Highlighting problems on the River Shannon for World Fish Migration Day
World Fish Migration Day is a particular relevant day for the River Shannon; a river with numerous fish passage issues – both due to the presence of the ESB’s dams…
Category: Shannon scheme
We need to start managing the Lower Shannon sustainably
The Lower (old) River Shannon downstream of Parteen Regulating Weir is usually provided with a ‘compensation’ flow of just 10 m3 sec-1 (cumecs). However, during the winter of 2015/16 flows in the…
Management plan for the Lower River Shannon
We have been continuing our surveys of the Lower River Shannon. This study is being undertaken to assess the implications of current management regimes on the Lower River Shannon Special Area…
Are Ireland’s large hydroelectric schemes sustainable?
Ireland’s hydroelectric power stations are widely considered to be a sustainable source of ‘green’ energy. But is this really true? As we approach the centenary anniversary of the opening of Ireland’s…
Sustainable management required for the alluvial woodlands of the Lower Shannon
Alluvial forest with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-padnion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae (91E0) is a priority Annex I habitat of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC. This habitat is a key conservation…
Why are salmon numbers in the Shannon so low?
This is Athlone weir on the middle reaches of the River Shannon, during early December 2014. If you ever wanted an example of the scale of ESB’s fisheries management failures…
A beautiful 54Lbs Shannon Salmon from 1903
This is one of the largest salmon ever caught on the River Shannon, or indeed Ireland. It was caught by Fred Milburn at Doonass in 1903 and weighed 54Lbs. It…
A sustainable compensation flow is needed for the Old River Shannon
One of the key environmental issues on hydroelectric schemes with diverted river stretches, such as the lower River Shannon, is that discharges are at a consistent uniform low flow for…
