Search
Watch
These animated videos help inform on the Shannon Callows.
Flooding in the Shannon Callows
Physical nature of the River Shannon
What is the Shannon Callows
The Shannon Callows is a seasonally flooded grassland area found on the low-lying river Shannon floodplains. These areas lie between Athlone, where the river flows out of Lough Ree, and Portumna, where it enters Lough Derg.
The Shannon Callows is renowned for its wild birds and wildlife generally. It has one of the largest concentrations of breeding waders in these islands with Lapwing, Redshank, Curlew, Sandpiper and Godwit living there. Many species of migrant wildbirds are also frequent visitors while otters, fox and ferret mink are common residents.
The Shannon Callows are mainly too soft for intensive farming but are used for hay or silage or for summer grazing. Water levels in the Callows can fluctuate significantly, causing challenges during extreme weather conditions. Water level management is limited in preventing flooding when excessive rainfall occurs.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) prepares and manages policy relating to the natural environment and has national and international responsibilities. Under the Birds and Habitats Directives and Wildlife Acts, the Shannon Callows has been designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and National Heritage Area (NHA). The role of NPWS is to secure the conservation of ecosystems and maintain or enhance populations of flora and fauna. Habitats include turloughs, fens (which are often sensitive to water level fluctuations), lakes, rivers, bogs and important floodplain habitats such as the Shannon callows
What is the Shannon Callows ‘Pinch Points’ project?
The Government is providing €7m to implement a programme of strategic maintenance upstream of Ardnacrusha to assist with mitigating flooding and the removal of a number of ‘pinch points’ through the Shannon Callows that can help to delay flooding in the area. Some €4m of this funding relates directly to the removal of the ‘pinch points’ in the Callows region.
Studies carried out as part of the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study and the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group highlighted potential benefits and informed the decision to remove a number of ‘pinch points’ in the Callows region.
A Steering Group is in place to oversee the project for the Callows region. A brief is currently being finalised for the appointment of a consultant to carry out the initial analysis and design work. The project will be subject to Planning consent which will require Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment under the Birds and Habitats Directives. Further consents may be required under other legislation. No work can commence in the absence of all appropriate consents being granted.
