Weeds are causing concern at Ross lagoon

THE operator of a water park in Rosscarbery has welcomed the lifting of an order preventing people from going into the lagoon.

Paul Melody, co-ordinator of the Lagoon Activity Centre, said Cork County Council, on the advice of the HSE, issued the order on Thursday, July 4th due to the presence of e-coli on the eastern shore.

However, he said this was naturally occurring phenomena and he confirmed that the order was lifted at 10am last Friday – following two clear tests the previous week. 

 ‘Public safety was our number one concern, but we are delighted to be back in business,’ he said. ‘The water park has been a great success and we would like to credit Cork County Council for dealing with the situation in a prompt and efficient manner.’

At a meeting of the Western Committee in Clonakilty on Monday county mayor Cllr Christopher O’Sullivan (FF) said: ‘Rosscarbery is a fantastic town and we should be doing what we can to prevent the build-up of weed on the eastern side of the lagoon.’

The mayor suggested that the weed  could be removed and used as a natural farm fertiliser. He said: ‘The water park is a huge attraction and the business community wants action on this.’ 

Divisional manager Clodagh Henehan said the issue is not straight forward. She said the removal of the weed in the lagoon could be counterproductive because it would stir up more of the nutrients that is causing it to grow.

She said the Council is hoping to address the sources of nutrients going into the lagoon because that would provide a long-term solution to the problem.

Louis Duffy, the Council’s environmental director of services, confirmed that by agitating the sediment in the lagoon, growth would be exacerbated and the odour emanating from the lagoon would increase.

Ms Henehan said that it is because the water is stagnant that there are a lot of nutrients and that other options will have to be considered.

Cllr O’Sullivan suggested that the lagoon could be opened up and flushed by the tide on two or three occasions each year.

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