The Effects of Drainage on the Trimblestown River

Abstract

The effects of arterial drainage on the macro-invertebrates and flora of a salmon nursery stream are described. A section of the Trimblestown River, Co. Meath was sampled from 1968 to 1974. In drainage operations of this kind the substratum where insect life predominates is removed, also fish and salmonid ova and fry life is affected by mechanical disturbance. A Surber stream-bottom sampler covering an area of 1 square ft (O.093m2) was used to take 107 samples. Wet and dry weights of the fauna were determined. A survey of the aquatic flora, pre- and post-drainage is also described. The fauna and flora were seriously depleted after drainage but recovered rapidly both in numbers and biomass a year after drainage was completed. There was an increase in the growth of emergent vegetation after drainage. Filamentous algae and Chara sp. recolonised the bed of the river replacing two submerged species (Fontinalis sp and Rorippa nasturtium) which had been abundant prior to drainage.