Problems Lough Atalia face
Just like all lakes, problems will often occur. Here is the problems that are currently happening at Lough Atalia:
1.Litter
According to AnTaisce report carried out in 2019, Lough Atalia got Grade B in terms of cleanliness. AnTaisce said there was a few litter items but the reason why their grade was a B was because of the graffiti 'art' from the long stretch of walls. So in conclusion, yes, there is litter but not a lot of it. This report also gave the children's playground at the lake Grade A because the play equipment was in good condition and there was also 'No Smoking' notices in the park. However, when I came to park, it was locked off.
2. Pollution?
According to a survey carried out in 2006, and published in 2013 by The Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht, Lough Atalia is a large estuarine lagoon in the east of Galway. An estuarine lagoon is a shallow body of water which is partially enclosed with more than one or more streams flowing into it ,e.g the River Corrib flows into Lough Atalia, and they also have a connection into the sea. The report also said that Lough Atalia has been impacted by domestic and industrial effects from the city. Being 'estuarine' meant that lake bed was bare, soft mud. Only fifthteen fauna was recorded in the 2006 report. However, this fauna is extremely poor. This report said that Lough Atalia was highly polluted and there is not conservative value. According to RPubs, Lough Atalia is very acidic, with its ph being 7 at the lowest, and 8 at the highest. Lough Atalia's highest point of slanity( amount of salt dissolved in the water) is 20, which is quite concerning. Lough Atalia also has a low about of dissolved oxygen(availability of oxygen to living organisms), which ranges between 9 to 10.5. This lake is also high in nitrate, which is the reason why Lough Atalia is very acidic.
3. Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Knotweed notice at Lough Atalia
Recalling from Wildlife in Lough Atalia, Japanese knotweed is an invasive weed, which can regenerate itself and grows extremely fast, at an inch a day. However, Japanese knotweed is a big problem in Lough Atalia. Furthermore, there are houses on the banks of Lough Atalia. Japanese knotweed has a big root system and grow through concrete. Therefore, some houses on the banks of Lough Atalia have a higher chance of experiencing Japanese knotweed growing through their houses, thereby forcing people to move or to get their house demolished.
4.Murder
In October of 2007, Manuela Riedo a seventeen-year old Swiss girl, who was an exchange student, was murdered at Lough Atalia. She was walking home from the King Head's Pub. She took the small, isolated and very sketchy path by the railway to get home. She was heavily beaten there, and then brutally murdered. If you visit Lough Atalia, there is a memorial bench in honour of her. In 2009, Gerald Barry was sentenced to death for rape and murder of Manuela Riedo.
