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EPA Hydrology Bulletin for March 2024

The EPA hydrology bulletin for March is now available to download. Rainfall was above average in most locations. River flows in March increased at 69% of monitoring stations compared to February. 86% of lake and turlough monitoring stations observed water levels above the long-term normal range and groundwater levels increased at 82% of the monitored wells.

Overview

March 2024 saw Atlantic low-pressure systems continue to dominate with a southerly displaced jet
stream bringing the bulk of the rain to the Midlands, South and East. The monthly average river
flows for March increased at 69% of all monitoring sites since February, with 93% of river flows
being above the long-term normal range, while 86% of the lake and turlough monitoring stations
analysed in March observed levels above the long-term normal range. Groundwater levels
increased at 82% of the wells monitored this month and of the six groundwater spring flows
monitored, all were classified as being above the long-term normal range.

The EPA hydrology bulletin for March shows that river flows were above the long-term average in almost all locations except the northwest. Over 80% of lake and turlough monitoring stations observed water levels above the long-term normal range.
Learn more: https://t.co/4COSZpIRWc pic.twitter.com/0Xzpx78S95
— EPA Ireland (@EPAIreland) April 14, 2024

*Rainfall map for Ireland March 2024 (Source: Met Eireann.ie).*

Monthly average river flows for March 2024 relative to historic monthly average flows expressed as percentile of the
long-term values of monthly flow. Numbered sites are represented in the hydrographs below. All data are provisional and may be
subject to revision (Source: EPA, OPW).

Learn more:

https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring–assessment/freshwater–marine/hydrology-bulletin/hydrology-bulletin/hydrology-summary-bulletin—march-2024.php

About author

EPA Catchments Unit

Administrator

The EPA Catchments Unit is based in Dublin, and the team is involved with catchment science, chemistry, ecology, hydromorphology, modelling, Geographic Information Systems and planning. We work with the wider EPA, all of our local authorities, the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and other public bodies and Departments to ensure we have the best available data and information about our catchments.

Who is involved?
Quite simply, everyone in Ireland has a role to play. This can be from something as simple as making sure you don’t pollute your local stream, or a local community working together to establish a Rivers Trust to enhance the rivers and lakes in their area, to a Government Department or Agency helping a Minister implement a new policy to help protect and enhance all our water bodies.

This website has been developed and is maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency, and is a collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Local Authority Waters Programme.

Local Authority Waters Programme

The Local Authority Waters Programme coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and supports local community and stakeholder involvement in managing our natural waters, for everyone’s benefit.

Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA is responsible for coordinating the monitoring, assessment and reporting on the status of our 4,842 water bodies, looking at trends and changes, determining which waterbodies are at risk and what could be causing this, and drafting environmental objectives for each.

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Department is responsible for making sure that the right policies, regulations and resources are in place to implement the Water Framework Directive, and developing a River Basin Management Plan and Programme of Measures to protect and restore our waters.