Lough Leane Catchment Monitoring & Management System Results
Three reports have been produced to date, and four sectors were studied: Local Authority activities, Agriculture, Septic Tanks, and Forestry. Thousands of biological and chemical water samples were collected and analysed from the forest sector over a three-year period. The Final Report, published in December 2003, presents the results for the four sectors (Table 1), and outlines the steps required and objectives set to ensure that rivers and lakes achieve and maintain satisfactory water quality status (Table 2). Over the study period little or no negative impact on water quality in rivers or lakes in the catchment was detected from the Forest Sector. Indeed, phosphorus loading from the Forest Sector recorded in the catchment is considered sustainable in relation to loading to Lough Leane.
Table 1. Relative Impact of different sectors on Water Quality in Lough Leane Catchment
| Sector | Net contribution of sectors to P loading |
| Agriculture | 47% |
| Septic Tanks | 12% |
| Urban and Industry | 15% |
| Background | 23% |
| Forestry | 3% |
Table 2. Target Total Phosphorus Reduction following full implementation of the Management Measures
| Source | Baseline Load (1999) (Tonnes/Yr) |
Future Load (Tonnes/Yr) | Target Reduction (Tonnes/Yr) |
| Urban Agglomeration | 2.4 | 1.1 | 1.3 |
| Agriculture + Background | 23.9 | 16.6 | 7.3 |
| Septic Tanks | 3.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| Forestry + Background (assumes continuation of best practice) | 1.4 | 1.4 | Nil |
| Total (Tonnes/Year) | 30.7 | 20.1 | 10.6 |
