Durnesh Lough

Durnesh Lough is a sedimentary lagoon in the northwest of Ireland. It is located on the coast of south County Donegal.

Durnesh Lough
View of the northern part of Durnesh Lough
Location in Ireland
LocationCounty Donegal
Coordinates54°34′15″N 8°11′4″W
Lake typelagoon
Catchment area15.10 km2 (5.8 sq mi)
Basin countriesIreland
Max. length1.6 km (1 mi)
Max. width1.0 km (0.6 mi)
Surface area0.70 km2 (0.27 sq mi)
Average depth1 m (3 ft 3 in)
Max. depth1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Surface elevation0 m (0 ft)
References[1][2][3]

Geography

Durnesh Lough is located about 12 kilometres (7 mi) north of Ballyshannon on the R231 road, just past the village of Rossnowlagh. It measures about 1.5 km (0.9 mi) long north–south and 1.0 km (0.6 mi) wide.[1]

Hydrology

Durnesh Lough is separated from the sea by drumlins and high sand dunes. At one time there was a natural outflow, but that has been replaced by an artificial channel flowing to the sea, which admits some seawater. A small number of streams enter the lagoon, which has a salinity of up to 7 ppt.[4][3]

Natural history

The lagoon forms the main part of the Durnesh Lough Special Area of Conservation, other parts being the dunes, the beach, a cobble storm-beach, drumlins covered with sand and a small seawater lagoon.[3]

The margins of the lough have extensive reedbeds with common reed, bulrush and common clubrush. In the parts of the lough with a muddy substrate, the emergent vegetation includes yellow iris, mare's tail and reed canary-grass. In the stony areas there are shoreweed and common club-rush. Submerged vegetation includes tasselweed, beaked tasselweed, and the uncommon freshwater green alga Chara canescens. There are also some uncommon invertebrates among the 48 taxa recorded in the lough.[3]

Fish species in Durnesh Lough include sand goby, flounder, rudd, three-spined stickleback, sea trout and the critically endangered European eel.[4] Otters are also present.

Durnesh Lough is also part of the Durnesh Lough Important Bird Area. Significant species wintering here include mute swan, whooper swan, tundra swan,[5] greater white-fronted goose and several species of duck which feed in the wet grassland adjacent to the lough.[3]

See also
  • List of loughs in Ireland

References
  1. Google (17 March 2016). "Durnesh Lake" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  2. "A Reference Based Typology and Ecological Assessment System for Irish Lakes" (PDF). Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). 2006. p. 17. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  3. "Durnesh Lough SAC" (PDF). National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland). Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  4. "Water Framework Directive Fish Stock Survey of Durnesh Lough" (PDF). Inland Fisheries Ireland. 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  5. "Birdlife Data Zone: Durnesh Lough". BirdLife International. 2000. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
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