Clare County Council says it is anticipating an increase in water levels on the Lower River Shannon at Springfield, Clonlara later this evening and overnight as a result of forecast rainfall and the impact of the spill rate of 470 cubic metres per second (cumecs) being maintained at Parteen Weir by the ESB.
The local authority, assisted by Clare Civil Defence and The Defence Forces, is maintaining a 24-hour presence to assist residents affected by flooding and to respond to any additional impact.
Approximately 5,000 sandbags have been installed in the Springfield area to assist residents of up to 15 properties. Additional sandbags are on standby if required. Up to 30 pumps have been deployed to and are operating in the area.
Met Éireann currently has a Yellow Weather Advisory in place for County Clare and is forecasting that a band of rain will move slowly northeastwards over Ireland through this afternoon, evening and tonight. Rainfall amounts of 15 to 25 mm are expected.
Hugh McGrath, Killaloe District Engineer, Clare County Council says, “Water levels have dropped two inches overnight and are now approximately 6-7 inches below the November 2009 peak level which was reached on Saturday night last. We expect water levels to increase further overnight tonight and as a result standard operating and response procedures are in place in the event of additional flooding incidents occurring.”
“As well as monitoring the impact of the forecast rainfall and the current spill rate of 470 cubic metres per second (cumecs) at Parteen Weir, the Council is also monitoring the Mulkear River which enters the Lower River Shannon south of Annacotty in County Limerick. When in flood, this River can negatively impact on water levels in the Lower River Shannon,” added Mr. McGrath.
Meanwhile, the ESB has confirmed that the levels in Lough Derg have decreased marginally in the past 24 hours and that the flow of water through Parteen Weir will remain at 470 cumecs on Wednesday and that the situation will be reviewed again tomorrow.
The levels in Lough Derg may reach 2009 levels in the coming days and, as a result, the flow through Parteen Weir may increase up to those levels (up to 500 cumecs).
The ESB points out that this level of water flow will continue to have associated flooding to land and property in the vicinity of the Shannon downstream of Parteen Weir including the areas of Springfield, Montpelier, Castleconnell, Mountshannon (Annacotty) and the University of Limerick.
Other areas between Parteen Weir and Limerick may also be vulnerable to flooding due to local issues.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.