Donegal

Durnesh Lake, County Donegal

Durnesh Lough is a large (83ha), shallow (<1m) natural sedimentary lagoon with an artificial outlet piped under sand dunes, located in the eastern part of Donegal Bay, 10 km north of Ballyshannon and 5 km east of Ballintra, Co. Donegal. The lagoon is impounded by a barrier of high sand-dunes which have filled the gap between two drumlins. A channel and then a pipe runs through the dunes which allows water to drain from the lake and for seawater to enter at least during spring tides and storms. Salinity was low (0-2psu) at the time of sampling (24-26/9/96), but measured 19psu near the inlet at one time on 29/9/96.

Maghery Lough, County Donegal

Maghery Lough is a moderate sized (19ha), shallow (<2m) natural rock/peat lagoon with a modified, sluiced outlet, on the shore of Maghery Bay, 5km to the west of Dungloe, Co. Donegal. The inlet is probably natural but has been modified by the building of a road bridge and addition of a wooden sluice flap, which was broken at the time of sampling (4-5/9/98). Seawater probably enters on most tides and salinity ranged from 15 to 34psu at the time of sampling.

Sally’s Lough, County Donegal

Sally’s Lough is a small (10ha), relatively shallow (<4m) rock/peat lagoon with tidal narrows, 3 km to the north of Burtonport, Co. Donegal. According to local information it was formerly a freshwater lake which became tidal following excavation of a channel to the sea. Seawater enters the lake on most tides and salinity at the time of sampling (5-7/9/98) was close to that of seawater (29.5 -34.3psu) throughout the lagoon, although 28 psu was recorded in June 1998.

Kincas Lough, County Donegal

Kincas Lough is a small (6ha), relatively shallow (5m) rock/peat lagoon, lying opposite Cruit Island, approximately 6 kms west of Annagary, Co Donegal. According to local information, the channel from Lough Mullaghderg was deepened in order to relieve flooding. As a result, this raised water levels in Kincas Lough and the tidal inlet was deepened in order to lower these water levels. Seawater enters from the west on most tides but the lakes also receive large volumes of freshwater from small streams and the channel which drains from Lough Mullaghderg to the north. Surface salinity varied from 5-10psu on 19/6/96 and 7.4 – 13.1psu in September 1998 but measured 32-33psu below 1m depth.

Moorlagh, County Donegal

Moorlagh is a moderate sized (9.5ha), shallow (<1m) rock/peat lagoon, with an artificial barrier formed by a causeway and road bridge, with 3 culverted channels each with a wooden sluice, 0.5 km south of Annagary, Co. Donegal. Seawater enters from the north on most tides but large streams enter from the south. Salinity probably varies considerably and in August 1998 measured 7.3 – 9.7psu on the surface of the main body of the lagoon, and up to 30.1psu at 0.75m depth but 0.5 – 2psu at the southern end of the lagoon.

Loch Ó Dheas, County Donegal

A small  (3ha), shallow (1.5m) natural sedimentary lagoon with a cobble barrier, situated 1km west of the pier at West Town on Tory Island, Co. Donegal. Salinity is generally low and apparently is used as a source of drinking water, and measured less than 1psu on 26-27/10/05 and 1.2psu on 12/8/06.

Carrick Beg Lough, County Donegal

Carrick Beg Lough is a small (2ha), artificial lagoon formed behind a coastal embankment, on the western shore of Mulroy Bay, 12km north of Milford, County Donegal. Tidal water enters the lagoon from the north and salinity probably varies considerably, ranging at the time of sampling (19-20/7/03) from 25-29psu.

Blanket Nook Lough, County Donegal

Blanket Nook is a large (40ha), shallow, artificial lagoon formed behind a coastal embankment carrying a dismantled railway line, situated on the eastern shore of Lough Swilly, 2.5km northwest of Newtown Cunningham, Co. Donegal. Seawater enters through the malfunctioning sluice and probably by percolation through the embankment and ranged from 10.4-20.6psu at the time of sampling (21-23/7/03).

Inch Lough, County Donegal

Inch Lough is a large (160ha), shallow (<2m) artificial lagoon with two artificial barriers and one sluiced outlet, situated on the Inishowen Peninsula, between the mainland and Inch Island, approximately 12 km to the west of Derry, Co. Donegal. The lagoon was formed by construction of two barriers from the mainland to Inch island and a railway embankment along the eastern shore. Salinity is generally low (0 -2psu) but up to 20psu was measured along the southern causeway at 2m depth.