Flooding works in Dunmanway hampered by  endangered freshwater pearl mussel

Lorries slowly making their way through the badly flooded and virtually impassable roads after the Bandon river overflowed at Ardcahan Bridge north of Dunmanway. Picture: Richard Mills

The endangered freshwater pearl mussel is proving a major stumbling block to preventing repeated flooding on a section of road that is the most used route for West Cork motorists travelling to and from Cork City.

The road at Ardcahan Bridge, Dunmanway, floods several times a year and motorists have had to be rescued after underestimating the depth of the water.

The bridge lies at the confluence of the Caha River and Bandon River and the land there is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), which means the county council faces many restrictions as to what remedial works it can carry out to alleviate flooding.

A meeting of the West Cork Municipal District Council heard that the council can only carry out some minor work on the damage done to the bridge in recent years.

The EU-protected freshwater pearl mussel.

A senior engineer said there will be no clearing of debris around the eyes of the bridge to minimise the impact of flooding, as this was deemed unacceptable from an environmental point of view because it could impact the EU-protected freshwater pearl mussel.

“Consequently, the proposed works being brought forward will not have a flood-preventative impact,” he added.

Independent councillor Declan Hurley, who lives in Dunmanway, had sought a report on what measures could be used to prevent the road being repeatedly closed by flooding.

He said this was the fourth time since 2013 he’d raised the issue and with climate change flooding would only get worse there unless something is done.

“It’s an important link road from Dunmanway to Macroom and it repeatedly closes during heavy rainfall. A lot of motorists get stuck in it. It’s the only road in the county that gets continually flooded. The road needs to be risen,” Mr Hurley said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Joe Carroll said people from Skibbereen now travel that road to go to Cork rather than via Clonakilty because it’s quicker.

“SatNavs now show it’s the best way to Cork,” added Independent councillor Danny Collins.

Skibbereen-based Independent councillor Karen Coakley said it’s the route she uses to go to Cork and “something has to be done to address this” repeated flooding.

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She added she’s concerned that someday a motorist will lose their lives there.

“It’s a joke that a public road can be left flood because there’s a pearl water mussel somewhere in the vicinity,” Mr Hurley added.

Engineers said that they’d talk to the county council’s capital flood projects unit to see if there is any solution but reiterated that the presence of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel and the SAC designation pose major constraints on what can be done.