Fens, Mires and Whorl Snails Assessment (OPW, 2007)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SERIES OF ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS ON ARTERIAL DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE No 11 Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) of the Effects of Statutory Arterial Drainage Maintenance Activities on Fens, Mires & Whorl Snails Office of Public Works Environment Section West Region Drainage Maintenance Headford Co. Galway Telephone: +353 (0)93 35 456 Fax: +353 (0)93 35 631 Version 0309 The Office of Public Works March 2009 EcIA of the effects of drainage maintenance on fens, mires and whorl snails ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Disclaimer No part of this publication should be taken as a statement of the Office of Public Works policy. The views expressed by the author are not necessarily those of the Office of Public Works. The user of this report assumes full responsibility for any policy decisions and for any action taken as a result of any conclusions contained herein. Neither the Office of Public Works, nor the author may be held liable for the outcome of any policy decision or action taken by the users of this publication. 2 The Office of Public Works March 2009 EcIA of the effects of drainage maintenance on fens, mires and whorl snails ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Foreword This Ecological Impact Assessment follows on from the strategic approach outlined in “Series of Ecological Assessments on Arterial Drainage Maintenance No. 1: Screening of NATURA 2000 Sites for Impacts of Arterial Drainage Maintenance Operations”. It examines the impacts of statutory arterial drainage maintenance activities on fens, mires and whorl snails, outlines measures to mitigate any negative impacts, and possible enhancement opportunities. Environment Section 3 The Office of Public Works March 2009 EcIA of the effects of drainage maintenance on fens, mires and whorl snails ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The objective of this ecological impact assessment was to determine the likely effects of statutory arterial drainage maintenance activities on protected Annex I habitats fens and mires and protected Annex II whorl snail species in accordance with the requirements of the EU Habitats Directive. In Ireland there are twenty Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) sites designated for alkaline fens, Cladium fens, transition mires and whorl snails Vertigo angustior, V. geyeri and V. moulinsiana which overlap with Arterial Drainage Schemes channels on which works were carried out under the 1945 Arterial Drainage Act and the 1995 Amendment to that Act. Of this list of twenty SACs, ten representative sites were chosen for ecological site walkover surveys to assess the impact or potential impact of drainage maintenance works. An extended desk study of the all twenty sites, and the subject conservation interests, was also completed. It was found that the scientific literature relating to the conservation status and requirements of fen habitat indicate that land drainage and drying of wetland habitats has a significant, detrimental impact on fen and mire habitat and on whorl snail species. It is considered that where drainage maintenance results in the ongoing, long-term drying out of surface water and groundwater dependant habitats that this would constitute a significant impact. Further scientific study is required to assess the drying out effect of ongoing drainage maintenance on wetland and fen habitats, particularly within the SACs. The scope for future scientific study to be carried out by the OPW is as follows: • To what spatial extent if any does arterial drainage maintenance dry out fen habitat and is this spatial area increasing with ongoing maintenance i.e. are larger and larger areas of SAC sites being dried out or is it confined to a corridor either side of drainage channels. Irrespective of this it is important to note that drying out of fen habitat is considered a significant negative impact, particularly with regard to Cladium fen (priority Annex I habitat). • To what extent does fen habitat recover during the maintenance interval or has this area been permanently degraded. This must be assessed on a site by site basis in consultation with experts in NPWS and in utilising long term monitoring data interpreted by both hydro-geologists and ecologists. • To what extent do the groundwater levels fluctuate within a fen/mire habitat based on the drainage maintenance intervals and what is the impact on the habitat from this activity. • To what extent do drainage maintenance works affecting wetland and riparian habitats impact on whorl snails through the drying out of these habitats on which they depend. In addition, the direct impact of vegetation removal within channels containing protected whorl snail species requires further study to establish the significance of this potential impact. • As ongoing works have the potential to impact on these conservation interests it is recommended that these further studies are carried out prior to works taking place in susceptible drainage channels. It is understood that this may not be possible, with the requirement for ongoing drainage maintenance; however, the potential for direct impacts on fen and whorl snails has been identified in this report. It is recommended that these potential impacts are addressed in consultation with the NPWS in order to ensure drainage maintenance operations are compliant with the requirements of the EC (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997. 4 The Office of Public Works March 2009 EcIA of the effects of drainage maintenance on fens, mires and whorl snails ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TABLE OF CONTENTS Disclaimer...................................................................................................................................2 Foreword................................................................................................................................3 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 PROJECT OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................. 7 1.2 LEGAL FRAMEWORK .................................................................................................................. 8 1.2.1 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) ................................................................. 9 1.3 ARTERIAL DRAINAGE SCHEMES AND THEIR MAINTENANCE .................................................................. 10 1.3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 10 1.3.2 Particulars of maintenance works ...................................................................... 11 2 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................. 13 2.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 13 2.2 SELECTING SITES FOR FIELD ASSESSMENTS ......................................................................................... 14 2.3 CONSULTATION ..................................................................................................................... 15 3 DESK REVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 16 3.1 FENS AND MIRES ................................................................................................................... 16 3.1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 16 3.1.2 Classification ......................................................................................................... 17 3.1.3 Alkaline fens .......................................................................................................... 17 3.1.4 Cladium Fens ........................................................................................................ 18 3.1.5 Transition mires and quaking bogs ..................................................................... 19 3.1.6 Threats to Fen and Mire Habitats ........................................................................ 20 3.2 WHORL SNAILS ...................................................................................................................... 21 3.2.1 General overview ................................................................................................. 21 3.2.2 Narrow mouthed whorl snail ............................................................................... 22 3.2.2.1 Range ................................................................................................................................... 22 3.2.2.2 Habitat requirements of Vertigo angustior ..................................................................... 23 3.2.2.3 Pressures and threats .......................................................................................................... 24 3.2.3 Desmoulin’s whorl snail .......................................................................................