Update: June 2020, CAISIE Progress on the Canals

by Stephanie Evers
Summer surveys of the Grand Canal and Barrow navigation are well underway as part of the CAISIE project

Following the discovery of the Asian clam in April 2020, sampling trips have been undertaken to try to discover the full extent of the clam infestation.

The area around St. Mullins has been a hub of activity with staff from the Central Fisheries board, CAISIE and Southern Regional Fisheries Board all helping out with the research. A range of sampling techniques has been used including deploying SCUBA divers to the site to quantify the problem.

Invasive species survey

On the 24th May 2020, the CFB and CAISIE staff undertook a week and a half long boat based survey of the Grand Canal (west) and the Barrow Navigation.

Staff from The Central Board were gratefully aided with the logistics by Waterways Ireland in this large scale operation to assess the distribution of invasive species throughout this network of canals. The team recorded information on native plant communities, invasive species, drainage structures/angling infrastructure (as this may aid in facilitating movement of invasives between the canal and neighbouring rivers) and stakeholder usage at over 90 locations along the 227km stretch. This data will contribute to up-to-date maps of the invasive species distribution as well as informing the design of strategic action plans to control the problem species.

A number of invasive species were found in abundance throughout the trip including Himalayan Balsam, Japanese knotweed, Crassula helmsii and Elodea nuttallii. However the full extent of the problem will not be known until the entire Grand Canal is surveyed. The stretch between Lowtown and Dublin (Grand Canal East) is next on the agenda and the team are hopeful the good weather will continue!

Invasive species survey Gallery