Blackwater River (Kerry) Special Area of Conservation (site code IE002173)
Blackwater River (Kerry) Special Area of Conservation is selected for a single habitat listed on Annex I of the Habitats Directive
4030 European dry heaths
The site is also selected for the following species listed on Annex II of the same directive:
1024 Geomalacus maculosus Kerry Slug
1029 Margaritifera margaritifera Freshwater Pearl Mussel
1106 Salmo salar Atlantic Salmon
1303 Rhinolophus hipposideros Lesser Horseshoe Bat
1355 Lutra lutra Otter
Information on the Natura designated sites in the two river catchments can be found at http://www.npws.ie/protectedsites/
Killarney National Park, MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and Caragh River Catchment Special Area of Conservation (site code IE0000365)
The Killarney National Park, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks and Caragh River Catchment Special Area of Conservation is an extensive area that encompasses the Iveragh peninsula and the Paps Mountains, stretching from Millstreet in the east to Waterville in the west. It is the most mountainous region in Ireland and includes Carrauntoohill (1039 m A.S.L.), the highest mountain peak in the country. The underlying geology is almost entirely Old Red Sandstone. Glacial processes have shaped the sandstone into characteristic ridges and valleys.
The SAC is selected for the following EU Habitats Directive Annex I habitats:
3110 Oligotrophic waters containing very few minerals of sandy plains (Littorelletalia uniflorae)
3130 Oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters with vegetation of the Littorelletea
uniflorae and/or of the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea
3260 Water courses of plain to montane levels with the Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho- Batrachion vegetation
4010 Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix
4030 European dry heaths
4060 Alpine and Boreal heaths
5130 Juniperus communis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands
6130 Calaminarian grasslands of the Violetalia calaminariae
6410 Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clavey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae)
7130 Blanket bog (*active only)
7150 Depressions on peat substrates of the Rhynchosporion
91A0 Old sessile oak woods with Ilex and Blechnum in British Isles
91E0 Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae) *
91J0 Taxus baccata woods of the British Isles *
(* indicates priority habitats).
The site is also selected for the following species listed under Annex II of the Habitats Directive:
1024 Geomalacus maculosus Kerry Slug
1029 Margaritifera margaritifera Freshwater Pearl Mussel
1065 Euphydryas aurinia Marsh Fritillary
1095 Petromyzon marinus Sea lamprey
1096 Lampetra planeri River Lamprey
1099 Lampetra fluviatilis Brook Lamprey
1103 Alosa fallax Killarney Shad
1106 Salmo salar Atlantic Salmon
1303 Rhinolophus hipposideros Lesser Horseshoe Bat
1355 Lutra lutra Otter
1421 Trichomanes speciosum Killarney Fern
1833 Najas flexilis Slender Naiad