Wildlife suffering because lake levels are being kept low

Wildlife suffering because lake levels are being kept low

8 February 2017

A LOW water level at the Clea Lakes in Killyleagh exposes swans and other birdlife to savage attacks from foxes, it has been claimed.

A number of concerned landowners — whose properties border the lake — want the Rivers Agency to maintain a level agreed by all interested parties following a series of meetings to safeguard wildlife, mud flats and protect important nesting grounds.

The landowners, who have held a series of meetings with Rivers Agency officials on the water level  issue over a number of years, claim the government agency is breaking wildlife law by exposing swans to predatory attack after reneging on a commitment reached in 2012.

Landowners say the Rivers Agency is insisting on a water level of 17.5 metres above sea level, despite agreement in 2012 to maintain the level at 18 metres.

They say agreement to increase the water level by half a metre almost five years ago was reached after concerns were raised with the PSNI and RSPB about attacks on wildlife when foxes killed a number of swans whose nests were exposed.

Landowners are concerned the Rivers Agency is now insisting no agreement was ever in place to keep the water level at 18 metres and maintain that increasing it does not flood neighbouring land. 

Mr John Haslett said landowners were happy with increasing the level by half a metre and explaining the background to the issue said the lake was allowed to virtually run dry in 2006 and 2008 and thereafter. He revealed that since 2010, a vast amount water is drained out of the lake every spring time.

“During my 40 years here when the lake level was controlled by the former Killyleagh tannery, there was never an issue and everything was hunky dory,” he said. “Problems with the water level, which is controlled by a nearby sluice gate, surfaced in 2006 when the lake virtually became dry. This was the first time the water level was very low and it was dramatic.”

Mr Haslett explained when the level was subsequently raised in 2012, there were no problems and everyone was happy.

“Between 2006 and before the water level was raised, we did not see any cygnets. Once the level was raised the animals appeared. From a management point of view, increasing the lake level by half a metre as landowners had suggested did the trick.”

Mr Haslett said landowners met with Rivers Agency officials in April 2012, with its officials suggesting it should formalise the lake level at 18 metres which he insisted happened.

“Everyone was happy, but three years later the Rivers Agency denied there was all-party agreement on the level of the lake. This organisation is not being honest and has backtracked on the earlier agreement,” he declared.

“While there are no official minutes of the meetings with the Rivers Agency, and nothing in black and white about the water level agreement everyone was happy with, we have our own record of what was said at the meetings and are very clear.”

Mr Haslett said landowners argue that by keeping the level of the lake lower than they had suggested, the Rivers Agency is breaking the law, given the impact this is having on wildlife in the area and the waterway’s ecology. He said while the water level varies over the course of the year, reducing the level every spring causes problems.

Another landowner, Mr Jack Larkin, said as things currently stand, swans and other wildlife that live on the lake are “vulnerable” when the water level decreases. He said swans in particular only realise something is wrong when it is too late, are attacked and left “high and dry.”

He added: “We know the water level we suggested is the correct one and it will not flood adjoining land and properties. The Rivers Agency is contributing to the decimation of wildlife and the issue needs to be addressed.”