The Dunkellin River forms part of a Drainage District and maintenance responsibility for this area lies with the Local Authority. However, the Commissioners of Public Works are currently in consultation with the Irish Farmers Association and Galway Co. Council in relation to a programme of maintenance works to relieve flooding on the Dunkellin River from downstream of Killeely to Craughwell. The proposed works are to include a portion of the existing Drainage District in the Aggard, Monksfield and the Ardrahan areas.
The Dunkellin River drains a number of turloughs and is therefore ecologically very sensitive, and the OPW will be consulting with a range of conservation management groups including National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Western Regional Fisheries Board and the Central Fisheries Board. Pending a favourable outcome to this consultation process, it is envisaged that these works will commence in 2008.