Objections have been lodged with the European Union over a plan to realign a new stretch of road in north Tipperary by diverting a river. Local anglers believe it could endanger one of Lough Derg's prime trout- and salmon- spawning rivers.
North Tipperary County Council wants to realign the Nenagh-Thurles Road at Latteragh by diverting the Nenagh river.
The road plan, which was passed by councillors after a consultation process with the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board and Ormond Anglers Association, is set to go ahead in the coming week.
Shannon Regional Fisheries Board is awaiting legal opinion but in the interim it has put a contingency plan in place to minimise damage caused by work if it goes ahead.
The Ormond Anglers Association has submitted its objections to the EU on the grounds that it runs contrary to the Irish River Basin Development Plan and to EU directives on habitats, birds and water framework and quality.
"We have informed the EU, the Department of the Environment and the council about this. This is an attempt to stop the work because if it goes ahead, the damage will be done and it will be too late," said Mr Joe O'Donoghue, secretary of the association.
The association and the fisheries board argue that the council work could see the destruction of a prime salmon-spawning and nursery channel and the eventual reduction of trout stocks in the Nenagh river, a traditional wild brown trout habitat and a principle spawning ground on the east side of Lough Derg.
Already the fisheries board has warned the council that its proposal would "completely remove a meandering channel of river, which contains pockets of spawning gravel for trout" and the last remaining "untouched" section of the river.
Mr Karl Cashen, director of services for roads, transportation and emergency services with the council, said the road at Latteragh was being upgraded for reasons of road safety. "The river has, in some parts, undermined the road and parts of it have been eroded away." He said the council had received and noted a copy of the complaint to the EU lodged by the anglers, but had given proper consultation before the plan was adopted by councillors.
He said work would begin on the project in the coming week and that the council needed to press ahead with the realignment of the road before winter.
Mr Cashen said the council was aware of concerns and that it had met the fisheries board regarding the rehabilitation of the area. He said the council would undertake a "reasonable rehabilitation" of the river after the work is carried out.
Mr Eamon Cusack, chief executive officer with the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board, said it took a strong view on the matter and was examining its legal options. The fisheries board also objected strongly to the option put forward for building the new stretch of road.