COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM / TEMPLEOGUE / FIRHOUSE / BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, May 09, 2023

QUESTION NO. 5

QUESTION: Councillor L. Hagin Meade

To ask the Manager to describe the aquatic and invertebrate life in the Dodder River running through South Dublin County Council?

REPLY:

The River Dodder is rich in a range of plant, animal, bird, and insect life.  Many of these species are directly related to the river and its aquatic habitat, while others are generalists that are associated with the grassland and woodland habitats that occur along the River Dodder Linear Park.

Aquatic native mammals such as the otter are known to occur along the river, while the non-native and invasive American Mink is also known to range along the river and its associated habitats.  Fox and badger are also sometimes seen. 

A range of different species of waterbirds occur, including Dipper, Grey Heron, Mallard, Kingfisher,  Grey Wagtail, Moorhen and Coot, while larger birds like Swans and Cormorant will also occur in places. 

The river supports a stock of wild brown trout which is complemented by additional stocking of farmed trout.  Lamprey, an unusual aquatic fish, occurs at points along the river.  These ancient family of fish are jawless, having an oral sucker pad instead of a mouth with jaws.

The range of aquatic insect life depends on water quality, but in places where water quality is good species such as Water Boatman, Pond Skater, Whirlygig Beetle, May Fly, Caddis Fly, and Stone Fly can occur.  These provide food for fish and water birds, while they also support local populations of bats like the Daubenton bat which is particularly associated with riverine habitats.

Wet woodland grows in sections along the river at Old Bawn, and studies indicate that this habitat is particularly important for ground and water beetles.  Beetles are recorded in association with the gravel-bed habitats and muddy ground which floods between the trees.  Rare beetle species which were first recorded here only once before over a century ago have recently been re-recorded in these wet woodlands.  72 different species of beetle were identified, making the Dodder a site of great importance for both aquatic and terrestrial beetle conservation.