For Special Protection Areas (SPA),
Proposed Sites for Community Importance (pSCI),
Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and
for Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1. SITE IDENTIFICATION
• 2. SITE LOCATION
• 3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
• 4. SITE DESCRIPTION
• 5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS
• 6. SITE MANAGEMENT
• 7. MAP OF THE SITE

1. SITE IDENTIFICATION

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1.1 Type

B

1.2 Site code

IE0002173

1.3 Site name

Blackwater River (Kerry) SAC

1.4 First Compilation date

1999-12

1.5 Update date

2018-09

1.6 Respondent:

Name/Organisation:	National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Address:
Email:	datadelivery@chg.gov.ie

1.7 Site indication and designation / classification dates

Date site proposed as SCI:	1999-12
Date site confirmed as SCI:	No information provided
Date site designated as SAC:	No information provided
National legal reference of SAC designation:	No information provided

2. SITE LOCATION

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2.1 Site-centre location [decimal degrees]:

Longitude:	-9.756747
Latitude:	51.892988

2.2 Area [ha]

5900.1762

2.3 Marine area [%]

0.0000

2.4 Sitelength [km] (optional):

No information provided

2.5 Administrative region code and name

NUTS level 2 code	Region Name
IE02	Southern and Eastern

2.6 Biogeographical Region(s)

Atlantic

(0.00 %)

3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

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3.1 Habitat types present on the site and assessment for them

Annex I Habitat types						Site assessment
Code	PF	NP	Cover [ha]	Cave [number]	Data quality	A|B|C|D	A|B|C
						Representativity	Relative Surface	Conservation	Global
4030			354.16	0.00	M	C	C	C	C

• PF: for the habitat types that can have a non-priority as well as a priority form (6210, 7130, 9430) enter "X" in the column PF to indicate the priority form.
• NP: in case that a habitat type no longer exists in the site enter: x (optional)
• Cover: decimal values can be entered
• Caves: for habitat types 8310, 8330 (caves) enter the number of caves if estimated surface is not available.
• Data quality: G = 'Good' (e.g. based on surveys); M = 'Moderate' (e.g. based on partial data with some extrapolation); P = 'Poor' (e.g. rough estimation)

3.2 Species referred to in Article 4 of Directive 2009/147/EC and listed in Annex II of Directive 92/43/EEC and site evaluation for them

Species					Population in the site						Site assessment
G	Code	Scientific Name	S	NP	T	Size		Unit	Cat.	D.qual.	A|B|C|D	A|B|C
						Min	Max				Pop.	Con.	Iso.	Glo.
I	1024	Geomalacus maculosus			p				P	DD	B	A	C	B
M	1355	Lutra lutra			p				P	DD	C	A	C	A
I	1029	Margaritifera margaritifera			p				P	DD	B	A	C	A
M	1303	Rhinolophus hipposideros			r	150	150	i		M	C	A	B	B
F	1106	Salmo salar			r				C	DD	C	A	C	A

• Group: A = Amphibians, B = Birds, F = Fish, I = Invertebrates, M = Mammals, P = Plants, R = Reptiles
• S: in case that the data on species are sensitive and therefore have to be blocked for any public access enter: yes
• NP: in case that a species is no longer present in the site enter: x (optional)
• Type: p = permanent, r = reproducing, c = concentration, w = wintering (for plant and non-migratory species use permanent)
• Unit: i = individuals, p = pairs or other units according to the Standard list of population units and codes in accordance with Article 12 and 17 reporting (see reference portal)
• Abundance categories (Cat.): C = common, R = rare, V = very rare, P = present - to fill if data are deficient (DD) or in addition to population size information
• Data quality: G = 'Good' (e.g. based on surveys); M = 'Moderate' (e.g. based on partial data with some extrapolation); P = 'Poor' (e.g. rough estimation); VP = 'Very poor' (use this category only, if not even a rough estimation of the population size can be made, in this case the fields for population size can remain empty, but the field "Abundance categories" has to be filled in)

3.3 Other important species of flora and fauna (optional)

Species					Population in the site				Motivation
Group	CODE	Scientific Name	S	NP	Size		Unit	Cat.	Species Annex		Other categories
					Min	Max		C|R|V|P	IV	V	A	B	C	D
A		Rana temporaria											X
A		Rana temporaria									X
P		Wahlenbergia hederacea												X

• Group: A = Amphibians, B = Birds, F = Fish, Fu = Fungi, I = Invertebrates, L = Lichens, M = Mammals, P = Plants, R = Reptiles
• CODE: for Birds, Annex IV and V species the code as provided in the reference portal should be used in addition to the scientific name
• S: in case that the data on species are sensitive and therefore have to be blocked for any public access enter: yes
• NP: in case that a species is no longer present in the site enter: x (optional)
• Unit: i = individuals, p = pairs or other units according to the standard list of population units and codes in accordance with Article 12 and 17 reporting, (see reference portal)
• Cat.: Abundance categories: C = common, R = rare, V = very rare, P = present
• Motivation categories: IV, V: Annex Species (Habitats Directive), A: National Red List data; B: Endemics; C: International Conventions; D: other reasons

4. SITE DESCRIPTION

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4.1 General site character

Habitat class	% Cover
N07	5.00
N16	1.00
N10	45.00
N06	2.00
N22	1.00
N08	18.00
N23	1.00
N20	19.00
N14	5.00
N09	3.00
Total Habitat Cover	100

Other Site Characteristics

This site is situated on the south-western slopes of the Macgillycuddy Reeks, overlooking the Kenmare River inlet. The underlying geology is Old Red Sandstone. The site comprises most of the catchment of the Blackwater River system. Two other main rivers, the Kealduff and Derreendarragh, link into the Blackwater and these rivers are characterised by having numerous tributary streams. The rivers rise at altitudes of up to 600 m and flow quite rapidly over their journey of about 10 km to the sea. The principal habitats within the site are upland grassland and various types of heaths. The grassland is improved to varying extents. Where the peat is deeper blanket bog has developed, though much of this is now cutaway. Deciduous woodland occurs along some of the rivers. Coniferous afforestation is a significant landuse within the site.

4.2 Quality and importance

This site has an extensive network of good quality watercourses which support one of the largest populations of Margaritifera margaritifera in the country and has a population of Lutra lutra. The rivers are also important salmonid fisheries and are of high importance for the conservation of Salmo salar. The site contains an internationally important population of Rhinolophus hipposideros (>150 individuals) and includes both the breeding site and the surrounding foraging habitat. Geomalacus maculosus is frequent within the site where suitable open heath habitat occurs. The site includes areas of dry heath.

4.3 Threats, pressures and activities with impacts on the site

The most important impacts and activities with high effect on the site

4.4 Ownership (optional)

No information provided

4.5 Documentation (optional)

Bowman, J.J., Clabby, K.J., Lucey, J., McGarrigle, M. & Toner, P. (1996). Water Quality in Ireland 1991-1994. Environmental Protection Agency, Wexford. Central Fisheries Board (1995). A preliminary investigation into the decline of salmon stocks in Kenmare Bay in 1994. Central Fisheries Board. Dublin. Unpublished. Central Fisheries Board (2001). Irish Salmon Catches 2000. http: //www.cfb.ie/:February 2001. Central Fisheries Board (2003). Irish Salmon Catches 2001. http://www.cfb.ie/:February 2003. Lucey, J. (1993). The distribution of Margaritifera margaritifera (L.) in southern Irish rivers and streams. Journal of Conchology 34: 301-310. Lunnon, R. (1996). Otter (Lutra lutra L.) Distribution in Ireland. In: Reynolds, J.D. (ed.) The Conservation of Aquatic Systems, pp 110-116. Royal Irish Academy. O'Reilly, P. (1998). Trout and Salmon Rivers of Ireland: an anglers guide. Merlin Unwin Books. London. OSullivan, P. (1994). Bats in Ireland. Special supplement to the Irish Naturalists Journal. Pembroke, J. (2001). The Kerry Blackwater Fishery: Annual Summary. Platts, E.A. and Speight, M.C.D. (1988). The taxonomy and distribution of the Kerry Slug Geomalacus maculosus Allman 1843 (Mollusca: Arionidae) with a discussion of its status as a threatened species. Irish Naturalists' Journal 22: 417-430. Praeger, R.L (1934). The Botanist in Ireland. Hodges Figgis, Dublin. Scully, R.W. (1916). Flora of County Kerry, Hoggis Figgis Ltd., Dublin. South Western Regional Fisheries Board (2002). Information from Rod Catches, Fish counters and predictive salmon models. Unpublished data.

5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS

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6. SITE MANAGEMENT

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6.1 Body(ies) responsible for the site management:

No information provided

6.2 Management Plan(s):

An actual management plan does exist:

	Yes
	No, but in preparation
X	No

6.3 Conservation measures (optional)

No information provided

 

7. MAP OF THE SITE

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Map delivered as PDF in electronic format (optional)

Yes X No

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SITE DISPLAY