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Ecosystem Condition Accounts - Rivers and Lakes 2021

Condition Accounts by Catchment

Nearly 80% of monitored river water bodies in Erriff-Clew Bay and Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare catchments were in Good or High ecological status (2016-2021)

CSO statistical release, 23 August 2023, 11am

A CSO Frontier Series Output

This publication is categorised as a CSO Frontier Series Output. Particular care must be taken when interpreting the statistics in this release as it may use new methods which are under development and/or data sources which may be incomplete, for example new administrative data sources.

Condition accounts by catchment

Ireland has 46 catchments used as the main management units in the national River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs). A catchment is an area of land draining towards a river, lake, or other body of water. Ecosystem condition accounts were compiled for river water bodies (Tables 3.1a-3.1d) and lake water bodies (Tables 3.2a-3.2d) based on data reported by the EPA for the first (2010-2015) and second (2016-2021) cycles of the RBMPs. The change in indicator presented in each of these tables represents the magnitude and direction of the change between the opening value and closing value for each table.

Rivers

The total number of river water bodies monitored in both 2010-2015 and 2016-2021 was 2,334, and at catchment level the number varied from nine water bodies in the Upper Shannon (26E) catchment to 136 water bodies in the Blackwater (Munster) catchment.

The number of monitored river water bodies achieving Good or High status per catchment in the 2016-2021 period ranged from one water body in the Upper Shannon (26G) catchment to 92 in the Blackwater (Munster) catchment. The catchments with the lowest percentage of river water bodies in Good or High ecological status were the Nanny-Delvin at 9% and Upper Shannon (26G) at 10%, while the Erriff-Clew Bay and Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare catchments both had 79% of their monitored water bodies in Good or High ecological status.

The Upper Shannon (26G) was the catchment with the largest negative percentage change in number of Good or High status water bodies, going from 40% (four water bodies) to 10% (one water body), a 75% decrease. The Owenavorragh catchment saw the largest percentage increase, from 6% (one water body) to 35% (six water bodies), a five-fold increase (Table 3.1a, Table 3.1c).

The total length of river water bodies monitored in both 2010-2015 and 2016-2021 was 57,702km, with total length per catchment ranging from 124km for the Upper Shannon (26E) to 2,846km for the Moy and Killala Bay catchment.

The Upper Shannon (26G) catchment had the largest percentage decrease in length of river water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status, decreasing from 31% (73km) in 2010-2015 to 5% (12km) in 2016-2021, a decrease of around 75%. The Owenavorragh catchment had the biggest percentage increase, from 6% (19km) to 50% (158km), an increase of around 700% (Table 3.1b, Table 3.1d).

The catchments with the largest positive change in the condition indicator based on number of river water bodies in Good or High ecological status were the Upper Shannon (26E), Owenavorragh, and Slaney & Wexford Harbour catchments, while the Galway Bay North, Upper Shannon (26G) and Suir catchments had the largest negative change (Figure 3.1, Table 3.1a).

X-axis label	Change
Upper Shannon 26E	0.33
Owenavorragh 11	0.29
Slaney & Wexford Harbour 12	0.24
Galway Bay South East 29	0.15
Lough Neagh & Lower Bann 03	0.13
Liffey and Dublin Bay 09	0.12
Tralee Bay-Feale 23	0.12
Corrib 30	0.08
Donegal Bay North 37	0.08
Ovoca-Vartry 10	0.05
Erne 36	0.02
Boyne 07	0
Upper Shannon 26A	0
Erriff-Clew Bay 32	-0.02
Lee, Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay 19	-0.02
Blackwater (Munster) 18	-0.03
Donagh-Moville 40	-0.04
Lower Shannon 25A	-0.04
Nanny-Delvin 08	-0.04
Ballyteigue-Bannow 13	-0.06
Gweebarra-Sheephaven 38	-0.06
Moy & Killala Bay 34	-0.06
Upper Shannon 26B	-0.06
Upper Shannon 26C	-0.06
Barrow 14	-0.07
Colligan-Mahon 17	-0.07
Foyle 01	-0.07
Upper Shannon 26F	-0.07
Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare 21	-0.09
Laune-Maine-Dingle Bay 22	-0.09
Newry, Fane, Glyde and Dee 06	-0.09
Upper Shannon 26D	-0.1
Nore 15	-0.11
Sligo Bay & Drowse 35	-0.12
Bandon-Ilen 20	-0.13
Lough Swilly 39	-0.13
Mal Bay 28	-0.13
Lower Shannon 25B	-0.16
Lower Shannon 25C	-0.16
Blacksod-Broadhaven 33	-0.17
Lower Shannon 25D	-0.18
Shannon Estuary South 24	-0.18
Shannon Estuary North 27	-0.19
Suir 16	-0.22
Upper Shannon 26G	-0.3
Galway Bay North 31	-0.33

Table 3.1a Ecosystem condition accounts for rivers 2010-2021 - number of water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status by catchment

Table 3.1a Ecosystem condition accounts for rivers 2010-2021 - number of monitored water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status by catchment^{1, 2}
	Number of river water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status per catchment		Reference level values		Indicator³values (rescaled)
Catchment	Opening value (2010-2015)	Closing value (2016-2021)	Upper level (all reaching Good or High ecological status)	Lower level (none reaching Good or High ecological status)	Opening value (2010-2015)	Closing value (2016-2021)	Change in indicator	Change in indicator (%)
Ballyteigue-Bannow 13	8	7	17	0	0.47	0.41	-0.06	-12.5
Bandon-Ilen 20	49	42	54	0	0.91	0.78	-0.13	-14.2
Barrow 14	47	39	109	0	0.43	0.36	-0.07	-16.9
Blacksod-Broadhaven 33	30	24	35	0	0.86	0.69	-0.17	-20.0
Blackwater (Munster) 18	96	92	136	0	0.71	0.68	-0.03	-4.2
Boyne 07	27	27	90	0	0.30	0.30	0.00	0.0
Colligan-Mahon 17	10	9	15	0	0.67	0.60	-0.07	-10.0
Corrib 30	47	53	77	0	0.61	0.69	0.08	12.8
Donagh-Moville 40	7	6	23	0	0.30	0.26	-0.04	-14.1
Donegal Bay North 37	20	23	38	0	0.53	0.61	0.08	15.0
Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare 21	49	44	56	0	0.88	0.79	-0.09	-10.2
Erne 36	42	44	90	0	0.47	0.49	0.02	4.7
Erriff-Clew Bay 32	42	41	52	0	0.81	0.79	-0.02	-2.5
Foyle 01	7	5	28	0	0.25	0.18	-0.07	-28.4
Galway Bay North 31	13	7	18	0	0.72	0.39	-0.33	-46.1
Galway Bay South East 29	9	13	26	0	0.35	0.50	0.15	44.5
Gweebarra-Sheephaven 38	32	29	52	0	0.62	0.56	-0.06	-9.3
Laune-Maine-Dingle Bay 22	55	49	68	0	0.81	0.72	-0.09	-10.9
Lee, Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay 19	50	49	66	0	0.76	0.74	-0.02	-2.1
Liffey and Dublin Bay 09	19	26	59	0	0.32	0.44	0.12	37.0
Lough Neagh & Lower Bann 03	8	10	16	0	0.50	0.63	0.13	25.0
Lough Swilly 39	22	17	39	0	0.56	0.44	-0.13	-22.7
Lower Shannon 25A	19	17	45	0	0.42	0.38	-0.04	-10.4
Lower Shannon 25B	17	12	32	0	0.53	0.38	-0.16	-29.4
Lower Shannon 25C	38	27	69	0	0.55	0.39	-0.16	-29.0
Lower Shannon 25D	27	20	39	0	0.69	0.51	-0.18	-25.9
Mal Bay 28	21	17	31	0	0.68	0.55	-0.13	-19.1
Moy & Killala Bay 34	75	69	97	0	0.77	0.71	-0.06	-8.0
Nanny-Delvin 08	3	2	23	0	0.13	0.09	-0.04	-33.1
Newry, Fane, Glyde and Dee 06	16	12	47	0	0.34	0.26	-0.09	-25.0
Nore 15	50	40	88	0	0.57	0.45	-0.11	-19.9
Ovoca-Vartry 10	38	41	60	0	0.63	0.68	0.05	7.9
Owenavorragh 11	1	6	17	0	0.06	0.35	0.29	498.3
Shannon Estuary North 27	30	20	53	0	0.57	0.38	-0.19	-33.4
Shannon Estuary South 24	21	11	57	0	0.37	0.19	-0.18	-47.6
Slaney & Wexford Harbour 12	37	59	93	0	0.40	0.63	0.24	59.3
Sligo Bay & Drowse 35	43	36	58	0	0.74	0.62	-0.12	-16.2
Suir 16	76	48	128	0	0.59	0.38	-0.22	-36.9
Tralee Bay-Feale 23	33	39	51	0	0.65	0.76	0.12	18.2
Upper Shannon 26A	14	14	19	0	0.74	0.74	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26B	11	10	18	0	0.61	0.56	-0.06	-9.0
Upper Shannon 26C	23	20	49	0	0.47	0.41	-0.06	-13.0
Upper Shannon 26D	31	26	48	0	0.65	0.54	-0.10	-16.1
Upper Shannon 26E	1	4	9	0	0.11	0.44	0.33	300.0
Upper Shannon 26F	8	6	29	0	0.28	0.21	-0.07	-25.0
Upper Shannon 26G	4	1	10	0	0.40	0.10	-0.30	-75.0
Total	1,326	1,213	2,334	0
¹ Accounts are for river water bodies monitored in both the first (2010-2015) and second (2016-2021) cycles of the River Basin Management Plans
² Figures presented in this table are rounded. Percentages and indicator values are calculated using unrounded figures
³ Indicator = (V-V_L)/(V_H-V_L), where V = variable, V_H is the high condition score, and V_L is the low condition score

Open in Excel: Ecosystem Condition Accounts - Rivers and Lakes 2021 Table 3.1a (XLS 15KB)

Table 3.1b Ecosystem condition accounts for rivers 2010-2021 - length of water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status by catchment

Table 3.1b Ecosystem condition accounts for rivers 2010-2021 - length of water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status by catchment^{1, 2}
	Length of river water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status (km)		Reference level values (km)		Indicator³values (rescaled)
Catchment	Opening value (2010-2015)	Closing value (2016-2021)	Upper level (all reaching Good or High ecological status)	Lower level (none reaching Good or High ecological status)	Opening value (2010-2015)	Closing value (2016-2021)	Change in indicator	Change in indicator (%)
Ballyteigue-Bannow 13	195	158	350	0	0.56	0.45	-0.11	-19.0
Bandon-Ilen 20	1,196	990	1,332	0	0.90	0.74	-0.15	-17.2
Barrow 14	747	660	1,808	0	0.41	0.37	-0.05	-11.6
Blacksod-Broadhaven 33	1,257	1,004	1,391	0	0.90	0.72	-0.18	-20.1
Blackwater (Munster) 18	1,974	1,867	2,753	0	0.72	0.68	-0.04	-5.4
Boyne 07	589	590	1,919	0	0.31	0.31	0.00	0.2
Colligan-Mahon 17	188	180	291	0	0.65	0.62	-0.03	-4.3
Corrib 30	1,431	1,629	2,191	0	0.65	0.74	0.09	13.8
Donagh-Moville 40	187	151	543	0	0.34	0.28	-0.07	-19.3
Donegal Bay North 37	714	867	1,407	0	0.51	0.62	0.11	21.4
Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare 21	2,182	2,001	2,461	0	0.89	0.81	-0.07	-8.3
Erne 36	1,262	1,383	2,555	0	0.49	0.54	0.05	9.6
Erriff-Clew Bay 32	1,419	1,349	1,850	0	0.77	0.73	-0.04	-4.9
Foyle 01	194	184	947	0	0.20	0.19	-0.01	-5.2
Galway Bay North 31	551	300	752	0	0.73	0.40	-0.33	-45.6
Galway Bay South East 29	229	342	573	0	0.40	0.60	0.20	49.3
Gweebarra-Sheephaven 38	943	869	1,570	0	0.60	0.55	-0.05	-7.8
Laune-Maine-Dingle Bay 22	1,546	1,361	1,916	0	0.81	0.71	-0.10	-12.0
Lee, Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay 19	1,209	1,176	1,547	0	0.78	0.76	-0.02	-2.7
Liffey and Dublin Bay 09	416	579	1,298	0	0.32	0.45	0.13	39.2
Lough Neagh & Lower Bann 03	157	188	305	0	0.52	0.62	0.10	19.7
Lough Swilly 39	623	426	1,090	0	0.57	0.39	-0.18	-31.6
Lower Shannon 25A	274	307	722	0	0.38	0.42	0.05	12.0
Lower Shannon 25B	252	148	452	0	0.56	0.33	-0.23	-41.3
Lower Shannon 25C	748	526	1,364	0	0.55	0.39	-0.16	-29.7
Lower Shannon 25D	785	525	1,078	0	0.73	0.49	-0.24	-33.1
Mal Bay 28	612	440	866	0	0.71	0.51	-0.20	-28.1
Moy & Killala Bay 34	2,208	1,965	2,846	0	0.78	0.69	-0.09	-11.0
Nanny-Delvin 08	80	31	576	0	0.14	0.05	-0.09	-61.3
Newry, Fane, Glyde and Dee 06	390	317	1,057	0	0.37	0.30	-0.07	-18.7
Nore 15	915	728	1,625	0	0.56	0.45	-0.11	-20.4
Ovoca-Vartry 10	771	809	1,137	0	0.68	0.71	0.03	4.9
Owenavorragh 11	19	158	316	0	0.06	0.50	0.44	731.6
Shannon Estuary North 27	628	458	1,116	0	0.56	0.41	-0.15	-27.1
Shannon Estuary South 24	561	312	1,430	0	0.39	0.22	-0.17	-44.4
Slaney & Wexford Harbour 12	610	1,053	1,675	0	0.36	0.63	0.26	72.6
Sligo Bay & Drowse 35	1,333	1,117	1,942	0	0.69	0.58	-0.11	-16.2
Suir 16	1,907	1,235	2,827	0	0.67	0.44	-0.24	-35.2
Tralee Bay-Feale 23	894	1,032	1,400	0	0.64	0.74	0.10	15.4
Upper Shannon 26A	514	474	682	0	0.75	0.70	-0.06	-7.8
Upper Shannon 26B	266	226	401	0	0.66	0.56	-0.10	-15.0
Upper Shannon 26C	602	518	1,159	0	0.52	0.45	-0.07	-14.0
Upper Shannon 26D	802	707	1,109	0	0.72	0.64	-0.09	-11.8
Upper Shannon 26E	15	88	124	0	0.12	0.70	0.59	486.7
Upper Shannon 26F	259	241	714	0	0.36	0.34	-0.03	-6.9
Upper Shannon 26G	73	12	237	0	0.31	0.05	-0.26	-83.6
Total	34,726	31,683	57,702	0
¹ Accounts are for river water bodies monitored in both the first (2010-2015) and second (2016-2021) cycles of the River Basin Management Plans
² Figures presented in this table are rounded. Percentages and indicator values are calculated using unrounded figures
³ Indicator = (V-V_L)/(V_H-V_L), where V = variable, V_H is the high condition score, and V_L is the low condition score

Open in Excel: Ecosystem Condition Accounts - Rivers and Lakes 2021 Table 3.1b (XLS 16KB)

Table 3.1c Ecosystem condition accounts for rivers 2010-2021 - percent of water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status by catchment

Table 3.1c Ecosystem condition accounts for rivers 2010-2021 - percent of water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status by catchment^{1, 2}
	Number of river water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status per catchment (%)		Reference level values (%)		Indicator³values (rescaled)
Catchment	Opening value (2010-2015)	Closing value (2016-2021)	Upper level (all reaching Good or High ecological status)	Lower level (none reaching Good or High ecological status)	Opening value (2010-2015)	Closing value (2016-2021)	Change in indicator	Change in indicator (%)
Ballyteigue-Bannow 13	47.1	41.2	100	0	0.47	0.41	-0.06	-12.5
Bandon-Ilen 20	90.7	77.8	100	0	0.91	0.78	-0.13	-14.3
Barrow 14	43.1	35.8	100	0	0.43	0.36	-0.07	-17.0
Blacksod-Broadhaven 33	85.7	68.6	100	0	0.86	0.69	-0.17	-20.0
Blackwater (Munster) 18	70.6	67.6	100	0	0.71	0.68	-0.03	-4.2
Boyne 07	30.0	30.0	100	0	0.30	0.30	0.00	0.0
Colligan-Mahon 17	66.7	60.0	100	0	0.67	0.60	-0.07	-10.0
Corrib 30	61.0	68.8	100	0	0.61	0.69	0.08	12.8
Donagh-Moville 40	30.4	26.1	100	0	0.30	0.26	-0.04	-14.3
Donegal Bay North 37	52.6	60.5	100	0	0.53	0.61	0.08	15.0
Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare 21	87.5	78.6	100	0	0.88	0.79	-0.09	-10.2
Erne 36	46.7	48.9	100	0	0.47	0.49	0.02	4.8
Erriff-Clew Bay 32	80.8	78.8	100	0	0.81	0.79	-0.02	-2.4
Foyle 01	25.0	17.9	100	0	0.25	0.18	-0.07	-28.6
Galway Bay North 31	72.2	38.9	100	0	0.72	0.39	-0.33	-46.2
Galway Bay South East 29	34.6	50.0	100	0	0.35	0.50	0.15	44.4
Gweebarra-Sheephaven 38	61.5	55.8	100	0	0.62	0.56	-0.06	-9.4
Laune-Maine-Dingle Bay 22	80.9	72.1	100	0	0.81	0.72	-0.09	-10.9
Lee, Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay 19	75.8	74.2	100	0	0.76	0.74	-0.02	-2.0
Liffey and Dublin Bay 09	32.2	44.1	100	0	0.32	0.44	0.12	36.8
Lough Neagh & Lower Bann 03	50.0	62.5	100	0	0.50	0.63	0.13	25.0
Lough Swilly 39	56.4	43.6	100	0	0.56	0.44	-0.13	-22.7
Lower Shannon 25A	42.2	37.8	100	0	0.42	0.38	-0.04	-10.5
Lower Shannon 25B	53.1	37.5	100	0	0.53	0.38	-0.16	-29.4
Lower Shannon 25C	55.1	39.1	100	0	0.55	0.39	-0.16	-28.9
Lower Shannon 25D	69.2	51.3	100	0	0.69	0.51	-0.18	-25.9
Mal Bay 28	67.7	54.8	100	0	0.68	0.55	-0.13	-19.0
Moy & Killala Bay 34	77.3	71.1	100	0	0.77	0.71	-0.06	-8.0
Nanny-Delvin 08	13.0	8.7	100	0	0.13	0.09	-0.04	-33.3
Newry, Fane, Glyde and Dee 06	34.0	25.5	100	0	0.34	0.26	-0.09	-25.0
Nore 15	56.8	45.5	100	0	0.57	0.45	-0.11	-20.0
Ovoca-Vartry 10	63.3	68.3	100	0	0.63	0.68	0.05	7.9
Owenavorragh 11	5.9	35.3	100	0	0.06	0.35	0.29	500.0
Shannon Estuary North 27	56.6	37.7	100	0	0.57	0.38	-0.19	-33.3
Shannon Estuary South 24	36.8	19.3	100	0	0.37	0.19	-0.18	-47.6
Slaney & Wexford Harbour 12	39.8	63.4	100	0	0.40	0.63	0.24	59.5
Sligo Bay & Drowse 35	74.1	62.1	100	0	0.74	0.62	-0.12	-16.3
Suir 16	59.4	37.5	100	0	0.59	0.38	-0.22	-36.8
Tralee Bay-Feale 23	64.7	76.5	100	0	0.65	0.76	0.12	18.2
Upper Shannon 26A	73.7	73.7	100	0	0.74	0.74	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26B	61.1	55.6	100	0	0.61	0.56	-0.06	-9.1
Upper Shannon 26C	46.9	40.8	100	0	0.47	0.41	-0.06	-13.0
Upper Shannon 26D	64.6	54.2	100	0	0.65	0.54	-0.10	-16.1
Upper Shannon 26E	11.1	44.4	100	0	0.11	0.44	0.33	300.0
Upper Shannon 26F	27.6	20.7	100	0	0.28	0.21	-0.07	-25.0
Upper Shannon 26G	40.0	10.0	100	0	0.40	0.10	-0.30	-75.0
¹ Accounts are for river water bodies monitored in both the first (2010-2015) and second (2016-2021) cycles of the River Basin Management Plans
² Figures presented in this table are rounded. Percentages and indicator values are calculated using unrounded figures
³ Indicator = (V-V_L)/(V_H-V_L), where V = variable, V_H is the high condition score, and V_L is the low condition score

Open in Excel: Ecosystem Condition Accounts - Rivers and Lakes 2021 Table 3.1c (XLS 16KB)

Table 3.1d Ecosystem condition accounts for rivers 2010-2021 - percent of total length of water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status by catchment

Table 3.1d Ecosystem condition accounts for rivers 2010-2021 - percent of total length of water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status by catchment^{1, 2}
	Length of river water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status per catchment (%)		Reference level values (%)		Indicator³values (rescaled)
Catchment	Opening value (2010-2015)	Closing value (2016-2021)	Upper level (all reaching Good or High ecological status)	Lower level (none reaching Good or High ecological status)	Opening value (2010-2015)	Closing value (2016-2021)	Change in indicator	Change in indicator³ (%)
Ballyteigue-Bannow 13	55.7	45.1	100	0	0.56	0.45	-0.11	-19.0
Bandon-Ilen 20	89.8	74.3	100	0	0.90	0.74	-0.15	-17.2
Barrow 14	41.3	36.5	100	0	0.41	0.37	-0.05	-11.6
Blacksod-Broadhaven 33	90.4	72.2	100	0	0.90	0.72	-0.18	-20.1
Blackwater (Munster) 18	71.9	68.0	100	0	0.72	0.68	-0.04	-5.4
Boyne 07	30.7	30.8	100	0	0.31	0.31	0.00	0.2
Colligan-Mahon 17	64.6	61.9	100	0	0.65	0.62	-0.03	-4.3
Corrib 30	65.5	74.6	100	0	0.66	0.75	0.09	13.8
Donagh-Moville 40	34.4	27.8	100	0	0.34	0.28	-0.07	-19.3
Donegal Bay North 37	50.7	61.6	100	0	0.51	0.62	0.11	21.4
Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare 21	88.7	81.3	100	0	0.89	0.81	-0.07	-8.3
Erne 36	49.4	54.2	100	0	0.49	0.54	0.05	9.6
Erriff-Clew Bay 32	76.7	72.9	100	0	0.77	0.73	-0.04	-4.9
Foyle 01	20.5	19.4	100	0	0.20	0.19	-0.01	-5.2
Galway Bay North 31	73.3	39.9	100	0	0.73	0.40	-0.33	-45.6
Galway Bay South East 29	40.0	59.7	100	0	0.40	0.60	0.20	49.3
Gweebarra-Sheephaven 38	60.1	55.4	100	0	0.60	0.55	-0.05	-7.8
Laune-Maine-Dingle Bay 22	80.7	71.0	100	0	0.81	0.71	-0.10	-12.0
Lee, Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay 19	78.2	76.0	100	0	0.78	0.76	-0.02	-2.7
Liffey and Dublin Bay 09	32.1	44.6	100	0	0.32	0.45	0.13	39.2
Lough Neagh & Lower Bann 03	51.5	61.6	100	0	0.51	0.62	0.10	19.7
Lough Swilly 39	57.2	39.1	100	0	0.57	0.39	-0.18	-31.6
Lower Shannon 25A	37.8	42.3	100	0	0.38	0.42	0.05	12.0
Lower Shannon 25B	56.0	32.9	100	0	0.56	0.33	-0.23	-41.3
Lower Shannon 25C	54.8	38.6	100	0	0.55	0.39	-0.16	-29.7
Lower Shannon 25D	72.8	48.7	100	0	0.73	0.49	-0.24	-33.1
Mal Bay 28	70.7	50.8	100	0	0.71	0.51	-0.20	-28.1
Moy & Killala Bay 34	77.7	69.1	100	0	0.78	0.69	-0.09	-11.0
Nanny-Delvin 08	13.9	5.4	100	0	0.14	0.05	-0.09	-61.3
Newry, Fane, Glyde and Dee 06	36.9	30.0	100	0	0.37	0.30	-0.07	-18.7
Nore 15	56.3	44.8	100	0	0.56	0.45	-0.12	-20.4
Ovoca-Vartry 10	67.8	71.1	100	0	0.68	0.71	0.03	4.9
Owenavorragh 11	6.0	50.0	100	0	0.06	0.50	0.44	731.6
Shannon Estuary North 27	56.4	41.1	100	0	0.56	0.41	-0.15	-27.1
Shannon Estuary South 24	39.2	21.8	100	0	0.39	0.22	-0.17	-44.4
Slaney & Wexford Harbour 12	36.4	62.9	100	0	0.36	0.63	0.26	72.6
Sligo Bay & Drowse 35	68.6	57.5	100	0	0.69	0.58	-0.11	-16.2
Suir 16	67.2	43.5	100	0	0.67	0.44	-0.24	-35.2
Tralee Bay-Feale 23	63.9	73.7	100	0	0.64	0.74	0.10	15.4
Upper Shannon 26A	75.4	69.5	100	0	0.75	0.70	-0.06	-7.8
Upper Shannon 26B	66.5	56.5	100	0	0.67	0.56	-0.10	-15.0
Upper Shannon 26C	51.9	44.7	100	0	0.52	0.45	-0.07	-14.0
Upper Shannon 26D	72.3	63.8	100	0	0.72	0.64	-0.09	-11.8
Upper Shannon 26E	12.3	72.1	100	0	0.12	0.72	0.60	486.7
Upper Shannon 26F	36.2	33.7	100	0	0.36	0.34	-0.03	-6.9
Upper Shannon 26G	30.8	5.1	100	0	0.31	0.05	-0.26	-83.6
¹ Accounts are for river water bodies monitored in both the first (2010-2015) and second (2016-2021) cycles of the River Basin Management Plans
² Figures presented in this table are rounded. Percentages and indicator values are calculated using unrounded figures
³ Indicator = (V-V_L)/(V_H-V_L), where V = variable, V_H is the high condition score, and V_L is the low condition score

Open in Excel: Ecosystem Condition Accounts - Rivers and Lakes 2021 Table 3.1d (XLS 16KB)

Lakes

The total number of lake water bodies monitored in both 2010-2015 and 2016-2021 was 222, with 37 of the 46 catchments having at least one water body monitored in both assessment periods. Five catchments had only one lake water body that was monitored in both periods (Colligan-Mahon, Donagh-Moville, Donegal Bay North, Lower Shannon (25D), and Upper Shannon (26D)). The catchment with the highest number of monitored lake water bodies was the Erne, with around 18% of the total, at 40 water bodies.

Five catchments with lake water bodies monitored in both assessment periods had no water bodies achieving Good or High status in either period (Colligan-Mahon, Tralee Bay-Feale, Lower Shannon (25C), Upper Shannon (26A), Upper Shannon (26B)). Two catchments (Lough Neagh & Lower Bann, and Newry, Fane, Glyde and Dee) went from one water body achieving Good or High ecological status to none, a 100% decrease. The Blacksod-Broadhaven and Mal Bay catchments both saw a decrease of 50% (from two water bodies to one water body).

Four catchments (Donegal Bay North, Lee, Cork Harbour & Youghal Bay, Suir, and Upper Shannon (26D)) increased from no lake water bodies to one in Good or High status.The largest percentage increase was in the Galway Bay South East catchment, which went from around 33% (one water body) to 100% (three water bodies) at Good or High ecological status, a 200% increase (Figure 3.2, Table 3.2a, Table 3.2c).

The total area of lake water bodies monitored in both 2010-2015 and 2016-2021 was over 96,000 hectares, with the area per catchment ranging from 27 hectares in the Colligan-Mahon catchment, to 26,889 hectares in the Corrib catchment. The biggest decrease in the area of lake water bodies in Good or High ecological status was seen in Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare, with a drop from 1,619 to 587 hectares, a decrease of about 64% (1,032 hectares). Very large percentage increases in the area of lake water bodies in Good or High ecological status were seen in the Liffey and Dublin Bay catchment (an increase of nearly 2,000 hectares) and the Upper Shannon (26E) catchment (an increase of nearly 10,000 hectares). In each case, the large increase was due to the change in ecological status of a single lake water body (Table 3.2b, Table 3.2d).

X-axis label	Change
Donegal Bay North 37	1
Upper Shannon 26D	1
Galway Bay South East 29	0.67
Ovoca-Vartry 10	0.4
Lee, Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay 19	0.33
Suir 16	0.33
Sligo Bay & Drowse 35	0.25
Moy & Killala Bay 34	0.17
Laune-Maine-Dingle Bay 22	0.14
Corrib 30	0.08
Erne 36	-0.03
Boyne 07	-0.13
Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare 21	-0.13
Erriff-Clew Bay 32	-0.13
Newry, Fane, Glyde and Dee 06	-0.2
Blacksod-Broadhaven 33	-0.25
Mal Bay 28	-0.25
Lough Neagh & Lower Bann 03	-0.5

Table 3.2a Ecosystem condition accounts for lakes 2010-2021 - number of water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status by catchment

Table 3.2a Ecosystem condition accounts for lakes 2010-2021 - number of water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status by catchment^{1, 2}
	Number of lake water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status per catchment		Reference level values		Indicator³values (rescaled)
Catchment	Opening value (2010-2015)	Closing value (2016-2021)	Upper level (all reaching Good or High ecological status)	Lower level (none reaching Good or High ecological status)	Opening value (2010-2015)	Closing value (2016-2021)	Change in indicator	Change in indicator (%)
Bandon-Ilen 20	1	1	6	0	0.17	0.17	0.00	0.0
Blacksod-Broadhaven 33	2	1	4	0	0.50	0.25	-0.25	-50.0
Boyne 07	3	2	8	0	0.38	0.25	-0.13	-33.3
Colligan-Mahon 17	0	0	1	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Corrib 30	8	9	12	0	0.67	0.75	0.08	12.5
Donagh-Moville 40	1	1	1	0	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.0
Donegal Bay North 37	0	1	1	0	0.00	1.00	1.00	..
Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare 21	8	7	8	0	1.00	0.88	-0.13	-12.5
Erne 36	5	4	40	0	0.13	0.10	-0.03	-20.0
Erriff-Clew Bay 32	14	12	16	0	0.88	0.75	-0.13	-14.3
Foyle 01	3	3	3	0	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.0
Galway Bay North 31	9	9	10	0	0.90	0.90	0.00	0.0
Galway Bay South East 29	1	3	3	0	0.33	1.00	0.67	200.0
Gweebarra-Sheephaven 38	12	12	16	0	0.75	0.75	0.00	0.0
Laune-Maine-Dingle Bay 22	5	6	7	0	0.71	0.86	0.14	20.0
Lee, Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay 19	0	1	3	0	0.00	0.33	0.33	..
Liffey and Dublin Bay 09	2	2	3	0	0.67	0.67	0.00	0.0
Lough Neagh & Lower Bann 03	1	0	2	0	0.50	0.00	-0.50	-100.0
Lough Swilly 39	2	2	3	0	0.67	0.67	0.00	0.0
Lower Shannon 25A	2	2	2	0	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.0
Lower Shannon 25C	0	0	3	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Lower Shannon 25D	1	1	1	0	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.0
Mal Bay 28	2	1	4	0	0.50	0.25	-0.25	-50.0
Moy & Killala Bay 34	3	4	6	0	0.50	0.67	0.17	33.3
Newry, Fane, Glyde and Dee 06	1	0	5	0	0.20	0.00	-0.20	-100.0
Ovoca-Vartry 10	2	4	5	0	0.40	0.80	0.40	100.0
Shannon Estuary North 27	6	6	11	0	0.55	0.55	0.00	0.0
Shannon Estuary South 24	1	1	2	0	0.50	0.50	0.00	0.0
Sligo Bay & Drowse 35	3	5	8	0	0.38	0.63	0.25	66.7
Suir 16	0	1	3	0	0.00	0.33	0.33	..
Tralee Bay-Feale 23	0	0	2	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26A	0	0	3	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26B	0	0	5	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26C	1	1	7	0	0.14	0.14	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26D	0	1	1	0	0.00	1.00	1.00	..
Upper Shannon 26E	3	3	4	0	0.75	0.75	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26F	1	1	3	0	0.33	0.33	0.00	0.0
Total	103	107	222	0
¹ Accounts are for lake water bodies monitored in both the first (2010-2015) and second (2016-2021) cycles of the River Basin Management Plans. 37 catchments have lake water bodies that were monitored in both periods
² Figures presented in this table are rounded. Percentages and indicator values are calculated using unrounded figures
³ Indicator = (V-V_L)/(V_H-V_L), where V = variable, V_H is the high condition score, and V_L is the low condition score
.. Not applicable

Open in Excel: Ecosystem Condition Accounts - Rivers and Lakes 2021 Table 3.2a (XLS 15KB)

Table 3.2b Ecosystem condition accounts for lakes 2010-2021 - area of water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status by catchment

Table 3.2b Ecosystem condition accounts for lakes 2010-2021 - area of monitored lake water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status by catchment^{1, 2}
	Area of lake water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status per catchment (hectares)		Reference level values (hectares)		Indicator³values (rescaled)
Catchment	Opening value (2010-2015)	Closing value (2016-2021)	Upper level (all reaching Good or High ecological status)	Lower level (none reaching Good or High ecological status)	Opening value (2010-2015)	Closing value (2016-2021)	Change in indicator	Change in indicator (%)
Bandon-Ilen 20	3	3	58	0	0.05	0.05	0.00	0.0
Blacksod-Broadhaven 33	99	14	1,125	0	0.09	0.01	-0.08	-85.9
Boyne 07	517	101	1,407	0	0.37	0.07	-0.30	-80.5
Colligan-Mahon 17	0	0	27	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Corrib 30	21,533	26,672	26,889	0	0.80	0.99	0.19	23.9
Donagh-Moville 40	40	40	40	0	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.0
Donegal Bay North 37	0	387	387	0	0.00	1.00	1.00	..
Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare 21	1,619	587	1,619	0	1.00	0.36	-0.64	-63.7
Erne 36	74	116	6,254	0	0.01	0.02	0.01	56.8
Erriff-Clew Bay 32	1,406	1,333	1,478	0	0.95	0.90	-0.05	-5.2
Foyle 01	1,044	1,044	1,044	0	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.0
Galway Bay North 31	697	697	723	0	0.96	0.96	0.00	0.0
Galway Bay South East 29	103	787	787	0	0.13	1.00	0.87	664.1
Gweebarra-Sheephaven 38	924	775	1,030	0	0.90	0.75	-0.14	-16.1
Laune-Maine-Dingle Bay 22	2,481	2,974	3,141	0	0.79	0.95	0.16	19.9
Lee, Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay 19	0	490	1,212	0	0.00	0.40	0.40	..
Liffey and Dublin Bay 09	27	1,973	1,981	0	0.01	1.00	0.98	7,207.4
Lough Neagh & Lower Bann 03	15	0	67	0	0.22	0.00	-0.22	-100.0
Lough Swilly 39	248	248	429	0	0.58	0.58	0.00	0.0
Lower Shannon 25A	2,177	2,177	2,177	0	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.0
Lower Shannon 25C	0	0	12,072	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Lower Shannon 25D	355	355	355	0	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.0
Mal Bay 28	151	20	242	0	0.62	0.08	-0.54	-86.8
Moy & Killala Bay 34	4,844	4,967	6,050	0	0.80	0.82	0.02	2.5
Newry, Fane, Glyde and Dee 06	10	0	400	0	0.03	0.00	-0.03	-100.0
Ovoca-Vartry 10	182	320	370	0	0.49	0.86	0.37	75.8
Shannon Estuary North 27	488	488	829	0	0.59	0.59	0.00	0.0
Shannon Estuary South 24	18	18	97	0	0.19	0.19	0.00	0.0
Sligo Bay & Drowse 35	1,370	1,558	3,159	0	0.43	0.49	0.06	13.7
Suir 16	0	12	59	0	0.00	0.20	0.20	..
Tralee Bay-Feale 23	0	0	148	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26A	0	0	3,466	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26B	0	0	2,303	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26C	53	53	1,464	0	0.04	0.04	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26D	0	137	137	0	0.00	1.00	1.00	..
Upper Shannon 26E	333	10,328	10,349	0	0.03	1.00	0.97	3,001.5
Upper Shannon 26F	914	914	2,923	0	0.31	0.31	0.00	0.0
Total	41,725	59,588	96,298	0
1 Accounts are for lake water bodies monitored in both the first (2010-2015) and second (2016-2021) cycles of the River Basin Management Plans. 37 catchments have lake water bodies that were monitored in both periods
² Figures presented in this table are rounded. Percentages and indicator values are calculated using unrounded figures
³ Indicator = (V-V_L)/(V_H-V_L), where V = variable, V_H is the high condition score, and V_L is the low condition score
.. Not applicable

Open in Excel: Ecosystem Condition Accounts - Rivers and Lakes 2021 Table 3.2b (XLS 15KB)

Table 3.2c Ecosystem condition accounts for lakes 2010-2021 - percent of water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status by catchment

Table 3.2c Ecosystem condition accounts for lakes 2010-2021 - percent of monitored lake water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status by catchment^{1, 2}
	Number of lake water bodies per catchment achieving Good or High ecological status (%)		Reference level values (%)		Indicator³values (rescaled)
Catchment	Opening value (2010-2015)	Closing value (2016-2021)	Upper level (all reaching Good or High ecological status)	Lower level (none reaching Good or High ecological status)	Opening value (2010-2015)	Closing value (2016-2021)	Change in indicator	Change in indicator (%)
Bandon-Ilen 20	16.7	16.7	100	0	0.17	0.17	0.00	0.0
Blacksod-Broadhaven 33	50.0	25.0	100	0	0.50	0.25	-0.25	-50.0
Boyne 07	37.5	25.0	100	0	0.38	0.25	-0.13	-33.3
Colligan-Mahon 17	0.0	0.0	100	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Corrib 30	66.7	75.0	100	0	0.67	0.75	0.08	12.5
Donagh-Moville 40	100.0	100.0	100	0	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.0
Donegal Bay North 37	0.0	100.0	100	0	0.00	1.00	1.00	..
Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare 21	100.0	87.5	100	0	1.00	0.88	-0.13	-12.5
Erne 36	12.5	10.0	100	0	0.13	0.10	-0.03	-20.0
Erriff-Clew Bay 32	87.5	75.0	100	0	0.88	0.75	-0.13	-14.3
Foyle 01	100.0	100.0	100	0	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.0
Galway Bay North 31	90.0	90.0	100	0	0.90	0.90	0.00	0.0
Galway Bay South East 29	33.3	100.0	100	0	0.33	1.00	0.67	200.0
Gweebarra-Sheephaven 38	75.0	75.0	100	0	0.75	0.75	0.00	0.0
Laune-Maine-Dingle Bay 22	71.4	85.7	100	0	0.71	0.86	0.14	20.0
Lee, Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay 19	0.0	33.3	100	0	0.00	0.33	0.33	..
Liffey and Dublin Bay 09	66.7	66.7	100	0	0.67	0.67	0.00	0.0
Lough Neagh & Lower Bann 03	50.0	0.0	100	0	0.50	0.00	-0.50	-100.0
Lough Swilly 39	66.7	66.7	100	0	0.67	0.67	0.00	0.0
Lower Shannon 25A	100.0	100.0	100	0	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.0
Lower Shannon 25C	0.0	0.0	100	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Lower Shannon 25D	100.0	100.0	100	0	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.0
Mal Bay 28	50.0	25.0	100	0	0.50	0.25	-0.25	-50.0
Moy & Killala Bay 34	50.0	66.7	100	0	0.50	0.67	0.17	33.3
Newry, Fane, Glyde and Dee 06	20.0	0.0	100	0	0.20	0.00	-0.20	-100.0
Ovoca-Vartry 10	40.0	80.0	100	0	0.40	0.80	0.40	100.0
Shannon Estuary North 27	54.5	54.5	100	0	0.55	0.55	0.00	0.0
Shannon Estuary South 24	50.0	50.0	100	0	0.50	0.50	0.00	0.0
Sligo Bay & Drowse 35	37.5	62.5	100	0	0.38	0.63	0.25	66.7
Suir 16	0.0	33.3	100	0	0.00	0.33	0.33	..
Tralee Bay-Feale 23	0.0	0.0	100	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26A	0.0	0.0	100	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26B	0.0	0.0	100	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26C	14.3	14.3	100	0	0.14	0.14	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26D	0.0	100.0	100	0	0.00	1.00	1.00	..
Upper Shannon 26E	75.0	75.0	100	0	0.75	0.75	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26F	33.3	33.3	100	0	0.33	0.33	0.00	0.0
¹ Accounts are for lake water bodies monitored in both the first (2010-2015) and second (2016-2021) cycles of the River Basin Management Plans. 37 catchments have lake water bodies that were monitored in both periods
² Figures presented in this table are rounded. Percentages and indicator values are calculated using unrounded figures
³ Indicator = (V-V_L)/(V_H-V_L), where V = variable, V_H is the high condition score, and V_L is the low condition score
.. Not applicable

Open in Excel: Ecosystem Condition Accounts - Rivers and Lakes 2021 Table 3.2c (XLS 15KB)

Table 3.2d Ecosystem condition accounts for lakes 2010-2021 - percent of total area of water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status by catchment

Table 3.2d Ecosystem condition accounts for lakes 2010-2021 - percent of total area of monitored lake water bodies achieving Good or High ecological status by catchment^{1, 2}
	Area of monitored lake water bodies per catchment achieving Good or High ecological status (%)		Reference level values (%)		Indicator³values (rescaled)
Catchment	Opening value (2010-2015)	Closing value (2016-2021)	Upper level (all reaching Good or High ecological status)	Lower level (none reaching Good or High ecological status)	Opening value (2010-2015)	Closing value (2016-2021)	Change in indicator	Change in indicator (%)
Bandon-Ilen 20	5.2	5.2	100	0	0.05	0.05	0.00	0.0
Blacksod-Broadhaven 33	8.8	1.2	100	0	0.09	0.01	-0.08	-85.9
Boyne 07	36.7	7.2	100	0	0.37	0.07	-0.30	-80.5
Colligan-Mahon 17	0.0	0.0	100	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Corrib 30	80.1	99.2	100	0	0.80	0.99	0.19	23.9
Donagh-Moville 40	100.0	100.0	100	0	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.0
Donegal Bay North 37	0.0	100.0	100	0	0.00	1.00	1.00	..
Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare 21	100.0	36.3	100	0	1.00	0.36	-0.64	-63.7
Erne 36	1.2	1.9	100	0	0.01	0.02	0.01	56.8
Erriff-Clew Bay 32	95.1	90.2	100	0	0.95	0.90	-0.05	-5.2
Foyle 01	100.0	100.0	100	0	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.0
Galway Bay North 31	96.4	96.4	100	0	0.96	0.96	0.00	0.0
Galway Bay South East 29	13.1	100.0	100	0	0.13	1.00	0.87	664.1
Gweebarra-Sheephaven 38	89.7	75.2	100	0	0.90	0.75	-0.14	-16.1
Laune-Maine-Dingle Bay 22	79.0	94.7	100	0	0.79	0.95	0.16	19.9
Lee, Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay 19	0.0	40.4	100	0	0.00	0.40	0.40	..
Liffey and Dublin Bay 09	1.4	99.6	100	0	0.01	1.00	0.98	7207.4
Lough Neagh & Lower Bann 03	22.4	0.0	100	0	0.22	0.00	-0.22	-100.0
Lough Swilly 39	57.8	57.8	100	0	0.58	0.58	0.00	0.0
Lower Shannon 25A	100.0	100.0	100	0	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.0
Lower Shannon 25C	0.0	0.0	100	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Lower Shannon 25D	100.0	100.0	100	0	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.0
Mal Bay 28	62.4	8.3	100	0	0.62	0.08	-0.54	-86.8
Moy & Killala Bay 34	80.1	82.1	100	0	0.80	0.82	0.02	2.5
Newry, Fane, Glyde and Dee 06	2.5	0.0	100	0	0.03	0.00	-0.03	-100.0
Ovoca-Vartry 10	49.2	86.5	100	0	0.49	0.86	0.37	75.8
Shannon Estuary North 27	58.9	58.9	100	0	0.59	0.59	0.00	0.0
Shannon Estuary South 24	18.6	18.6	100	0	0.19	0.19	0.00	0.0
Sligo Bay & Drowse 35	43.4	49.3	100	0	0.43	0.49	0.06	13.7
Suir 16	0.0	20.3	100	0	0.00	0.20	0.20	..
Tralee Bay-Feale 23	0.0	0.0	100	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26A	0.0	0.0	100	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26B	0.0	0.0	100	0	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26C	3.6	3.6	100	0	0.04	0.04	0.00	0.0
Upper Shannon 26D	0.0	100.0	100	0	0.00	1.00	1.00	..
Upper Shannon 26E	3.2	99.8	100	0	0.03	1.00	0.97	3001.5
Upper Shannon 26F	31.3	31.3	100	0	0.31	0.31	0.00	0.0
1 Accounts are for lake water bodies monitored in both the first (2010-2015) and second (2016-2021) cycles of the River Basin Management Plans. 37 catchments have lake water bodies that were monitored in both periods
² Figures presented in this table are rounded. Percentages and indicator values are calculated using unrounded figures
³ Indicator = (V-V_L)/(V_H-V_L), where V = variable, V_H is the high condition score, and V_L is the low condition score
.. Not applicable

Open in Excel: Ecosystem Condition Accounts - Rivers and Lakes 2021 Table 3.2d (XLS 15KB)

Ecological status by catchment

Rivers

In the 2016-2021 assessment period, a total of 2,398 river water bodies were monitored and assigned an ecological status. Erriff-Clew Bay (79%), Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare (79%), and Bandon-Ilen (78%) were the catchments with the highest percentages of river water bodies in Good or High ecological status. The catchments with the lowest percentages of river water bodies in Good or High ecological status were the Nanny-Delvin (8%), Upper Shannon (26G) (10%), and Foyle (17%) catchments. River water bodies assigned a Bad ecological status occurred in five catchments, the Liffey and Dublin Bay, Mal Bay, Nore, Ovoca-Vartry, and Tralee Bay-Feale catchments. Eleven catchments had no river water bodies in High ecological status, but all had at least one in Good ecological status (Figure 3.3, Table 3.3, Map 3.1).

X-axis label	High	Good	Moderate	Poor	Bad
Blackwater (Munster) 18	17	76	38	6	0
Suir 16	3	46	52	30	0
Barrow 14	5	34	43	27	0
Erne 36	6	50	21	29	0
Moy & Killala Bay 34	21	48	24	5	0
Slaney & Wexford Harbour 12	11	49	30	5	0
Boyne 07	1	27	34	31	0
Nore 15	3	37	31	20	1
Corrib 30	8	46	17	8	0
Laune-Maine-Dingle Bay 22	7	42	13	7	0
Lower Shannon 25C	1	26	32	10	0
Lee, Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay 19	16	33	17	1	0
Liffey and Dublin Bay 09	3	23	13	21	1
Ovoca-Vartry 10	8	33	13	5	1
Sligo Bay & Drowse 35	10	26	15	8	0
Shannon Estuary South 24	0	11	24	22	0
Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare 21	18	26	11	1	0
Bandon-Ilen 20	11	31	12	0	0
Erriff-Clew Bay 32	21	21	8	3	0
Shannon Estuary North 27	1	19	16	17	0
Tralee Bay-Feale 23	11	28	7	5	1
Gweebarra-Sheephaven 38	10	19	13	10	0
Newry, Fane, Glyde and Dee 06	1	11	25	13	0
Upper Shannon 26C	0	20	16	13	0
Upper Shannon 26D	0	26	12	10	0
Lower Shannon 25A	1	16	22	7	0
Lough Swilly 39	3	14	11	11	0
Lower Shannon 25D	1	19	10	9	0
Donegal Bay North 37	6	17	6	9	0
Foyle 01	1	5	24	6	0
Blacksod-Broadhaven 33	7	17	7	4	0
Lower Shannon 25B	2	10	15	7	0
Mal Bay 28	0	17	6	7	1
Upper Shannon 26F	0	6	11	12	0
Galway Bay South East 29	5	8	8	6	0
Nanny-Delvin 08	0	2	9	14	0
Donagh-Moville 40	0	6	7	10	0
Lough Neagh & Lower Bann 03	4	8	2	6	0
Upper Shannon 26A	2	12	5	0	0
Upper Shannon 26B	1	9	4	4	0
Galway Bay North 31	1	6	7	4	0
Ballyteigue-Bannow 13	0	7	7	4	0
Colligan-Mahon 17	5	4	2	6	0
Owenavorragh 11	0	6	7	4	0
Upper Shannon 26E	0	4	2	4	0
Upper Shannon 26G	0	1	7	2	0

Table 3.3 Ecological status of monitored river water bodies by catchment (2016-2021)

Lakes

In the 2016-2021 assessment period, 224 lake water bodies were monitored and assigned an ecological status. Lake water bodies were monitored in 37 of the total 46 catchments. There were seven catchments where no lakes in Good or High ecological status were found (Colligan-Mahon, Lough Neagh & Lower Bann, Lower Shannon (25C), Newry, Fane, Glyde and Dee, Tralee Bay-Feale, Upper Shannon (26A) and Upper Shannon (26B)). The catchments with the highest percentage of lake water bodies in High ecological status were Galway Bay North at 50% (five water bodies) and Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare at 50% (four water bodies). The Erne was the catchment with the highest number of lake water bodies in Bad ecological status, at three water bodies, while five catchments (Erriff-Clew Bay, Sligo Bay & Drowse, Mal Bay, Lower Shannon 25C, and Lough Swilly) all had one water body in Bad ecological status (Figure 3.4, Table 3.4).

X-axis label	High	Good	Moderate	Poor	Bad
Erne 36	0	4	21	12	3
Erriff-Clew Bay 32	3	9	3	0	1
Gweebarra-Sheephaven 38	0	12	4	0	0
Corrib 30	2	7	2	1	0
Shannon Estuary North 27	0	6	4	1	0
Galway Bay North 31	5	4	1	0	0
Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare 21	4	3	1	0	0
Laune-Maine-Dingle Bay 22	2	4	2	0	0
Boyne 07	1	1	3	3	0
Sligo Bay & Drowse 35	0	5	0	2	1
Upper Shannon 26C	0	1	6	1	0
Moy & Killala Bay 34	0	4	2	0	0
Bandon-Ilen 20	0	1	4	1	0
Ovoca-Vartry 10	0	4	1	0	0
Upper Shannon 26B	0	0	5	0	0
Newry, Fane, Glyde and Dee 06	0	0	4	1	0
Upper Shannon 26E	0	3	1	0	0
Blacksod-Broadhaven 33	0	1	3	0	0
Mal Bay 28	0	1	2	0	1
Foyle 01	0	3	0	0	0
Galway Bay South East 29	0	3	0	0	0
Liffey and Dublin Bay 09	0	2	0	1	0
Lough Swilly 39	0	2	0	0	1
Upper Shannon 26F	0	1	2	0	0
Lee, Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay 19	0	1	1	1	0
Suir 16	0	1	1	1	0
Lower Shannon 25C	0	0	2	0	1
Upper Shannon 26A	0	0	1	2	0
Lower Shannon 25A	0	2	0	0	0
Shannon Estuary South 24	0	1	1	0	0
Tralee Bay-Feale 23	0	0	2	0	0
Lough Neagh & Lower Bann 03	0	0	1	1	0
Donagh-Moville 40	0	1	0	0	0
Donegal Bay North 37	0	1	0	0	0
Lower Shannon 25D	0	1	0	0	0
Upper Shannon 26D	0	1	0	0	0
Colligan-Mahon 17	0	0	1	0	0

Table 3.4 Ecological status of monitored lake water bodies by catchment (2016-2021)

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Ecosystem Condition Accounts - Rivers and Lakes 2021

Condition Accounts by Catchment

Condition Accounts by Catchment

Nearly 80% of monitored river water bodies in Erriff-Clew Bay and Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare catchments were in Good or High ecological status (2016-2021)

A CSO Frontier Series Output

Condition accounts by catchment

Rivers

Lakes

Ecological status by catchment

Rivers

Lakes

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