The Lough Melvin Programme
The Lough Melvin Programme aims to:
“Protect the health and unique environmental qualities of Lough Melvin and its catchment”
Lough Melvin is internationally renowned for its unique range of plants and animals. Located in the northwest of Ireland in the counties of Leitrim and Fermanagh, the lake covers an area of 2000ha and is famous for its early “run” of Atlantic salmon. In relatively pristine condition, the lake and surrounding catchment area (265km2) is valued for its recreational, heritage and environmental values by anglers, tourists, scientists and the local community. Artic Char, Otter and three species of trout (sonaghan, gillaroo, ferox) are among the many species that live in or around the lake. Within the catchment, the endangered globeflower, Molinia meadows and sessile oak woodlands can be found.
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 under the EU Habitats Directive. Find out more about the environmental values of Lough Melvin.
The health of Lough Melvin and its unique environmental values is particularly vulnerable to human activities in the surrounding catchment. The most significant threat is an increase in nutrients from housing, forestry and agriculture.
A family of otters on Lough Melvin.
Publications
- Final Report - Executive Summary, [.pdf, 1.83MB]
- Download our programme brochure [.pdf, 332KB]
- Download the Teagasc brochure "Agri-Environment on Lough Melvin" [.pdf, 1MB]
- Melvin features in TResearch, download the article, [.pdf, 2.5MB]
