Lough Neagh

[johnnycool]

Zebra mussel major problem.

Yep. Feck all to do with the sand.

Which is probably causing other problems

That dredging has been going on for generations. Would it really be causing any new problems?

I grew up on and learned to swim in the Lough. I wouldn't put a dog in it now. When I was growing up the Lough Neagh Midges swarmed in millions. On a summer night it was like smoke above the trees. Only people who grew up there could hack it. now there are houses everywhere and this year in particular not a midge in sight, down to 50 years of dredging. The extra housing due to an influx of non-natives is adding to the pressure. In addition even though the shoreline is a protected area people along the shore are levelling and filling in habitat and the DRD does not give too fucks.

People from West Belfast? 

[seafoid]

Lough Neagh made it into the Irish Times today.
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2023/08/24/newton-emerson-too-many-cooks-turned-lough-neagh-into-a-disgusting-green-broth/

[Milltown Row2]

Zebra mussel major problem.

Yep. Feck all to do with the sand.

Which is probably causing other problems

That dredging has been going on for generations. Would it really be causing any new problems?

I grew up on and learned to swim in the Lough. I wouldn't put a dog in it now. When I was growing up the Lough Neagh Midges swarmed in millions. On a summer night it was like smoke above the trees. Only people who grew up there could hack it. now there are houses everywhere and this year in particular not a midge in sight, down to 50 years of dredging. The extra housing due to an influx of non-natives is adding to the pressure. In addition even though the shoreline is a protected area people along the shore are levelling and filling in habitat and the DRD does not give too fucks.

People from West Belfast? 

Blaming the Westies for what the farmers are shoving into the lakes/rivers/loughs!! While the farming kids are pissing the slurry all over the Holylands!

[Applesisapples]

Zebra mussel major problem.

Yep. Feck all to do with the sand.

Which is probably causing other problems

That dredging has been going on for generations. Would it really be causing any new problems?

I grew up on and learned to swim in the Lough. I wouldn't put a dog in it now. When I was growing up the Lough Neagh Midges swarmed in millions. On a summer night it was like smoke above the trees. Only people who grew up there could hack it. now there are houses everywhere and this year in particular not a midge in sight, down to 50 years of dredging. The extra housing due to an influx of non-natives is adding to the pressure. In addition even though the shoreline is a protected area people along the shore are levelling and filling in habitat and the DRD does not give too fucks.

People from West Belfast? 

Blaming the Westies for what the farmers are shoving into the lakes/rivers/loughs!! While the farming kids are pissing the slurry all over the Holylands!

Mainly from Lurgan, even worse

[ONeill]

Sure it was formed from horse pish anyway.

[Eamonnca1]

Zebra mussel major problem.

Yep. Feck all to do with the sand.

Which is probably causing other problems

That dredging has been going on for generations. Would it really be causing any new problems?

I grew up on and learned to swim in the Lough. I wouldn't put a dog in it now. When I was growing up the Lough Neagh Midges swarmed in millions. On a summer night it was like smoke above the trees. Only people who grew up there could hack it. now there are houses everywhere and this year in particular not a midge in sight, down to 50 years of dredging. The extra housing due to an influx of non-natives is adding to the pressure. In addition even though the shoreline is a protected area people along the shore are levelling and filling in habitat and the DRD does not give too fucks.

People from West Belfast? 

Townies from Lurgan really. Living in the country as a lifestyle choice, able to enjoy more space, a bigger house, etc.. Last time I was there I was struck by the absence of the midges and the growing size of houses. The midges used to keep them away from even visiting the place to say nothing of living there, but that's no longer stopping them. I remember when the house of the McConaghys (Ashburn/Court House owners) on the Lough Road was the biggest and most impressive house in town, but now houses of that size or bigger have been thrown up along the ramparts of Derrytrasna. 

[seafoid]

According to Wikipedia the Lough provides 40% of the North's drinking water.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lough_Neagh

[smort]

Was down near the lough yesterday for the first time in a while, and the smell hit you even a few miles away

https://www.antrimguardian.co.uk/news/2023/08/21/gallery/lough-neagh-is-bleeding-to-death-45925/#:~:text=A%20foul%20odour%20being%20reported,so%20strong%20is%20the%20smell.

[armaghniac]

They need to get their finger out and measure water quality on different flows in the upper Bann and the lake, and tackle the worst cases immediately.

[AustinPowers]

So what's the solution?

Will  dredging the rivers help?  I believe  there was protests about  that lately .

[angermanagement]

Was in Warrenpoint during the week. The smell of the place would've turned you whatever it was. Flys everywhere as well.

[Upandover]

So what's the solution?

Will  dredging the rivers help?  I believe  there was protests about  that lately .

Why would dredging help this issue?

The lough has been treated like the norths septic tank with all manner of literal shite washed into it, this is the reason behind the algae in a nutshell.

[seafoid]

Are a lot of nitrates flowing into the Lough on top of everything else ?

[Upandover]

Yes, all manner of things being washed into the lough.

Slurry, fertiliser, sewage, as i said one large septic tank.

[AustinPowers]

So what's the solution?

Will  dredging the rivers help?  I believe  there was protests about  that lately .

Why would dredging help this issue?

The lough has been treated like the norths septic tank with all manner of literal shite washed into it, this is the reason behind the algae in a nutshell.

But surely  all that crap  has been  emptying into the Lough for years. Why now  are we only seeing  the algae on  this scale?