Project Page Views: [ 749 ]
| Project Metadata Element | Details |
| Project Title | Development of a methodology for the characterisation of a karstic groundwater body with particular emphasis on the linkage with associated ecosystems, such as turloughs |
| Research Area | Water |
| Project Acronym | |
| Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | Paul Johnston |
| Lead Institution or Organisation | University of Dublin, Trinity College (TCD) |
| Lead Country | Ireland |
| Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 53.34449, -6.25867 |
| Lead Funding Entity | Environmental Protection Agency |
| Approximate Project Start Date | 09/12/2002 |
| Approximate Project Finishing Date | 09/06/2004 |
| Project Website (if any) | |
| Links to other Web-based resources | |
| Project Keywords | Groundwater; Risk Assessment; Pollution Pressures; Ecology |
| Project Abstract | Objectives of the study: 1. The development of a risk assessment framework for karst groundwater dependent habitats with particular reference to turloughs. 2. To identify and assess the qualitative and quantitative pressures in Ireland It is understood that the majority of karst groundwater-dependent habitats (specifically 'protected' habitats) are turloughs, albeit of varying types and characteristics. Other habitats (e.g. spring related) will be identified and included, as required. The risk assessment framework will be constructed around the basic source-pathway-receptor concept as has already been used for the national groundwater protection schemes. On the basis of available ecological and hydrological data (collated as part of the study), the objective would be to identify the hazards/sources of potential impact, the means of impact and the potential receptors in terms of ecology. The risk evaluation is embodied in a ranking of the importance of the sources and potential impacts, as revealed in a wide variety of studies conducted to date. Thus, the strategy of the study will be to identify the key habitats and to classify them, as far as is possible, in terms of their known ecology and hydrology. Available information on the ecologies and hydrology would be compiled on a database. A supporting database would be compiled on the nature of potential hazards for the identified sites and any available interpretation on measured or assessed impacts in terms of flora and fauna. The final stage is to develop an interpretation of these collected results and to identify the key hazards in the context of type habitats (based on the hydro-ecological classification of the turloughs) and how to recognize them in the context of the required response to the Water Framework Directive. 3. To examine the response of turlough ecosystems to hydrological inputs in the context of the time constraints of the study, this component can only be undertaken in the light of sufficient existing data which are only available for the turlough area of South Galway, albeit a protected habitat complex. The objective here would be to develop a methodology for quantitative assessment of risk in terms of appropriate hydrological criteria for use in assessing impacts on turlough ecology. Based on collected data, the method would be to develop frequency duration responses for typical turlough water levels and to relate these to known changes in corresponding vegetation response in the turlough. The risk in this context is developed in terms of a likely 'return period' for a particular level of inundation which may be related to consequential vegetation. |