The Lough Melvin Programme
Executive Summary of the Lough Melvin Catchment Management Plan
Ireland’s waterways, lakes and wetlands are a significant part of our natural
heritage and their management and maintenance is our responsibility, as the
current generation of environmental caretakers. One of these, Lough Melvin is
a unique and internationally significant lake located in the counties of Leitrim
and Fermanagh. Described as “one of the few remaining natural post-glacial
salmonid lakes in northwestern Europe”, the lake covers an area of 2206 ha and
is renowned for its early “run” of Atlantic salmon, unique assemblage of fish
species and diversity of flora and fauna. In relatively pristine condition, the
lake and surrounding catchment area are highly valued for their recreational,
heritage and environmental qualities by anglers, tourists, scientists and the
local community.
Due to the importance of Lough Melvin as an oligo-mesotrophic (low-medium nutrient) lake that supports
a diversity of habitats and species, it has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under
the EU Habitats Directive. However, the health and status of Lough Melvin is particularly vulnerable to
human activities, with the most significant threat being an increase in phosphorus loadings from housing,
forestry and agriculture within the surrounding catchment. Currently phosphorus concentrations in the lake
have increased by over 40% in little more than a decade and monitoring of the catchment rivers indicates
that phosphorus loadings are continuing to increase.
To protect the water quality and ultimate health of Lough Melvin, the sources of nutrients from the surrounding catchment need to be managed and methods for their control developed and implemented. It is imperative that this action is taken now to ensure the survival of this rare natural resource otherwise irreversible damage may be done to the system. Linking activities within the surrounding catchment to 3 Executive Summary to Lough Melvin Catchment Management Plan June 2008 environmental impacts on the lake and managing the lake at a catchment scale, is the only way that management actions can be prioritised and targeted for the most effective and beneficial environmental outcomes. The Lough Melvin Catchment Management Plan aims to provide a basis for the conservation of Lough Melvin into the future in an effective and holistic way.
Download the Executive Summary of the Lough Melvin Catchment Management Plan [.pdf, 1.83MB]
