AT the September meeting of Clare County Council, Sinn Féin’s Tommy Guilfoyle sought a biodiversity study on the Corrovorrin River.
His motion to the meeting said, “The river Fergus winds its way down through the North Clare MD and into the Shannon Estuary in the West Clare MD. The river’s banks and surrounds play a major role in our county’s flood defences. Alongside that serious function, it also plays a massive role in our county’s wildlife and biodiversity.
“To enable the County Council to protect these key functions I request that the County Council carry out a Biodiversity Study and create an action plan on the Corrovorrin River (Fergus Minor) from the former West Clare metal bridge (adjacent to Aughanteeroe Estate) downstream to its confluence with the Fergus River at the railway metal bridge (adjacent to Knox’s bridge) in order to protect the existing undeveloped riverside corridor for biodiversity and nature-based flood solutions.”
A written reply to his motion said, “The Corrovorrin River (EPA name: Fortfergus) plays a vital role in the overall water quality of the River Fergus. The river is monitored by the EPA with the latest River Quality results nearest the Gort Road returning a value of Q4 which equate to ‘Good’ status under the Water Framework Directive indicating that this stretch of river is unpolluted and at satisfactory condition. Further downstream at the Tulla Road monitoring station it drops to a Q3-4 which indicates a moderate Water Framework Directive Status. To protect the river corridor and its function as both flood plain for the Corrovorrin River and its function as a riparian zone, the undeveloped riverside corridor has been zoned as ‘buffer space’ from Kevin Barry’s Avenue to the confluence with the Fergus in the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029.”
The reply also said that “As funding opportunities arise, the Planning Authority will seek to prepare Biodiversity Studies and Action Plans for key sites across the county, including Ennis. Given the importance of the Corrovorrin River, this will be added as one of the sites that can potentially be studied in due course as funding allows.”
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.