Ballysaggart Environmental Group

WWT Report on the Lough

In 2005 the BEG commissioned the WWT to produce an extensive report on the state of the Lough. Everything from birds, plantlife and the water quality was tested. The map below shows some of the points that raised most concren.
map of the black lough detailing pollution points, walkways and trouble spots

Proposed new walkway
Existing walkway
Unidentified inflow pipes
Outflow
Unidentified Land
Carpark

Main Causes for concern

Pollution from household waste

phosphorous and suspended solids in all samples
high level of nitrate from the inlet pipe in SW corner
high levels of phenanthene
presence of blue-green algae
shift away from pollution sensetive species of invertebrates as recorded in 1970

Neglect of water controls
Intensive birdfeeding (with bread)
Litter
Slurry spreading upstream from the Lough
Poor road drainage seeping into the lough
Erosion of the island
Lack of strategic plan for the lough
Conflict between education and recreation

Recommendations

A range of options exist to improve the overall nature conservation of the Lough. The WWT recommended the following:

Invite landowners to join the group and work together to promote cammon interests
Reduce the source of nutrient input - reducing the risk to flora, fauna and human life
Promote and encourage good farming practice, reducing nutrien run-off. This will improve overall water quality.
Monitor vegetation and invertebrae by surveying in July/August on an annual basis. This will allow better management procedures
Stocking of fish should be strongly discouraged
Continue the existing management of aquatic vegetation
Create a dedicated bird feeding area
Fence off some areas of the island - reducing damage by wildfowl
Remove litter daily
Create a pond dipping platform - safe access for kids and parents
Produce a management plan

For the marsh area (above the Lough)

Encourage no drainage
No cutting or grazing
Plant areas of scrub on perimiter to encourage nesting and reduce disturbance
Remove scrub from within marsh area - protecting the habitat
Contact Dog Warden if dog fouling occurs

Conclusion

In conclusion the Wetlands Advisory Service said:
“… the Ballysaggart (black) Lough currently supports a good diversity of aquatic, marginal and emergent plants… and important numbers of breeding and wintering birds. However it is clear that the Lough is experiencing potential water quality problems. It is essential that the sources are identified and addressed… in order to maintain and enhance the important biodiversity present in and around the Lough.”

Progress Made

The vision and plans for the new centre is in place and we are engaging the community to raise support and funding for this.
Our new management plan plots the future course and sets the agenda for the future.
A more recent water quality report in 2007 indicates that there has been an improvement to water quality.
New European Legislation safeguarding against slurry pollution is now in place, which should see improvement in water quality throughout the area.

Other tests …

Report into water quality

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a chemical procedure for determining how fast biological organisms use up oxygen in a body of water. It is usually performed over a 5 day period at 20 C. It is used in water quality management and assessment, ecology and environmental science. BOD is not an accurate quantitative test, although it could be considered as an indication of the quality of a water source.
BOD Level (in ppm) Water Quality

1 - 2 Very Good-not much organic waste present
3 - 5 Moderately clean
6 - 9 Somewhat polluted
10+ Very polluted

Black Lough BOD score = Extremely High

Polluted water

The Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) is a procedure for measuring water quality using species of macroinvertebrates as biological indicators.
BMWP Score Category Interpretation

0-10 Very poor Heavily polluted
11-40 Poor Polluted or impacted
41-70 Moderate Moderately impacted
71-100 Good Clean but slightly impacted
>100 Very good Unpolluted, unimpacted

Black lough BMWP score is 89
"Good Clean but Slightly Impacted". The major cause of this impaction is unidentified pollution flowing into the water. Poor drainage, particularly from the Eglish Road is washing not only sediment of vehicle exhaust fumes but also road surface materials, tarmac, grit and other sedimentary waste into the eastern side of the lough, where phenanthrene levels in one sample were double the threshold level.