Popular County Kildare lakes amenity area is being damaged by weeds and silt

Weed growth and the accumulation of silt are damaging the Naas lakes area.

Independent Ireland councillor Ger Dunne asked what Kildare County Council intended to do to “improve the condition of the lakes.”

According to Kildare County Council official Simon Wallace said an ecologist was engaged at the end of last summer to look at the biodiversity of the area and to make recommendations.

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Among these is improving the water quality and the control of a quick growing weed known as Parrots Feather “which is invasive and growing in the lakes.”

However in a report Mr Wallace said neither of these issues can be solved easily and are going to take time to investigate further. The report doesn’t raise any concerns about the growth being detrimental to wildlife and highlights the fact that the growth provides cover for birds to escape predators. 

He also said initial investigations concerning the  removal or control of Parrots Feather “show that there is no one best way to control it.” 

He said that KCC has engaged consultants “to investigate further the invasive species” and a report on their findings and recommendations is awaited.

Cllr Seamie Moore said mud and silt has accumulated “up to the top of the water” and he claimed that nitrogen-enriched run off is going into the lakes.

“We’re not doing anything to help it,” he said.