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Home > NIEA > Protected Areas > Areas of Special Scientific Interest > County Fermanagh > Upper Lough Erne - Galloon ASSI

Protected Areas

Upper Lough Erne - Galloon ASSI

Last updated: 5 February 2010

 

picture of Upper Lough Erne Galloon ASSI

Site No ASSI 090
Area 570 (ha)
Declared Date 02/02/1995
Confirmed Date 24/07/1995
County Fermanagh
Council(s) Fermanagh DC
Keywords Breeding Wader Assemblage
Breeding Waterfowl Assemblage
Fens, Higher Plant Assemblage
Invertebrate Assemblage
Eutrophic Lake, Otters
Purple Moor-grass And Rich Pasture
Reedbeds And Swamp
Wet Woodlands

This area in southern Upper Lough Erne includes the open waters of the lough, in addition to extensive, good quality, traditionally farmed and hence species rich grasslands on base-rich gleyed soils.
picture of a flowering frogbit © J.R. Crellin @ floralimages.co.ukThere are also wetland and other communities with notable transitions from open water to drier ground with the concomitant effect of giving important concentrations of both individual species and groups of species. This section of the lough is more sheltered than others such that open waters often give way to swamp zones. Behind these are areas of sedge dominated fen which can often be species rich. Wet woodland is also found with associated ground flora resembling the swamp and fen zones. The grasslands themselves exhibit variations dependant on the soils i.e. from strongly flushed to well-drained, more acidic soils.
The nationally rare Frogbit occurs frequently along with other plants which also have a restricted distribution nationally.
Otters also frequent the area along with wintering wildfowl and breeding waders.

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