Planning to manage the Lough Ennell catchment

More than 50 stakeholders and members of the public attended a workshop on the future management of the Lough Ennell catchment in Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar, overlooking the lake, last week.

The event was organised by the Lough Ennell Trout Preservation Associated and funded by the Local Authorities Water Programme. Alan Lauder, ornithologist, ecologist, conservationist and land management specialist and Joan Martin, a catchment specialist with LAWPRO, addressed the gathering.

The workshop explored how to improve the ecological health and water quality of the lake, tourism, angling and fisheries, heritage and more.

The event organiser was Carla McNeill, née Ward, a Mullingar woman and volunteer with the Preservation Association. When she moved back to Mullingar three years ago, she wanted to get involved with the local community as a volunteer and, with a background in catchment management and an interest in water, the environment, river restoration and ecology, she was drawn to the association.

Carla’s family, the Wards, are from Gaybrook and her maternal grandfather, Gus Jones from Ginnell Terrace, Mullingar, was a great fisherman and a well-known personality around the town.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner after the workshop, Carla said that the Lough Ennell Trout Preservation Association recognises the importance of working with businesses, agencies and communities to help plan the future protection of the lake’s catchment. They want to improve the habitat of spawning trout and the quality of the water.

“We were really encouraged by the turn-out and happy to see interest from so many sectors – farmers, Teagasc, Inland Fisheries Ireland, the OPW, Westmeath County Council, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the ICA as well as local communities, our own club members and fishermen,” Carla said.

She said the positive attitude of the various stakeholders and their willingness to work together to develop a catchment management plan was heartening. There was a strong show of hands from those who would be willing to come to a follow-up meeting to put some structure on this, she added.

We need to strengthen what is there already. Lough Ennell is recognised internationally as a RAMSAR site, an internationally important wetland. It has been designated a special area of conservation and a special protected area under the Birds and Habitats directive, Carla explained.

Chairman of the Lough Ennell Trout Preservation Association, David O’Malley of Dominick Street, Mullingar, told the gathering that Lough Ennell is one of only 13 wild trout fisheries left in Europe and it holds the record for the largest brown trout ever caught in Europe – a 26lb 2oz fish landed in 1894 by William Mears.

The association was founded by David’s father, Mick O’Malley and local fishermen who recognised the need to protect it, enhance trout spawning and improve water quality. Those aims still drive the association today.

Joan Martin talked about the Dysart stream project to investigate sources of pollution that were downgrading the bathing water at Lilliput. She explained the positive outcome of farmers, Teagasc, the county council, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Lough Ennell Trout Preservation Association working together to put in measures to improve the water quality.

The result is that Lilliput has retained its status as a designated inland bathing area, of which there are only seven in the country, three of them in Westmeath – Lilliput, The Cut on Lough Lene and Portnashangan on Lough Owel.

Before the workshop, Alan Lauder gave the group a tour of the lakeshore pointing out various habitats and identifying bird calls. He shared his knowledge of the lake and emphasised the importance of having a balanced ecosystem with insects feeding off vegetation and birds and fish feeding off insects.

During the workshop, Mr Lauder spoke of his previous survey work and findings regarding water quality and wetland habitats. He talked about nutrient enrichment in the water. If there is too much nitrogen or phosphorous coming into the lake, it creates algae blooms. Another source of pollution is waste water from treatment plants, the large plant in Mullingar, but also private ones around the lake, including septic tanks.

The challenge is to find a solution to those problems and the workshop explored the possibilities. Finding a solution will improve the potential of the lake for tourism, health and wellbeing for locals and visitors will be recognised and wildlife will be protected.

Swimmers want clean water, safe access and good information. Anglers want plenty of fish, a healthy trout population and peace and quiet. The lake needs no pollution, no litter, lots of varied habitats, good quality habitats in the tributary streams to support good quality, healthy fish populations, and minimum disturbance, the workshop established.

Local businesses will benefit from a well-managed catchment because it will provide an attractive amenity for people to visit and enjoy with a spinoff for all sorts of businesses in and around the town, it was maintained.

Ms McNeill explained that there is a lot already happening, but the workshop was organised to bring all sectors together and let them have their say. It is a step towards having a co-ordinated catchment management plan and while this is the start, there is a lot more to come because Lough Ennell is to be valued and we want to look after it now and into the future, she concluded.