Karstification and groundwater-surface water interactions in the Meath-Westmeath lakeland region

Abstract

This thesis investigates the degree of karstification and the characteristics of groundwater - surface water interactions in the Meath-Westmeath Lakeland region. In particular, groundwater - lake interactions in the region are examined. The methodological framework adopted in the study involved conducting an initial pilot study over an area of 215 km2 situated in the Meath-Westmeath Lakeland region. More specifically, this area comprised of the lake catchments of Lough Owel, Lough Derravaragh, Lough Lene, White Lake, the Ben Loughs, and Lough Bane, and the spring catchments of Tobernacogany and Toberfaolaigh. Following from this initial pilot study, a smaller study area was selected which was representative of the region, and which was suitable for the implementation of the methodological framework employed in the detailed study. The pilot study comprised of a desk study and a surface water data collection programme. On the basis of results obtained during the pilot study, the catchments of Lough Owel and Lough Derravaragh were omitted from further study. The detailed study was then carried out over an area of approximately 33 km2 that had been selected from the initial pilot study area. The detailed study involved the collection of both groundwater and surface water data and the methods adopted included: groundwater standing water level measurement; stream flow measurement; water quality measurements; water tracing; drainage density calculation; and the calculation of water budgets.