Lough Muckno and the surrounding area is of huge amenity value to the local community.
Lough Muckno was assigned Bad Water Framework Directive (WFD) Status in the 2013-2018 monitoring period. The WFD status of Lough Muckno improved to Moderate in 2021.
In response to concerns raised about the Bad status of the Lough in the 2013- 2018, Monaghan County Council commissioned a study on the lake and its catchment.
The project entitled ‘Lough Muckno’s Road to Recovery’ (2022-2024) consists of both a paleolimnological investigation of the lough’s sediment and additional water quality and hydrometric monitoring of the lake and its contributing tributaries.
The main aims of the project were
1) To get a realistic timeframe for lake recovery times and
2) To identify the areas in the catchment that are contributing significant loads of nutrients to Lough Muckno in order to ensure that future resources and measures are focused in the right areas.
Hydrec Environmental Consulting were appointed to complete the project, the full report which documents the findings of the study can be accessed here: Lough Muckno Road to Recovery Project
