1. Turloughs (1) Definition:
A topographical depression in karst, having intermittent inundation on an annual basis arising mainly from groundwater. A turlough will have a substrate characteristic of wetlands and/or ecological communities characteristic of this combination of inundation regime and substrate.
Seasonal lake in karst areas mainly fed by groundwater

2. Turloughs (2)
13 SACs designated in the Shannon because they contain turloughs
High degree of groundwater dependency
Incorporated into the risk assessment as a GWDTE

3. River Basin Boundary Issues (1)
Some cases of shared groundwater between river basins
Mainly in areas of karst groundwater where the influence of topography is diminished
Decision to assign groundwater to most appropriate river basin was based on:
Surface water boundary
Groundwater flow regime
Tracer studies
Bedrock/structural geology
Modelled source protection areas
Dependent ecosystems
Source: Environmental Protection Agency

4. River Basin Boundary Issues (2)

5. Diffuse pressures – Shannon approach (1)
Step 1
(pressure)
Step 2
(pathway)

6. Diffuse pressures – Shannon approach (2)
Step 3 (impact potential)
22% High impact potential
1.3% High impact potential

7. Groundwater Bodies at risk from diffuse phosphate pollution (Draft – Oct 2004)
Four risk categories (UK-TAG)
22 GWBs at risk (1a+1b) from PO4
In at risk GWBs turloughs were examined further
Source: Shannon River Basin District Project

8. Turlough – SACs in at risk GWBs from PO4
Focus on turlough catchment areas
Identify main pressures impacting on turloughs
Nutrients
Drainage works
Abstractions
Assess sensitivity of turloughs, e.g. Ellenburg indices

9. Conclusions Groundwater and wetland management Risk assessment process
Complex systems
Requires multi-disclipinary approach
Often data gaps
Habitat surveys, hydrological connectivity
Risk assessment process
Allows us to prioritise further characterisation of GWBs and associated GWDTE (e.g. turloughs)
Opportunity to link WFD and Natura 2000 sites
Pressures and impact assessments
Further characterisation work