Report Cover Vol I - Clare County Library

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The County Clare Wetlands Survey Patrick Crushell & Peter Foss 2008 ___________________________________________________________ Scrub Annex 1 habitat under the EU Habitats Directive. Found on a variety of habitat types, scrub includes areas that are dominated by at least 50% cover of shrubs (e.g. Gorse), stunted trees or brambles. The canopy height is generally less than 5 m, or 4 m in the case of wetland areas. Scrub frequently develops as a precursor to woodland and is often found in inaccessible locations, or on abandoned or marginal farmland. In the absence of grazing and mowing, scrub can expand to replace grassland or heath vegetation. Trees are included as components of scrub if their growth is stunted as a result of exposure, poor soils or waterlogging. If tall trees are present, these should have a scattered distribution and should not form a distinct canopy. Examples of this habitat can be seen within Cloonloum More Bog NHA. Lagoons and saline lakes Priority habitat under the EU Habitats Directive. Coastal lagoons are enclosed bodies of standing brackish water that are wholly or partially separated from the sea by banks of sand, shingle or rock, or by land barriers of rock or peat. Tidal influence is much reduced by these physical barriers or is totally absent. Salinity (the salt content of the water) is highly variable both within and between different lagoonal systems. It fluctuates on a daily and seasonal basis, depending on tides and inputs of freshwater or salt water following storms and, in some situations, may exhibit the full range from sea water to freshwater conditions. Water levels in lagoons generally undergo seasonal fluctuations (high in winter and low in summer) unless strictly controlled by pumping. Strong water currents are absent and this is a key feature which distinguishes lagoons from other marine water bodies. In addition to typical sedimentary lagoons, this habitat may also occur where brackish waters has become impounded behind artificial barriers (usually as a result of construction), coastal lakes with natural outlets to the sea that experience some tidal exchange at high tide or during storm conditions, and other lakes that are isolated from the sea but which are slightly saline as a result of percolation of sea water or inputs from salt spray and storm waves or surges. There is no evidence of any significant loss of coastal lagoon habitat range in the last 100 years. The most damaging activity has been the deliberate drainage of the largest lagoon (Tacumshin Lake, Co. Wexford) for agricultural reasons and a smaller lagoon (Shannon airport, Co. Clare) for safety reasons. Further loss of habitat has occurred as a result of natural silting-up. The quality of the habitat has been impacted by water pollution in the form of excessive nutrient enrichment mostly from agricultural sources, but also due to domestic effluents due to an increase in urbanization, commercial and industrial activities adjacent to lagoons. An example of this habitat includes Farrihy Lough situated on the western coast of County Clare. 35
The County Clare Wetlands Survey Patrick Crushell & Peter Foss 2008 ___________________________________________________________ Dune slacks Annex 1 habitat under the EU Habitats Directive. Dune slacks are nutrient-enriched wet areas that occur in hollows or depressions either behind or between dune ridges, or in blow-outs in sand dunes. The water table is either at, or close to the surface for much of the year and dune slacks may or may not dry out in summer. Vegetation typically comprises Creeping Willow (Salix repens), Common Reed (Phragmites australis), Sedges, Rushes and broadleaved wetland herbs. A range of orchids are common found. Dune slacks that remain permanently wet are characterised by Mare's-tail (Hippuris vulgaris) and Water Horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile). This habitat is under serious threat from a range of impacts including overgrazing, undergrazing, over-stabilisation of dunes, water abstraction and drainage, golf course developments, forestry and coastal protection works. Few examples occur in Clare, they have been reported from Carrowmore Dunes SAC. 36
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Appendix 8. The County Clare Wetlan
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Report Cover Vol I - Clare County Library

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