The Lough Melvin Programme
The Ecology of Lough Melvin
Lough Melvin is located in the north west of Ireland. l. The lake is approximately 13 km long by 3 km wide with an average depth of 8.5 m and a maximum depth of 45 m. A number of inflowing streams and rivers drain the surrounding 265km2 of catchment and the Drowes River (renowned for its Salmon fishing) links the lake to Donegal Bay.
Sonaghan
Lough Melvin is an exceptional example of a unique type of freshwater lake known as mesotrophic lakes. Often located between upland and lowland regions, mesotrophic lakes have medium concentrations of nutrients and support a diversity of plants and animals. These types of lakes are increasingly rare in Ireland and the UK due to widespread human induced changes within their catchments.
Ferox trout
Lough Melvin is unique not only because it is mesotrophic but also because it supports many unique and endangered plants and animals.
Gilaroo
One of main reasons that Lough Melvin is internationally significant is because of its fish community. Lough Melvin supports the only remaining population of the vulnerable Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) (a member of the salmon family) in Northern Ireland. This species is threatened (Irish Red Data Book) and has disappeared from 30% of the loughs in Ireland. It is particularly sensitive to changes in water quality and only inhabits lakes with pristine waters.
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and three distinct sub-species of trout are also found in Lough Melvin. These trout species: gillarroo, sonaghan (only found in Lough Melvin) and ferox; differ in colour, feeding, spawning and behaviour. Many of these salmoniid fish species require pristine water and are disappearing rapidly from other lakes in Ireland.
Other significant and endangered species located within Lough Melvin and its catchment includes the Otter, Pine Marten and the Greenland White-fronted Geese.
Plant species listed in the Irish Red Data Book include the Globeflower (Trollius europaeus), Marsh Helleborine (Epipactis palustris), Blue-eyed-grass (Sisyrinchium bermudiana) and Tea-leaved Willow (Salix phylicifolia), are found in the Lough Melvin catchment. The Globeflower is protected under the Flora Protection Order (1999).
Protection
Due to the diversity and rarity of Lough Melvin and its species, the lake has been designated as a candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Within the Lough Melvin catchment, there are two other SAC’s (Arroo Mountain and West-Fermanagh Scarplands). SAC’s are prime wildlife conservation areas considered important at an international level. Those habitats and species designated as SAC’s are required to be protected under EU law.
Lough Melvin is also considered a Nature Reserve and Area of Special Scientific Interest in Northern Ireland and an Area of Outstanding Beauty and Area of High Visual Amenity in the Republic of Ireland.
