River Boyne Water Quality Management Plan - EPA

Rivcr Boync Water Quality Uanagemml PlanAdditional water quality information is contained in Appendix 4 based on water quality sampling ofsome lakes and the "Water Quality Management Plan for Co. Cavan". Briefly, the results arediscussed as follows:Lough Acrrrry; this is a relatively s~nallake used for abstraction with a soft acidic waterwhich is moderately coloured. 111 general, water quality is satisfactory throughout the lake.On the feeder streams, intermitterit organic pollution is indicated with associated elevatedlevels ofphosphateBailieboro Lake; this is a small soft water lake of moderate alkalinity. This has thecharacteristics of a eutrophic lake with moderately high phosphate levels arid significantalgal bioniass. Its principal use is as a fisheryDCastle Lake; this relatively small lake is moderately so$ with moderate alkali~tity. Waferquality is unsatisfactory with elevated orthophosphate, total phosphate and antmoniaconcentrations, indicative of significant enrichment of the lake. In surveys, s~rvace D.0.levels were low and biomass production was exceptionally high with blue-green algae beingthe niost prominent. The main feeder streatii is the River Blachvater which has nioderatelei~cls of organic pollution and high nutrient concentratio~isdaverage 0.433mg/l of total -P).Tlie ozrtlet River Blackwater shows a unoderate lever of&artic poN~rtion and high mrtrient*enrichment. .~istoiicul data indicates e,xtrenie vgria@~i . .. in dissolved oxygen and BOD onoccasion+