Roe Valley angler expresses fears that local rivers are being 'poisoned'

A lifelong angler from County Derry has expressed fears that local rivers are being ‘poisoned’ by ‘unmonitored illegal outfall’.

Ronan Deehan, a resident of the Roe Valley area, has spoken out in a bid to highlight the issue and is calling on government departments to take more action in an effort to protect rivers in the area.

Mr Deehan said that one particular drain system, which was installed on August 25 2025 in the Roe Valley Country Park, an area which is protected, has no consent and the pipe is entering the River Roe directly into a spawning area, which is illegal under the Fisheries Act.

He believes that this is having a detrimental impact on the environment and aquatic life which should be protected.

The north Derry man has also raised concerns over the installation of the pipe stating that local fisheries were not informed and did not receive any correspondence from anyone involved prior to the work commencing.

He says as there is an ‘illegal outfall’ in the river, he believes regulatory bodies like NIEA should use their powers to issue a ‘'cease and desist' order in an effort to stop any pollution.

“From the Glenshane to Lough Foyle the rivers are being poisoned,” he said.

“Even though the Roe Valley is an area of significant scientific interest, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), Loughs Agency, NI Water and the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) are failing to act in the interest of protecting the River Roe.”

Mr Deehan says government agencies which are enforcing restrictions on local anglers are deflecting from the main issues affecting the rivers.

Recently the Loughs Agency announced a reduction in salmon carcass tags for the 2026 angling season after monitoring revealed exceptionally low numbers of Atlantic salmon returning to rivers in the Foyle area in 2025.  They issued new advice to anglers stating all rivers in Loughs Agency's area will operate on a catch-and-release basis until June 1 to ‘manage and protect declining salmon stocks in the Foyle and Carlingford systems’. 

“They shouldn’t be enforcing restrictions on local anglers when they know full well angling isn't the issue,” continued Mr Deehan. 

“These restrictions have a detrimental effect on elderly and disabled anglers when methods are removed.”

Mr Deehan said he believes NI Water has outfall entering the River Roe in numerous places and it is not being monitored properly.

NI Water has responded to these claims stating: “NI Water can confirm the storm water pipe referenced is fully compliant with all relevant legal and environmental consents.

“Following a thorough review, we can confirm that all discharge activities are conducted in accordance with current regulations and permitted standards.

“As a company, we place the highest possible priority on the protection of the environment.”

Mr Deehan has also shared his concerns over the lack of enforcement from the government agencies and various departments, adding that none of them will take responsibility for the pipe.

“New drainage is being put into the river and, from my experience recently, no department or agency has any interest in enforcing an illegal outfall.

“I know it's illegal as I've the emails stating it crossed DAERA/NIEA land without permission or consent.”

When contacted about the issues raised by Mr Deehan, a DAERA spokesperson said: “NIEA’s Water Pollution Response and Enforcement Team investigated a drainage related water pollution report on the River Roe made by Mr. Deehan on 5th   November 2025.  This related to the collapse of a silt trap at the location.  The storm outfall pipe concerned was inspected and a discharge was observed from it.  This was during a period of heavy rain.  No silt trap / fence was in position during the inspection.  Whilst the water from the outfall pipe was discoloured there was no impact on the River Roe which was in flood due to heavy rain.  NIEA Water Quality Inspectors carried out further inspections of the discharge on 10th and 12th November 2025.  No issues were observed with discharge during these inspections.

“As heavy rain contributed to the observed discharge and there was no impact on the River Roe, no enforcement or remedial action was required.”

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However, Mr Deehan says the main issue is the prevention of damage to the spawning area of wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout.

“The contractors were instructed back in August to install a silt trap. The substandard material they used was set to fail. I notified NIEA it would wash away in the first flooding, which it did, again I notified NIEA it had washed away. They later replied to say there's no silt trap there. I was actually speechless and couldn't believe that response.

“It's clear within the fisheries act that it's illegal to disrupt or impact spawning areas.

It will only take one incident to cause irreversible damage.”

None of the government bodies contacted by the County Derry Post have admitted responsibility for the pipe and its maintenance.

Both the Department for Infrastructure and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council state that they are not responsible for the pipe in question.

A DfI spokesperson said: “The Department can confirm that it did not install and is not responsible for the maintenance of the pipe referenced.

“An application for consent to discharge surface water to the River Roe was received under Schedule 6 of the Drainage (Northern Ireland) Order 1973. As part of this statutory process, the applicant was required to submit environmental information to inform Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) screening, including consultation from the relevant environmental authorities.

“Following assessment and consideration of all information provided, the Department granted consent to limited storm water discharge in October 2024.”

Meanwhile, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council said the responsibility lies with NIEA.

“This matter is not the responsibility of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and falls under the remit of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA),” the spokesperson said.

A Loughs Agency spokesperson said: “Loughs Agency is the competent authority for the protection of Atlantic salmon within the Foyle and Carlingford areas. The Agency is a statutory consultee for any planning applications which may have an impact on the aquatic environment. Additionally, Loughs Agency is consulted on discharge consents by NIEA and Schedule 6 applications by DfI Rivers in relation to impacts on fish species and Atlantic salmon in particular.

 “Loughs Agency is not responsible for the installation of stormwater drainage or their maintenance, and was consulted in relation to the stormwater drain which Mr Deehan has concerns over. Loughs Agency reviewed the Schedule 6 application and was content that the discharging of stormwater at this point would have a negligible impact on the aquatic environment on the basis that it conveyed only rainwater to the watercourse at the greenfield run-off rate, and best practice was observed by the contractor during the construction phase.

 “When alerted that there was silt-laden run-off coming from the outfall, Loughs Agency staff carried out a site investigation on 26th August 2025 and carried out a follow up visit on 27th August 2025 to confirm that appropriate mitigation measures had been put in place to prevent any further issues. A silt curtain had been placed on the outflow to catch any build-up of silt from the construction, and the incident was passed on to NIEA. Loughs Agency staff carried out a further inspection on 5th November 2025, however, no discharge could be seen entering the river as it was in flood with the outfall submerged. The Agency continued to carry out routine watercourse inspections at the site with no discharge noted, only clean water running from the outfall.

 “Should deleterious matter be observed entering the river from the storm drain, Loughs Agency urges members of the public to report this through the Water Watch app on the Loughs Agency website, or by calling the 24-hour Loughs Agency Response Line on +44 (0)28 7134 2100.”

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Mr Deehan has suggested that a SUDS (sustainable urban drainage system) could help reduce the environmental impact from hard surface run-off and help protect the future of the rivers.

“Future generations stand to lose everything we've had the pleasure to enjoy growing up,” he continued.

“The public need to report everything they see to NIEA and take details of who they speak to and also ask for a reference number, no matter how insignificant the matter.

“Our rivers are dying because of unchallenged pollution and government bodies want you to believe it's individuals rather than cooperate greed and short cuts.

“I, like many, can only hope and pray my grandchildren and theirs get to experience the same joys we did as children of the beautiful Roe Valley.”

Independent MLA Clare Sugden said the matter ‘should not be taken lightly’. 

“There is real concern about a drainage pipe installed last year that is discharging into the River Roe. This is a protected river and the pipe is believed to be entering close to a spawning area, so it is not something that should be taken lightly,” she said.

“This has been raised with Ministers and the relevant departments to get clear answers on what permissions are in place and who is responsible for oversight. While inspections have taken place and no pollution has been identified so far, that does not remove the concern about how this situation has been allowed to continue.

“When it comes to rivers, prevention matters. Once damage is done it can take years to repair. People want reassurance that the right safeguards are in place now and that action will be taken quickly if any risk to the river is identified.”