AQW 8284/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 06/10/2020
Answered On Date: 13/10/2020
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for his assessment of the environmental impact of recent actions to release the valves and lowering the water level at Portavoe Reservoir.

Answer:

Departmental officers have visited this site on a number of occasions, most recently on 7 October. Water levels were found to be slightly lower (approximately 20cm below usual level), but within the normal range for a reservoir. There has been no apparent impact on biodiversity, fish or other wildlife from this action, and that should remain the case as long as water levels are not subject to further lowering or unnatural fluctuations.