The Office of Public Works chairs the state agency working group which has oversight for water levels on the Shannon. Both the OPW and the ESB have issued statements in response to ongoing flooding at the Shannon Callows. The ESB says around 70 millimeters of water was recorded across Lough Ree earlier this month. This followed significant heavy rainfall from September 30th to October 4th, resulting in increasing water levels and flows into the River Shannon. The ESB says it has 15 sluice gates to manage the flow of water at Lough Ree during dry periods. As the water level in the Callows downstream rises, these gates are closed, it says, and no further control can be exercised on water levels. It says the vast majority of the water flowing from Lough Ree flows uncontrolled over the 170 metre weir alongside the sluice gates. The ESB closed all gates at Athlone by September 17th. The ESB says Lough Derg is the only lake where water levels are directly influenced by the generating station at Ardnacrusha. The lake, it says, does not influence water levels in the Callows above Meelick Weir in Offaly. This has been confirmed following independent studies, the ESB says.
Meanwhile, the Office of Public Works, also confirmed that further action cannot be taken once all sluice gates are open. It says due to the shallow gradient of the river and many natural restrictions along its course, the levels cannot be fully controlled especially when the Shannon is in flood. It says Waterways Ireland and the ESB monitor weather forecasts and water levels. Water levels, it says, are monitored and responded to multiple times a day, seven days a week.
