Lough Fern
Donegal, IrelandView mapDirections
EPA Ireland publishes the water-quality measurements for Lough Fern. Here is what has been measured.
- Limited data
Lough Fern in Donegal, Ireland has official water-quality measurements, shown as reported. Phosphorus: 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3 µg/L.
How Lough Fern is classified
Lough Fern in Ireland is published with the authority's own measurements and class. The measurements here are published by the agency that samples the lake, as reported. Sampling here has recorded phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a), but not water clarity.
LakeQuality publishes no grade of its own beside it. Everything below thathas been measured is reported on this page.
Monitoring: the Environmental Protection Agency of Ireland, via UNEP GEMS/Water, with WFD lake names from EPA Ireland.
Lough Fern is a lake in Donegal County, Ireland.
Source: the Environmental Protection Agency of Ireland, via UNEP GEMS/Water, with WFD lake names from EPA Ireland — not the EPA Water Quality Portal, last sampled 2023-11-06. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lough Fern is safe to swim in today is a call for the Environmental Protection Agency of Ireland, via UNEP GEMS/Water, with WFD lake names from EPA Ireland and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Lough Fern
These are the measurements EPA Ireland publishes for Lough Fern. More on the source.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3 µg/L. TSI 47.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 27µg/L | Measured, not scored The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 3µg/L | Measured, not scored The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 47 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Lough Fern
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lough Fern
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lough Fern in Donegal, Ireland — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Lough Fern
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Follow Lough Fern’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fishing Lough Fern
Frequently asked questions about Lough Fern
Where is Lough Fern?
- Lough Fern is a lake in Donegal, Ireland. This page reports official water-quality measurements, shown as reported.
What is the water quality of Lough Fern?
- Lough Fern in Donegal, Ireland has official water-quality measurements, shown as reported. Phosphorus: 27 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3 µg/L.
Is Lough Fern safe to swim in?
- Lough Fern has official nutrient and clarity measurements, not a bacteria swim class and not a safety clearance. Algal blooms, currents, and depth are not covered. Always check local notices before swimming.
Explore Lough Fern across LakeQuality
More lakes in Ireland
Where this data comes from
177 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2016–2023. Retrieved from UNEP GEMS/Water GFQA (not the EPA Water Quality Portal) on 2026-08-16.
Collected and reported by
- European Environment Agency
europeanenvironmentagenc177 samples · —
Analytical methods
- GEMStat OPEN / CC BY 4.0
- EPA Ireland WFD lake waterbodies CC BY 4.0
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
IRL00032IRL00033
Authority classifications are shown as the authority published them. See where the data comes from and data sources.