The Slaney River Valley is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). This means it is considered to be important across Europe. The Slaney, the smaller streams and rivers that flow into it, and the land along its banks contain many habitats and species that are protected under law.
The Slaney was an important salmon river in the past. Salmon numbers have dropped in recent times because of pollution, river barriers, and rising water temperature, but some still travel up the river every year to lay their eggs.
The Slaney is home to jawless fish known as lampreys. They have sucker discs instead of a mouth and are native to Ireland. River and sea lampreys travel in from the sea to lay eggs in spring and summer but have trouble passing barriers like weirs. Brook lampreys live in the Slaney year round.
Ireland’s oldest living animal, the freshwater pearl mussel, is found in the Slaney. It can live for up to 130 years. It is a filter feeder, taking in and pushing out water, keeping small food particles. They need clean water to survive. Their numbers are falling as algae and pollution increase.
Insects such as the mayfly and stonefly spend their young lives underwater, finding them there can tell us the water quality is good.
You will find many birds along the Slaney, including the white-throated dipper, heron, grey wagtail, and kingfisher. They eat fish and insects that live in water. You can hear beautiful birdsong in Forrestalstown Woods.
Citizen Science
Please use the CrowdWater app to monitor river levels and record pollution in the Slaney.
