Kerry

Lauragh Lagoon, County Kerry

Situated 1km southwest of the village of Lauragh, un-named on the 1:50.000 OS map. A moderate sized (20ha) natural “saltmarsh” lagoon. Not a lot is known about this site, as it was only visited briefly in October 2006. Appears to be very shallow, salinity measured 4.4psu at the time of sampling (9/10/2006), but probably varies considerably.

Drongawn Lough, County Kerry

Drongawn Lough is a natural rock lagoon with a restricted tidal range due to a narrow connection with the sea through a small tidal bay which itself has a narrow connection to the open sea. The lake lies on the south coast of the Ring of Kerry peninsula, 6 km to the east of Sneem. Kenmare Bay lies 300 m to the south of the lake but is separated by a ridge of rock and the inlet to the lake lies in the northeast corner via Coongar Harbour. Very little appears to be known about this lake, other than the fact that a small flock of Whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) is often present in the winter. It is, however, a good example of a completely natural, moderately large, saline lake on the mountainous Kerry coastline in an almost perfect state of preservation.

Lough Gill, County Kerry

Lough Gill is situated on the north coast of the Dingle peninsula, 1 km from the town of Castlegregory. A large (144ha) shallow (up to 2m), natural sedimentary lagoon in a classical position lying between two barriers which unite to form a tombolo connecting the mainland to a group of the Magharee islands.

Blennerville Lakes, County Kerry

Situated 1km southwest of Tralee. Two small (total 3ha) artificial lagoons formed behind an embankment of the River Lee, carrying a road and canal from Tralee.  Low salinity (5.1-10.3psu) at the time of sampling (20/10/06) and highly eutrophic.

Wexford

North Slob channel, County Wexford

Formerly an area of mud flat and salt marsh, reclaimed in the mid 1800s by construction of a sea wall. A broad, semicircular channel runs through polder grasslands and crops, covering a total area of  approximately 5ha. The area is below high tide level and there is extensive landward seepage of seawater with seepage streams. Mixed seawater and freshwater from streams and drainage ditches is pumped out and the water level is more or less constant. A salinity gradient from about 4‰ in the west to between 20 and 30‰ in the Raven (Curracloe). Channel exists throughout the year.

South Slob Channel, County Wexford

Formerly a creek system in mudflats, reclaimed in mid 1800’s by construction of a sea wall. The network of creeks joining the large Coal Channel runs through an area of polders and salt marsh. Substrate near the sea wall muddy sand – sandy mud. Brackish conditions are probably confined to the part of the Coal Channel near the sea wall where landward seepage of seawater occurs, giving a salinity of 2-5‰. Elsewhere water is probably fresh. Excess water is pumped out into Wexford harbour by way of an artificial perimeter canal.

Lady’s Island Lake, County Wexford

A large (350ha) natural sedimentary percolating lagoon, separated from the sea by a sand and gravel barrier and dunes. Substrate grades from soft sandy mud in the north to coarse sandy gravel near the barrier and there are rocks in the southeast. Surrounding land is flat with arable and pasture fields and rough land with rocks. Freshwater enters by a few small streams and leaves by percolation through the barrier. The water level rises in winter flooding farmland and a pilgrimage path and the barrier is usually breached in spring. The lake then becomes tidal until natural closure in 2 weeks – 6 months. Seawater also enters by seepage and overwash of the breach bar. Salinity fluctuates widely according to season and the extent of tidal flow. In October 1996, 4-15‰ was measured at the north end, 23-26‰  near the barrier and 6-10‰ in an isolated pool.

Tacumshin Lake, County Wexford

Large (430ha) natural sedimentary lagoon with a sand/shingle barrier. In total area this is the largest Irish lagoon but is currently drained and partly dry in summer. A natural outlet has existed intermittently but seals naturally. The substrate is soft sandy mud with gravel near the barrier. Surrounding land is flat and consists of arable fields and pasture. Freshwater enters by several small streams and leaves by the outlet pipes and by seaward percolation through the barrier. Washover occurs in the western sector. Much of the lake bed was exposed during the summer of 1996 following installation of pipes, but water was present to 1m depth by October. Salinity at this time was 8-19‰ on the eastern shore and 3-18‰ in artificial channels near the barrier. Water levels have been monitored recently in an attempt to establish optimum acceptable levels in order to preserve its conservation value.

Ballyteige Channels, Wexford

Ballyteige drainage channels are situated on the south coast of Wexford, 1 km to the west of Kilmore Quay. The drainage channels are artificial and were excavated to drain a lagoon and saltmarsh which were isolated behind an extensive dune system to the south and a sea wall to the west, constructed across the Cull Inlet in the mid 19th Century.  Seawater enters by percolation through the dunes along the southern shore and apparently by leakage of the sluice on the Cull at high tide. It is also possible that seawater enters from the tidal river that runs from Duncormick to Bridgetown. Area of water about 5 ha., length of channels 3.2 km., maximum depth 3m.

Wicklow

Kilcoole Channels, County Wicklow

The lagoonal habitat of Kilcoole channels lie 1.5km southeast of the town of Kilcoole and comprise a number of artificial drainage channels in an area of drained saltmarsh. Total area is approximately 5ha and salinity varies from almost freshwater at the more inland sites to almost full seawater near the Breeches.

Louth

Greenore Golf Course, County Louth.

Situated 1km southwest of Greenore on the banks of Carlingford Lough. A series of 4 small artificial lagoons (Maps 1 & 2), covering approximately 2.5ha, ranging in salinity from 0.5 to 26 psu at the time of sampling (17/06/2003), formed behind a coastal embankment, partly as a result of landscaping of a golf course.

Dublin

Broadmeadow Water, County Dublin

Situated 2km east of Swords and 1km northwest of Malahide. A large (280ha) artificial lagoon formed behind a coastal embankment carrying a railway line (Maps 1 & 2), ranging in salinity at the time of sampling (18-21/9/03) from almost fresh (1.2 psu) at the inner most part, up to 32.6 psu near the tidal inlet.

Cork

Rostellan Lake, County Cork

Rostellan Lake is an artificial lagoon in Cork harbour, with artificial barrier and outlet, though possibly it was a natural lagoon historically. The lagoon is moderate sized (50ha), shallow (<2m) and it seems that brackish conditions only exist near the causeway. In September 2003, salinity ranged from 0.5psu at the eastern end to 25psu near the outlet.

Ballyvodock Lagoon, County Cork

Situated 2km southwest of Midleton on the northern shore of Cork harbour.  Ballyvodock lagoon is a small (2ha), shallow (1m) artificial lagoon formed behind a coastal embankment, ranging in salinity at the time of sampling (7-8/9/06) from 15-25psu.

Cuskinny Lake, County Cork

Situated on Great Island, north of Cork Harbour, 1.5km east of Cobh. A small (4ha) artificial lagoon formed behind a coastal embankment carrying a road. (The barrier, however, is composed of shingle and this may have been a natural lagoon originally, but is now embanked with a bridged inlet. Salinity at the time of sampling (27-28/7/02) from almost fresh (1.2 psu) at the inner most part, up to 32.6 psu near the tidal inlet.

Lough Beg, County Cork

Situated 5km east of Carrigaline and 1.5km south of Ringaskiddy in Cork Harbour. A small (2ha) artificial “estuarine” lagoon formed behind a causeway constructed for access to a petrochemical plant (Glaxo-Smith-Kline). Salinity is generally low, ranging at the time of sampling (Autumn 2005 to Spring 2006) from 2-18psu.

Bessborough Pond, County Cork

Bessborough Pond is located within the grounds of The Sacred Heart Convent, Blackrock, 4.5 kilometres to the south east of Cork City. The area covers just over 135 m2 and lies at an average altitude of 9 metres above mean sea level. A very small (1ha) artificial lagoon apparently formed as part of an ornamental garden with five small islands. Hydrology of the pond may have been modified by construction of the new bypass south of Cork City. The pond is now largely stagnant but still receiving saline water through a pipe, and salinity measured 23.7psu at the time of sampling on 27/7/06.

Oysterhaven Lake, County Cork

Situated 6km east of Kinsale on the eastern shore of the Oyster Haven estuary. A small (3ha), shallow (<3m) artificial lagoon formed behind a coastal embankment carrying a road. Ranging in salinity at the time of sampling (19-20/8/02) from 6-15 psu.

Commoge Marsh, County Cork

Situated 1km southwest of Kinsale on the eastern shore of the River Bandon estuary. A moderate size (12ha), shallow, artificial lagoon created on saltmarsh behind a coastal embankment carrying a road, ranging in salinity at the time of sampling in August and September 2003 from 30.4-33.5psu.

Clogheen/White’s Marsh, County Cork

Situated 2km south of Clonakilty. Two small artificial lagoons connected by a drainage channel, covering approximately 3ha, ranging in salinity at time of sampling (8-9/10/03) from almost fresh (0.1-6.2 psu) at the southern end of Clogheen Marsh to 27.7psu where tidal water enters White’s Marsh. Formed behind coastal embankments on reclaimed tidal flats.

Inchydoney, County Cork

Situated 2km southeast of Clonakilty on Inchydoney Island bordering Clonakilty Harbour. A small (2ha) artificial lagoon formed behind a coastal embankment carrying a road, ranging in salinity at the time of sampling (16-17/08/2002) from 33-35psu.

Kilkeran Lake, County Cork

Kilkeran Lake  is a small (16ha), shallow (<3m) natural lagoon, lying behind sand hills on the south coast of Co. Cork , about 5 km east of the town of Rosscarbery and 2 km north of Galley Head. A channel leads from the lagoon 400 m to the shoreline where the water of the lake is impounded for most of the year by a short, coarse sand barrier, which the County Council periodically breach, but that also opens naturally, when water levels rise. The barrier closes again naturally, generally within a few weeks. Salinity is generally low, and measured 1-2psu when sampled in 1996.The lake has suffered from extreme eutrophication, and the once thriving trout fishery has now gone.

Rosscarbery Lake, County Cork

Situated 0.5km east of the town of Rosscarbery. A moderate sized (20ha), shallow (<3m) artificial lagoon created by construction of a causeway carrying a road across the inner part of an estuary, ranging in salinity at the time of sampling (20-21/7/02) from 12.5-15.3 psu.

Toormore Lagoon, County Cork

Situated at Ballyrissode Bridge, 1km west of Toormore and 4km northeast of Goleen. A very small (<1ha) artificial lagoon formed behind a causeway carrying a road constructed across a tidal inlet, ranging in salinity at the time of sampling (22-23/10/05) from 19.8-30.3 32.6 psu.

Lissagriffin Lake, County Cork

Lissagriffin Lake is situated at the western end of the Mizen peninsula, 5 km west of Crookhaven. The lake lies at the landward end of a long sinuous tidal inlet and is partly artificial in that it now lies behind a causeway, but at the mouth of the inlet is a dune barrier through which the combined action of river and sea has cut a channel. The lake is very shallow (<2m) and seawater enters on all tides but a relatively large amount of fresh water also flows through the lake. Salinity at the time of sampling (29-31/7/96) ranged from 6-28psu.

Farranamanagh Lake, County Cork

Farranamanagh Lake is situated in Dunmanus Bay on the south side of the Sheep’s Head peninsula, 3 km east of Kilcrohane. The lake is a small (6ha), completely natural sedimentary lagoon lying behind a cobble barrier through which runs a permanent outlet. Small freshwater streams enter the lagoon in the north. On spring tides, seawater enters through the inlet and overtops the barrier during storms. Salinity ranged from 1-6psu at the time of sampling (17-18/8/96).

Reen Point Pools, County Cork

Situated 6km west of Durrus on the north shore of Dunmanus Bay, 2km east of Ahakista. A group of small (<1ha) natural sedimentary lagoons formed between two shingle/cobble barriers forming a spit which connects a small island to the mainland (tombolo). Salinity measured 8psu at the time of sampling (30/12/06).

Kilmore Lake, County Cork

Kilmore Lake is a natural sedimentary lagoon with a low cobble barrier. The lagoon is situated on the west coast of Whiddy Island, Bantry Bay, approximately 2 km to the west of the harbour. Seawater enters by percolation and by overflowing the low central part of the barrier, even on high water neap tides. The lagoon is small (c. 6 ha) and shallow (up to 3m) and with regular tidal flushing, salinity remains close to that of seawater, probably throughout the year, although 26 ppt was recorded near the barrier on 8/7/98 and salinity is always slightly lower at the northeast end where a small stream enters. Most of the central part of the lake consists of fine, muddy sand sediments with very little fauna.

Raffeen Lake, County Cork

Situated 4km east of Carrigaline and 2km west of Ringaskiddy in Cork Harbour. A small (4ha) artificial lagoon formed behind a coastal embankment. This lagoon is part of a landscaped golfcourse and has a relatively large permanent tidal inlet. Salinity is generally high, and measured 28 to 32psu. at the time of sampling (26-27/7/06).

Reenydonegan Lake, County Cork

Situated at the eastern end of Bantry Bay, 2km north of the town of Bantry. A moderate sized (25ha) natural sedimentary lagoon with an artificial unsluiced inlet. Apparently shallow (<3m) lagoon and very low salinity of <1psu at the time of sampling (6-7/07/02) although it is clear that a certain amount of seawater enters at times.