Flooding fear as rainfall brings abnormally high water levels on Shannon

There are fears that a continuation of the rainfall seen in recent months could lead to 2008 being an especially bad year for flooding by the Shannon. According to figures obtained from Waterways Ireland this week, levels on the Shannon downstream from Athlone are at an alarming 2.13 metres above average for this time of year. Furthermore, levels on Lough Ree are 0.75 metres above the expected levels for September, according to measurements taken last Sunday. Ray Dunne, Western Regional Manager with Waterways Ireland, said he was not aware if the current water levels on the Shannon represented a record for this time of year but he commented that they 'would seem to be quite unusual (for September).' Mr Dunne attributed the high levels to large amount of rainfall during the month of August. He said that Waterways Ireland had a flood management regime and that all the necessary flooding controls were in place. 'From our point of view we are doing all that we can. Obviously we can"t do anything to stop the water levels from rising when there has been a particularly high level of rainfall. But, speaking as a lay person, I would expect it to be a relatively dry winter given that we had so much rain over the course of the summer,' he said. The levels recorded on the rivers last weekend were significantly higher than they had been a month previously - when levels on the Shannon downstream from Athlone were 1.45 metres above normal for the time of year and Lough Ree levels were 0.5 metres above the seasonal average. Speaking last month, a Clonbonny resident stated that flooding affecting farmers in his area had increased dramatically in recent years. 'You would have the odd flash flood years ago but it wouldn"t be anything like what we"re experiencing now,' he said. *If you have been affected by recent flooding on the Shannon and wish to tell your story, contact Adrian Cusack in the Westmeath Independent on 090 64 34324 or at: adrian.cusack@westmeathindependent.ie