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Hydrology Summary Bulletin – February 2024

The EPA hydrology bulletin for February is now available to download. Rainfall was above the long-term average in most locations. 64% of river flows were above the long-term normal range with increases in flow generally observed in the south and west. Average groundwater levels in February were higher at 53% of monitoring wells compared to January.

Overview

February 2024 was a mild and wet Atlantic weather dominated month. Rainfall was above average
everywhere, highest in the southwest.

The monthly average river flows for February increased at half of all monitoring sites since January,
with 64% of river flows being above the long-term normal for February, while 54% of lake and
turlough monitoring stations observed levels above the long-term normal range for this month.

Average monthly groundwater levels increased, 51% of monitoring wells recorded levels above the
long-term average for February. Out of the six spring flows monitored 3 were in the ‘normal’ range,
while 3 were classified as being ‘above normal’.

Learn More:

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

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.