Tempo River

{{Short description|Small river in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox river | name = | native_name =  | name_other = | name_etymology = | nickname =  | image = The Tempo River Bridge west of Maguiresbridge|250px | image_size = | image_caption = Tempo River Bridge | image_alt =  | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | map_alt = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_map_alt = | mapframe = yes | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = Northern Ireland | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = County Fermanagh | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 =  | length = | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location = | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max =  | source1 = | source1_location = | source1_coordinates =  | source1_elevation = | mouth = | mouth_location = | mouth_coordinates =  | mouth_elevation = | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = | basin_landmarks = | basin_population = | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | waterbodies = | waterfalls = | bridges = | ports = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }} The '''Tempo River''' is a small river in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The river rises near Dooneen Forest, flows through the town of Tempo, finally joining with the Colebrooke River before it enters Upper Lough Erne.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2017-07-07|title=Tempo River ASSI {{!}} Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs|url=https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/protected-areas/tempo-river-assi|access-date=2021-08-17|website=DAERA}}</ref> The Tempo River locale has been designated as an Area of Special Scientific Interest in Northern Ireland.<ref name=":0" />

The underlying geology of the river is old red sandstone, carboniferous limestone and basal clastic bedrock with extensive sand and gravel deposits throughout its length. The river is lowland riffle and run dominated with occasional deeper sections of glide.<ref name=":0" />

The Tempo is one of the few rivers in Northern Ireland which still retains a substantial population of the freshwater pearl mussel.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=Reid|first1=N|last2=Preston|first2=J|last3=Keys|first3=A|date=2011|title=Freshwater pearl mussel survey of Northern 2011|url=https://pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/17961181/Reid_et_al_Margaritifera_Survey_2011_.pdf|journal=Northern Ireland Environment Agency|via=Queen's University Belfast}}</ref> This species was once very common, covering large areas of riverbed in many of the river systems of Northern Ireland. In recent decades it has undergone a dramatic decline and has totally disappeared from all but a small number of rivers. The decline has been largely due to historical pearl fishing and more recently river engineering works and poor water quality. Remnant populations such as that occurring at the Tempo River are of considerable conservation importance as they are generally genetically and morphologically distinct and may be useful in any future conservation or reintroduction programme.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The Freshwater Pearl Mussel population in Tempo River was assessed as 'stable' in a 2018 study by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2018|title=European Community Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (92/43/EEC): S1029 ‐ Freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera)|url=https://jncc.gov.uk/jncc-assets/Art17/S1029-NI-Habitats-Directive-Art17-2019.pdf|journal=Joint Nature Conservation Committee}}</ref>

Animals found in the river include otters, white-clawed crayfish, kingfishers, Atlantic salmon, and brown trout.<ref name=":0" />

==See also== *List of rivers of Ireland

==References== {{reflist}}

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Category:Rivers of County Fermanagh