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Interaction between biological research 5.2 Pollution Control Measures 5.2.1 Farmyard Inspections As there was little or no industry in the catchment, the suspicion was that agricultural effluent was the main cause of enrichment of the lake. Two fisheries staff were deployed, on a full-time basis, on continuous inspec- tions of farmyards right throughout the catchemnt, an area of approximately 250 square miles. Report sheets were completed in respect of more than 500 farms and all problem cases were logged for further investigation by the Board's Fisheries Environmental Officer, an Environmental Science graduate. A total of 140 warning letters were issued, two farmers were prosecuted and 230 farms are now being in- spected regularly. This work has re- sulted in a major improvement in management of farm effluent in the catchment. 5.2.3 Monitoring of Planning Appli- cations 5 The Board's Fisheries Environmental Officer monitors all planning applic- tions in respect of proposed house construction or other developments around the lake shore. The siting of septic tanks around certain parts of the shoreline is a particular concern due to inability of soils to absorb ef- fluent (Thorne 1988). 5.2.4 Phosphate Loading Study A phosphate loading study was in- itiated in conjunction with the Regional Water Laboratory and the Local Authority. All major feeder streams to the lake are sampled on a weekly basis for phosphate and flow read- ings. Any significant rise in phosphate readings is communicated to the Board's inspection staff who immedi- ately concentrate their work in the area indicated. 5.2.5 Monitoring of Peat Silt Pollu- tion 5.2.2 Sewage Inspections Particular attention was also paid to possible sewage discharges from various points including private houses, hotels, a school and an out- dated local authority sewage plant. One hotel was prosecuted and, as a result of pressure from the Board, two hotels and a large school installed modern sewage treatment systems. The Board is at present prosecuting the Local Authority in relation to dis- charges at the municipal sewage plant which discharges to the River Deel, the main tributary of Lough Conn. A state company is engaged in harvesting milled peat, used for elec- tricity generation, in part of the catch- ment. Substantial quantities of this can be washed into rivers and streams. As well as having a highly adverse effect on spawning beds (Gargan and Caffrey 1990), there is some evidence that such peat deposits can result in release of phosphates under certain conditions. Research on this by the Environmen- tal Research Unit of the Department of the Environment has not yet been completed. Close monitoring of the