Portmore Lough is of special scientific interst because of it's well developed transition from open water, through emergent swamp and fen, to carr woodland or fen meadow. It also has a considerable wintering wildfowl population.
The marginal vegetation of this eutrophic lough consists of extensive stands of common reed common club-rush and occasional lesser reedmace. This is backed by a reed canary grass tall fen, which merges in to into wet carr dominated by willow and alder. The surrounding fields contain tall grasses and sedge rich fen meadows.
Portmore lough also holds internationally important numbers of wintering wildfowl, with the key species - a significant proportion of the wintering population of pochard, also tufted duck and coot.
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