Lough Derravaragh - Lough Derravaragh, National Habitat Area

Lough Derravaragh, National Habitat Area

Lough Derravaragh is located north of Mullingar and is surrounded by the communities of Clonva, Derrya, Kiltoom, Donore, Ballynakill, Streamstown and Knockbody in the north of County Westmeath. Most of this area comprises the lake, but also it includes a variety of wetland, grassland, and woodland habitats. The site includes a small area of raised bog. The site is bound in the northwest by the River Inny.

The Inny, which is a major tributary of the River Shannon, flows into and from Lough Derravaragh on its northwest shore. On this side, the lake is wide and shallow and raised bog and cutover is found within the immediate surrounding area. Lough Derravaragh is shallow and it water is "hard" and alkaline pH. There is only a small area of raised bog on the side, but formerly it comprised a very large bog complex which extended towards the northwest of the lake. Most of this area has now been cutover and large areas have been reclaimed for agriculture. The remaining area of bog has hummock/hollow complexes but no water pools. Conifers have been planted upon the high bog and a section of cutover. Cutover is found dispersed around the high bog areas and there is also a separate small area of old cutover (about km) south of this raised bog.

Much of the high bog possesses vegetation typical of an Irish Midland raised bog, with such species as Ling Heather (Calluna vulgaris) and Hare's tail Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum). The hummock-forming bog moss, Sphagnum papillosum has been recorded situated around one-third of the high bog as has the more scarce Sphagnum imbricatum. Overall, sphagnum covers around one-third of the high bog area. The centre of the bog is wet with stagnant water in places. The aquatic bog moss Sphagnum cuspidatum has been recorded in the hollows of the bog. There are dried-out channels of the bog which are colonised by algae, Deergrass, Scirpus cespitosus and lichens. On the cutover on the southeast shore of the lake there are areas of Downy Birch, Betula pubescens woodland, with patches of GorseUlex europaeus

A notable feature of Lough Derravaragh, as found at Lough Lene, are the range of Stoneworts, Charophytes that occur within the lake. To date eight species have been recorded here, several of which have a restricted range in Ireland. Fringing the lake's shores a range of habitats have been created as a result of drainage of the River Inny At the western side are extensive reed beds and swamps of Downy Birch and willows Salix spp. Within proximity, there is also freshwater marches vegetation dominated by sedges Carlex spp. and often tussock-forming grasses such as Tufted Hair-grass Deschampsia cespitosa and fescues Festuca spp, with a flowering herbs including Bidens cernua, and Trifid Bur-Marigold.

The lake shore is a mineral-rich substrate and several plant species of poor fen habitats occur in abundance, such as Black Bog rush Schoenus nigricans and long-stalked Yellow-sedge Carlex lepidocarpa.

Three of the Greenland geese species which roost at these sites are listed on the Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive. The rare Charophyte, Chara denundata, has been recorded in the area and the 'Red Data Book' species otter and Irish hare have also been observed within the lake district area of North Westmeath.