by Alan Jacques
A NEW environmental education initiative aimed at promoting the aquatic and biodiversity resources of the River Loobagh in south County Limerick is making a big splash with young learners.
‘StreamScapes Loobagh’ is backed up by a dedicated local environmental booklet which is being distributed to communities in the Loobagh catchment area.
According to senior executive engineer with Limerick City and County Council, Anne Goggin, the programme is being utilised to enable communities of the River Loobagh to learn about the important links between high status local water quality and human health, thriving socio-economy, higher value agricultural produce and biodiversity.
“We are excited to be producing this programme and encourage people to engage,” said Ms Goggin.
Students from Kilfinane National School gathered along the banks of the River Loobagh recently to explore the area as part of the programme. The visit by the school children was followed by a visit to the river by members of the local community.
The Kilfinane event was one of three taking place over the coming weeks with others scheduled for Ardpatrick on Monday last and Kilmallock on Monday, May 18.
“The children and their teachers really enjoyed their exploration of the River Loobagh. Amongst the interesting wildlife species identified and documented on the stretch of river by the Well Road were salmon and trout fry, juvenile glass eel or ‘elvers’ — all the way from the Saragossa Sea — and crayfish,” Anne revealed.
“They also found a range of stonefly and mayfly nymphs and cased caddis fly larvae which points towards a very high quality river environment at that location.”
