisheries Ireland’s statutory function and role relates to the enforcement of the fisheries and water pollution acts as pertains to fish and fish habitats.
“Multiple agencies have a role in the management and safeguarding of water quality,” they said.
“The local authority has a role, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, which has overall responsibility for national monitoring and reporting responsibilities.”