Database release:
SDF
NATURA 2000 - STANDARD DATA FORM

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

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1.1 Type

A

1.2 Site code

IE0004051

1.3 Site name

Lough Carra SPA

1.4 First Compilation date

2004-03

1.5 Update date

2020-10

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 classified as SPA:1995-11
National legal reference of SPA designation No information provided

2. SITE LOCATION

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2.1 Site-centre location [decimal degrees]:

Longitude:-9.248572
Latitude:53.696726

2.2 Area [ha]

1760.2722

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
IE01Border, Midland and Western

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


No habitat types are reported for the site

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
      MinMax  Pop.Con.Iso.Glo.
BA056Anas clypeata    w  40  40  i    G  C  B  C  B 
BA052Anas crecca    w  63  63  i    G  C  B  C  C 
BA050Anas penelope    w  67  67  i    G  C  B  C  C 
BA053Anas platyrhynchos    w  152  152  i    G  C  B  C  C 
BA051Anas strepera    w  26  26  i    G  C  B  C  B 
BA059Aythya ferina    w  36  36  i    G  C  B  C  C 
BA061Aythya fuligula    w  148  148  i    G  C  B  C  C 
BA067Bucephala clangula    w  67  67  i    G  C  B  C  C 
BA182Larus canus    r  65  65  p    G  B  B  C  A 
BA179Larus ridibundus    r  100  100  p    G  B  B  C  B 
BA069Mergus serrator    w  12  12  i    G  C  B  C  C 
BA017Phalacrocorax carbo    w  17  17  i    G  C  B  C  C 
BA005Podiceps cristatus    w  14  14  i    G  C  B  C  C 
BA142Vanellus vanellus    w  245  245  i    G  C  B  C  C 
  • 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
     MinMax C|R|V|PIVVABCD
B  Tachybaptus ruficollis    14  14  i            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
N0696.00
N072.00
N081.00
N101.00

Total Habitat Cover

100

Other Site Characteristics

Lough Carra, which extends for over 9 km along its long axis, lies to the north-east of Lough Mask, in the Corrib catchment. It is one of the best examples in Ireland of a hard water marl lake. It is a shallow (mean depth 1.5 m, max depth 18 m), predominantly spring-fed lake with only a few streams flowing into it. It is connected to Lough Mask via the Keel River. The water has an alkaline pH and negligible amounts of iron and manganese. Sodium and chloride are present in relatively high concentrations. Lough Carra is classified within the mesotrophic category. Its well-known pellucid green colour is due to calcareous encrustations. It has well-developed stonewort communities in the submerged zones. The lake has a highly indented shoreline (69 km total length) and is fringed by a diverse complex of limestone and wetland habitats. There is a good scattering of small islands within the lake.

4.2 Quality and importance

Lough Carra is an important site for wintering waterfowl, with nationally important populations of Anas strepera and Anas clypeata occurring. A range of other species occur, including diving duck, though all are in relatively low numbers. The site supports important breeding colonies of Larus canus and Larus ridibundus, representing over 6% and 2.5% of the respective national totals. However, considerably higher numbers of both of these species have been recorded in the past.

4.3 Threats, pressures and activities with impacts on the site

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

Negative Impacts
RankThreats and pressures [code]Pollution (optional) [code]inside/outside [i|o|b]
MA08o
MA10o
MBo
MF02.03i
Positive Impacts
RankActivities, management [code]Pollution (optional) [code]inside/outside [i|o|b]
MF02.03i

Rank: H = high, M = medium, L = low
Pollution: N = Nitrogen input, P = Phosphor/Phosphate input, A = Acid input/acidification,
T = toxic inorganic chemicals, O = toxic organic chemicals, X = Mixed pollutions
i = inside, o = outside, b = both

4.4 Ownership (optional)


No information provided

4.5 Documentation (optional)

Colhoun, K. (2001). I-WeBS Report 1998-99. BirdWatch Ireland, Dublin. Hunt, J., Derwin, J., Coveney, J. and Newton, S. (2000). Republic of Ireland. Pp. 365-416 in Heath, M.F. and Evans, M.I. (eds). Important Bird Areas in Europe: Priority Sites for Conservation 1: Northern Europe. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International (BirdLife Conservation Series No. 8). Irish Wetland Birds Survey (I-WeBS) Database, 1994/95-2000/01. BirdWatch Ireland, Dublin. King, J.J. and Chano, W.S.T (2000). Baseline water quality investigations on Lough Carra, western Ireland, with reference to water chemistry, phytoplankton and aquatic plants. Biology and Environment, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 100B: 13-26. McGarrigle, M.L., Bowman, J.J., Clabby, K.J., Lucey, J., Cunningham, P., MacCarthaigh, M., Keegan, M., Cantrell ,B., Lehane ,M., Clenaghan, C. and Toner, P.F. (2002). Water Quality in Ireland 1998-2000. Environmental Protection Agency, Wexford. Mitchell, P.I., Newton, S., Ratcliffe, N. and Dunn, T. (2004). Seabird 2000: The Status of Breeding Seabirds in Britain and Ireland. Poyser, London. Sheppard, R. (1993). Ireland's Wetland Wealth. IWC, Dublin. Whilde, A. (1978). A survey of gulls breeding inland in the west of Ireland in 1977 and 1978 and a review of the inland breeding habit in Ireland and Britain. Irish Birds 1: 134-160. Whilde, A., Cotton, D.C.F. and Sheppard, J.R. (1993). A repeat survey of gulls breeding inland in Counties Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Galway, with recent counts from Leitrim and Fermanagh. Irish Birds 5: 67-72.

5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS

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5.1 Designation types at national and regional level (optional):

Code Cover [%]
IE05100.00

5.2 Relation of the described site with other sites (optional):

Designated at national or regional level:

Type code Site name Type Cover [%]
IE05Lough Carra Wildfowl Sanctuary=100.00

5.3 Site designation (optional)


No information provided

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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INSPIRE ID:IE.NPWS.PS.NATURA2000.SPA.IE0004051
Map delivered as PDF in electronic format (optional)
 Yes
X
 No

SITE DISPLAY