Increasing concerns expressed about rising level of Shannon

Water levels along the Shannon Callows have risen sharply over the last week, leading to increasing concern from local farmers about the effects of flooding on their land. One farmer from Clonbonny, who didn"t wish to be named, said that 'everybody in the area has been affected in some way by flooding - some more badly than others' and he felt that current water levels were similar to those experienced during the notoriously wet month of July 2007. He added that summer flooding had become an increasing problem in the locality over the last few years. 'You would have the odd flash flood years ago but it wouldn"t be anything like what we"re experiencing now. 'I think part of it is global warming and part of it is bad management and maintenance of the Shannon. Twenty years ago the board of works was very active in maintaining the river but then they forgot about it, and now it"s coming back to haunt them.' Asked about how the effects of the water levels on his farm, he said: 'Our fodder is affected by it and obviously we have to bring in more fodder for the winter months in order to replace what we"ve lost. You"d expect flooding in the winter months but now we"re getting it in the summer too.' In response to a query from the Westmeath Independent, Waterways Ireland yesterday (Tuesday) stated that levels on the Shannon downstream from Athlone were 1.45 metres above normal for the summer months, while Lough Ree levels were 0.5 metres above the summer average. Western Regional Manager, Ray Kenny, said he felt that, overall, water levels in Athlone were not as high as they had been last summer, and that Waterways Ireland had flooding controls in place - such as setting the sluices on the Shannon Weir to the closed position - in order to deal with the situation. A report in the Irish Times yesterday indicated that the government planned to bring forward the publication of a climate-change adaptation strategy in light of recent flooding across parts of the country. Meanwhile, farmers in Glasson and Tubberclair have avoided the majority of the flooding to date. 'We seem to have escaped the worst of it,' said Tubberclair"s Frank Daly. 'The levels on the lake are fairly high, but Tullamore seems to be the area nearest to us that has been hit very badly.' Another way in which the recent spell of bad weather has affected local residents was explained by Moyvoughley-based councillor Joe Flanagan. 'The amount of rainfall we"ve had has impacted hugely on roadworks, particularly on cul-de-sacs and tertiary roads, and as a result the spectre of potholes on our roads is with us again,' he said. Residents in areas such as Drumraney, Rosemount, Tang, and Ballymore had contacted Cllr Flanagan about the potholes on these roads. 'The bad condition of the roads is causing damage to people"s cars and I think the council will have to bring forward the start date on some works scheduled for 2009 in order to deal with this situation. It"s a very serious problem and I have made the Kilbeggan Area Office aware of how I feel about it. A number of elderly people would live near these cul-de-sacs and it"s not fair on them to have to deal with it.' He added that there was concern among people in his area about the effect of the rain on the harvesting of turf this year, and that he hoped there would be an upturn in the weather conditions this September/October in order to improve conditions on the bogs.