scotch corner landfill, derryarrily, … · habitat assessment was carried out at the sites...

SCOTCH CORNER LANDFILL, DERRYARRILY, COUNTY

MONAGHAN

MONITORING OF STREAM/ RIVER BIOLOGICAL WATER QUALITY

May 2016

REPORT PREPARED FOR MONAGHAN COUNTY COUNCIL

by

Bill Quirke BSc, MSc, MCIEEM & Helena Twomey BA(Mod), PhD

Conservation Services, Tullaha, Glenflesk, Killarney, Co. Kerry Tel/Fax 064 6630130 e-mail [email protected]

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Client: Monaghan County Council

Project Biological monitoring of water quality in the vicinity of Scotch Corner Landfill, Derryarrily, Co. Monaghan

Report No: 16113/F

Date 15/06/16

Status Final

Prepared by Helena Twomey BA(Mod) , PhD

Reviewed by Bill Quirke BSc, MSc, MCIEEM

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CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 4

2 METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................ 5

2.1 SITE SELECTION................................................................................ 5 2.2 HABITAT ASSESSMENT .................................................................... 5 2.3 INVERTEBRATE SAMPLING AND WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................. 6

3 RESULTS ................................................................................................... 8

3.1 SITE S8 ............................................................................................... 8

3.2 SITE S7 ............................................................................................... 9 3.3 SITE 0155 .......................................................................................... 10 3.4 WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT DATA 1997 – 2016 ..................... 11

4 CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................ 12 5 REFERENCES ......................................................................................... 13

APPENDIX 1 HABITAT ASSESSMENT AT SAMPLING SITES

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1. INTRODUCTION

Conservation Services, Ecological & Environmental Consultants have been

commissioned by Monaghan County Council to carry out biological sampling

and water quality assessment at two sites on the stream/drain adjacent to the

landfill at Scotch Corner, Derryarrily, County Monaghan, upstream and

downstream of the landfill, and at EPA Site 6/F/01/0155. Sampling was carried

out on 25 May 2016.

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2. METHODOLOGY

2.1. SITE SELECTION

Sampling was carried out at three sites specified by Monaghan County Council

(see Map 1). These sites were most recently assessed by Conservation

Services in June 2015 (Conservation Services, 2015).

Site locations were recorded using GPS.

2.2. HABITAT ASSESSMENT

Habitat assessment was carried out at the sites selected for invertebrate/water

quality assessment. The site was assessed in terms of:

Stream width and depth

Substrate type, listing substrate fractions in order of dominance, i.e. large

rocks, cobble, gravel, sand, mud etc.

Flow type, listing percentage of riffle, glide and pool in the sampling area

Instream vegetation, listing plant species occurring and their percentage

coverage of the stream bottom at the sampling site

Dominant bankside vegetation, listing the main species overhanging the

stream

Estimated summer cover by bankside vegetation, giving percentage shade

of the sampling site

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Rating of the site as habitat for trout adult, nursery and spawning on a scale

of Poor/Fair/Good/Very Good/Excellent. This rating assesses the physical

suitability of the habitat; the presence/absence/density of salmonids at the

site will also depend on present and historical water quality and accessibility

of the site to fish.

2.3. INVERTEBRATE SAMPLING AND WATER QUALITY

ASSESSMENT

A five-minute kick and stone wash sample was taken at each sampling site.

Each sample was retained in a large plastic bag at the sampling site. Sample

processing and preservation was carried out under laboratory conditions within

24 hours of sampling. Mud was removed from each sample by sieving under

running water through a 500μ sieve. Sieved samples were then live sorted for

30 minutes in a white plastic sorting tray under a bench lamp (ISO 5667-3:1994)

and if necessary using a magnifying lens. Macroinvertebrates were stored in

70% alcohol. Preserved invertebrates were identified to the level required for

the EPA Q-rating method (McGarrigle et al, 2002) using high-power and low-

power binocular microscopes when necessary. The preserved samples were

archived for future examination or verification. Based on the relative abundance

of indicator species, a biotic index (Q-rating) was determined for each site in

accordance with the biological assessment procedure used by the

Environmental Protection Agency (McGarrigle et al, 2002) and more detailed

unpublished methodology (McGarrigle, Clabby and Lucey pers. comm.)

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Biotic Index

Water Framework Directive Ecological Status

Quality Status

Q5 High

Unpolluted Waters Q4-5 High

Q4 Good

Q3-4 Moderate Slightly Polluted Waters

Q3 Poor Moderately Polluted Waters

Q2-3 Poor

Q2 Bad Seriously Polluted Waters

Q1-2 Bad

Q1 Bad

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MAP 1 LOCATION OF BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT SITES Locations shown are approximate; for exact locations, see Grid References in text

SITE 0155

LANDFILL SITE

SITE S7

SITE S8

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3. RESULTS

Habitat at each site is described in Appendix 1.

3.1. SITE S8

The invertebrate community continues to merit a Q-rating of Q2-3, indicating

moderately polluted conditions.

INDICATOR GROUP TAXON 2016

Group A - Pollution Sensitive None recorded

Group B - Less Pollution Sensitive

Limnephilidae 2

Group C - Pollution Tolerant Gammarus pulex c.500

Chironomidae (ex. Chironomus ) 3

Limoniidae 2

Pediciidae 6

Hydraena sp. 1

Group D - Very Pollution Tolerant

Haemopis sanguisuga 1

Asellus aquaticus 11

Group E - Most Pollution Tolerant

Tubificidae 5

Not assigned to indicator group

Lumbricidae 1

Naididae 1

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3.2. SITE S7

The invertebrate community at this site continues to merit a Q-rating of Q2-3,

indicating moderately polluted conditions.




Limnephilidae 1


Chironomidae (ex. Chironomus ) 1


Helobdella stagnalis 6

Asellus aquaticus 15


None recorded

Not assigned to indicator group

Lumbriculidae 1

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3.3. SITE 0155

The invertebrate community at this site merits a Q-rating of Q3, indicating

moderately polluted conditions.




Agapetus sp. 116

Limnephilidae 1


Baetis rhodani 2

Elmidae 25

Chironomidae 3

Pediciidae 1


None recorded


None recorded

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3.4. WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT DATA 1997 – 2016

S8 S7 0155 0180

EPA 1997 - - 2-3 3

CS 1998 - - 3 -

EPA 2000 - - 2-3 3

CS 2002 - 1/0 - -

CS May 2003 - 2-3 3 3

EPA Aug 2003 - - 2-3 3

CS 2005 - 2-3 3 3-4

CS 2006 - 2-3 3 3-4

CS 2007 - 2 3 3

CS 2008 - 2-3 3 3-4

CS 2009 - 2-3 3 3-4

CS 2010 2-3 2-3 3 -

CS 2011 2 2-3 3 -

CS 2012 2 2-3 3 -

CS 2013 2-3 2-3 3 -

CS 2014 2-3 2-3 3 -

CS 2015 2-3 2-3 3 -

CS 2016 2-3 2-3 3 -

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MAP 2 Q-RATINGS AT BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT SITES Locations shown are approximate; for exact locations, see Grid References in text

3

LANDFILL SITE

2-3

2-3

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4. CONCLUSIONS

The drain which flows adjacent to the landfill is classified as moderately polluted

(Q2-3) at Site S8 upstream of the landfill, as in the previous three years. Site

S7 downstream of the landfill remains classified as moderately polluted Q2-3 as

in the previous eight years. Site 0155, which is c.3km downstream of the landfill,

is moderately polluted (Q3) as in the previous eleven years.

The results of the biological assessment do not indicate any significant impact

from the landfill on the water quality of the stream.

Signed on behalf of Conservation Services

Helena Twomey BA(Mod.) PhD

15 June 2016

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5. REFERENCES

Conservation Services (2015) Biological Monitoring of Surface Water Quality

in the Vicinity of Scotch Corner Landfill, Derryarrily, County Monaghan. Report

carried out for Monaghan County Council.

McGarrigle, M.L. et al (2002) Water Quality in Ireland 1998-2000.

Environmental Protection Agency.

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APPENDIX 1

HABITAT ASSESSMENT AT SAMPLING SITES

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Site Code S8

Site Location Just u/s landfill

Grid Reference H 74893 25768

Site Photograph

Width (m) 0.75-1

Depth (cm) 2-5

Substrate (order of dominance)

1. Mud 2. Gravel 3. Cobble

Flow Type Glide 95% Riffle 5%

Instream Vegetation Callitriche sp. 10% Glyceria sp. 5% Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum agg. <5%

Dominant Bankside Vegetation

Grass, Bramble, Nettle

Estimated Summer Cover of Stream by Bankside Vegetation

<5%

Salmonid Adult Habitat None

Salmonid Nursery Habitat None

Salmonid Spawning Habitat

None

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Site Code S7

Site Location Just d/s landfill


Site Photograph

Width (m) 1-1.5

Depth (cm) 5


1. Cobble 2. Gravel 3. Mud 4. Sand

Flow Type Riffle 5% Glide 95%

Instream Vegetation Glyceria maxima <1% Callitriche sp. <1%


Grass, Conifer, Hawthorn, Sycamore


20%

Salmonid Adult Habitat Poor

Salmonid Nursery Habitat Fair


None-Poor

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Site Code Site 0155

Site Location South Bridge Dunfelimy


Site Photograph

Width (m) 3

Depth (cm) 8-15


1. Cobble 2. Gravel 3. Mud

Flow Type Riffle 60% Glide 40%

Instream Vegetation Bryophytes <5%


Hawthorn


15%

Salmonid Adult Habitat Poor

Salmonid Nursery Habitat Good-Fair


Poor

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scotch corner landfill, derryarrily, … · habitat assessment was carried out at the sites...

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