Permanent dam could solve pollution issue in tributary to River Moy
A dam was put in place to cope with an oil leak in the Castlebar town river.
A Castlebar councillor has called for a permanent dam to be installed along the Castlebar River to capture litter that is being washed up.
Fine Gael Cllr Ger Deere said a dam put in place to cope with a recent oil leak could have future environmental benefits.
“Following the recent oil leak into the river in Castlebar, a temporary oil trap was installed in the town river at the back of Linenhall Street to halt the continuation of the spill. The oil leak thankfully has been cleared, but as a result of the temporary oil dam being put in place, its benefits in capturing litter as it flows along the river have been highlighted," he explained.
Cllr Deere, who is also vice-chairperson of Castlebar Tidy Towns Committee, said the river is a tributary of the Moy, one of Europe’s premier fishing destinations, and needs to be protected.
“Every year we collect thousands of plastic bottles and all types of litter which have travelled along the river that washes ashore on lands at Turlough. If a permanent dam was put in place at strategic locations along the Castlebar River, we would be able to gather the litter which is disposed of and dropped into the river."
Cllr Deere said a permanent dam could have real benefits.
“I am now calling on Mayo County Council, in consultation with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and the Office of Public Works (OPW), to install more permanent and suitable dams, such as was used for this oil leak, at strategic locations along the Castlebar River to collect and prevent the large amount of litter which is washed up in Turlough,” he stated.
