The River Blackwater Estuary Survey Welcome to the survey! Thank you for participating in our survey. Your feedback is of the utmost importance to this study.
The first section of this survey will explain the term 'ecosystem services' and give a brief description of the areas of interest. This section will take 4-6 minutes to read.
The second section will ask you questions related to these areas. This section will take 1-3 minutes to complete.
The final two sections are the most important part of the survey and will gather your opinions on the importance and potential of specific ecosystem services. This section will take 11-13 minutes to complete.
By pressing next, you agree to voluntarily take part in this survey and understand that your answers are completely anonymous. No personal or identifiable information will be collected about you. You have the right to ask for your answers to be removed from the survey, in this case, we will use the time of submission and ask for any written question you may have submitted to identify your answers. If you would like to request this a removal or have any other queries or questions regarding the survey, please find my contact information at the end.
The River Blackwater Estuary Survey Ecosystem Services and Site Descriptions What are ecosystem services?
The concept of “ecosystem services” was popularised by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) in 2005. The MA defines ecosystem services as “the benefits humans derive from nature” and its usage facilitates the collaboration and cooperation between scientists, decision-makers, economists, local people and other stakeholders. The MA defines three sub-classes of ecosystem services, which rely on supporting ecosystem services. An example of these would be soil formation, pollination, and processes such as photosynthesis. The three sub-classes* are:
• Provisioning ecosystem services - such as food, water, fuel and other materials • Regulating ecosystem services - such as climate regulation, flood regulation, water purification and carbon sequestration (natural carbon storage) • Cultural ecosystem services - such as aesthetic value, educational value and spiritual purposes
The Blackwater Estuary
The River Blackwater catchment, spanning an area of 3307.5 km², is located in the south-west of the Republic of Ireland. The estuary stretches from Cappoquin, Co. Waterford to Youghal, Co. Cork, with the bottom of the estuary creating a natural boundary between counties Cork and Waterford, with Youghal sitting on its west bank. The estuary is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including many different species of birds and aquatic life. The estuary is the source of several identified ecosystem services which will the focus of this questionnaire. Three sites adjacent to Youghal town, namely the Slob Bank, the Claycastle site and the Ballyvergan Marsh (see Figure 1 below), have been identified as areas that could be developed for the enhanced delivery of ecosystem services provided by the estuary.
Figure 1: The three proposed development sites: The Slob Bank, the Claycastle site and the Ballyvergan Marsh, were chosen by Cork County Council as the areas of the highest ecosystem service development potential.
The Slob Bank
The Slob Bank waterside walkway (See Figure 2 and Figure 3 below) stretches 3 km out along the Blackwater Estuary on the Northern end of the Youghal town. On the western side is it flanked by marshland which is fed by the twice-daily tides and is a biodiverse hotspot. The Blackwater Estuary lies to the east, which is a popular location for angling and boasts a variety of species such as plaice, flounder, and sea bass. It is home to many types of sea birds and waterfowl. Figure 2: The Slob Bank (Source: Kieran McCarthy) Figure 3: Map of the Slob Bank site (Source: Google Maps)
The Ballyvergan Marsh
The Ballyvergan Marsh (See Figure 4 below), as its name suggests is a marshland, lying southwest of Youghal town. The marsh itself is the largest freshwater coastal marsh in County Cork and the area is one of the largest natural reed beds in Europe. An existing bird hide (observation area) (See Figure 5 below) is located on the northwest corner of the marsh. The unique habitat, containing an expansive reedbed, is a biodiverse hotspot.
The old Midleton-Youghal railway runs through the marsh. This is currently being developed into the new Midleton to Youghal greenway, which is currently in the early stages of implementation.
Figure 4: Map of the Ballyvergan Marsh site Figure 5: SECAD bird hide (Source: Youghal.ie) (Source: Google Maps)
The Claycastle site
The Claycastle site is a 21-acre area lying to the south of Youghal town and sits at the mouth of the River Blackwater (see Figure 6 below). On the east side of the site lies a derelict train station, with the new Midleton to Youghal greenway also set to be running through this site.
A rudimentary survey of the site has determined it as of poor soil quality and currently offering little in the scope of provisioning ecosystem services. The site may, however, provide a partial habitat for some of the species that are also found in the Ballyvergan Marsh.
Figure 6: Map of the Claycastle site (Source: Google Maps)
The River Blackwater Estuary Survey
A local perspective
To get a local's perspectives on the estuary and the 3 potential development sites, a few short questions have been prepared to formulate a local opinion. These questions are designed to see how locals use the sites and to get opinions on how they could be developed to enhance ecosystem services in the area.
These opinions are of the utmost importance for this study.
Question Title
*1. How far do you live from the River Blackwater Estuary?
<2 km 2-4 km 4-10 km >10 km
Question Title
2. How often do you use the Slob Bank for:
Everyday 2-6 times a 1-6 times a Never
week month <1 a month
Walking / Dog- walking / Running
Bird watching
Observing other nature
Fishing
Bait digging
Other (please specify) and how often.
Question Title
3. How often do you see the Slob Bank?
Everyday 2-6 times a week 1-6 times a month <1 a month Never
Question Title
4. How often do you use the Claycastle area for:
Everyday 2-6 times a 1-6 times a Never
week month <1 a month
Walking / Dog- walking / Running
Bird watching
Observing other nature
Other (please specify) and how often Question Title
5. How often do you see the Claycastle site?
Everyday 2-6 times a week 1-6 times a month <1 a month Never
Question Title
6. How often do you use the Ballyvergan Marsh for:
Everyday 2-6 times a 1-6 times a Never
week month <1 a month
Walking / Dog- walking / Running
Bird watching
Observing other nature
Other (please specify) and how often
Question Title
7. How often do you see the Ballyvergan Marsh?
Everyday 2-6 times a week 1-6 times a month <1 a month Never
Question Title
8. What amenities or services would encourage you to use these site more? What activities do you think could be advertised that could enhance the local economy? What do you think would be the best use of these sites while keeping in mind the environmental impacts of such activities?
The Slob Bank
The Claycastle site
The Ballyvergan Marsh
Plants, animals, and other life – Biotic ecosystem services
How would you rank the following biotic ecosystem services by level of importance in the Blackwater Estuary and the surrounding lands (including the Slob Bank, the Claycastle site and the Ballyvergan Marsh) on the following scale from 1-5?
1 = Extremely unimportant, 2 = Unimportant, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Important, 5 = Extremely important, DNK = Do not know Example: 4 indicates that you believe an ecosystem service is important.
Q9 Provisioning ecosystem services – Biotic Importance (1-5)
Cultivated plants – nutrition (e.g. food) and materials (e.g. fibres)
Reared animals – nutrition and materials Reared animals - energy (e.g. dung or haulage of equipment)
Wild plants – nutrition and materials
Wild animals – nutrition and materials
Genetic material – plants and animals (e.g. seed collection for maintaining/establishing population)
Q10 Regulating Biotic Importance (1-5)
Decomposition of waste/pollution (e.g. microorganism in the estuary treating agricultural runoff (e.g. nitrogen or phosphorous))
Storage of waste/pollution (e.g. aquatic plants trapping and storing pollutants in the ground)
Smell reduction (e.g. birds or other life removing material that could potentially wash up on beaches and cause a stench)
Noise reduction (e.g. trees acting as a physical barrier to noise)
Visual screening (e.g. tree acting as a physical barrier against unsightly things)
Soil stabilisation (e.g. plant roots controlling or preventing soil erosion and preventing landslides)
Regulating water flows (e.g. natural flood control and coastal protection)
Wind protection (e.g. by trees)
Pollination (e.g. by bees or other native pollinators)
Spreading the seeds of wild plants (e.g. via birds)
Providing nursery population and habitats for wild plants and animals that can be useful to people (e.g. an estuary)
Controlling pests and invasive/non-native species (e.g. birds that hunt non-native rodents)
Disease control (e.g. native disease control agents that result in a healthy crop harvest)
Ensuring soil forms and develops (e.g. by spreading natural fertiliser on cultivated land)
Ensuring organic matter in the soil is maintained (e.g. plant decomposition)
Naturally regulating the quality of freshwater (e.g. permanently vegetated land along a river, which prevents nutrients from agricultural runoff entering)
Regulating the conditions of saltwater (e.g. fish removing/eating excess nutrients)
Regulating the global climate (e.g. carbon storage by peatlands or trees)
Regulating the physical quality of the air for people (e.g. cooling – caused by evaporation from trees)
Q11 Cultural Biotic Importance (1-5)
Partaking in recreational activities (e.g. walking, jogging, or fishing)
Partaking in passive activities (e.g. to destress, to observe plants and animals)
Learning or teaching about the environment
Experiencing cultural heritage/associate with cultural identity (e.g. native species) Natural beauty
To meet friends and/or to take part in social activities
For spiritual/religious purposes
Inspiration to create something (e.g. photograph, painting, poem, or song)
Things we believe should be preserved / experience by future generations (e.g. native species)
Water, land, air, energy, and other non-living things – Abiotic ecosystem services
How would you rank the following abiotic ecosystem services by level of importance in the Blackwater Estuary and the surrounding lands (including the Slob Bank, the Claycastle site and the Ballyvergan Marsh) on the following scale from 1-5?
1 = Extremely unimportant, 2 = Unimportant, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Important, 5 = Extremely important, DNK = Do not know Example: 4 indicates that you believe an ecosystem service is important.
Q12 Provisioning Abiotic Importance (1-5)
Surface water for drinking
Surface water used for non-drinking purposes (e.g. irrigation)
Fresh surface water used as an energy source (e.g. hydropower)
Coastal and marine water used as energy source (e.g. tidal power)
Ground water for drinking
Ground water used for non-drinking purposes (e.g. irrigation)
Mineral substances used for nutritional purposes (e.g. salt)
Mineral substances used for material purposes (e.g. dye, pigments)
Non-mineral substances or ecosystem properties used for nutritional purposes (e.g. sunlight)
Wind energy
Solar energy
Geothermal energy
Q13 Regulatory Abiotic
Dilution of waste or pollutants by freshwater and marine ecosystems
Dilution of airborne pollutants by the atmosphere
Natural processing of wastes (e.g. pollutants filtered out as water seeps through the soil)
Protection of nuisances (smell, noise or visual) by land or water
Physical barrier to landslides (e.g. sand build-up on the edge of a river protecting against landslides)
Physical barriers to water (e.g. sand dunes providing flood protection)
Physical barrier to air flow (e.g. by a land mass - a bank)
Regulating living conditions by the physical environment (e.g. land/sea breezes causing warming/cooling)
Importance rank Q14 Cultural Abiotic (1-5)
Things in the physical environment that we can experience actively or passively (e.g. beaches)
Things in the physical environment that we can study or think about (e.g. for academic study or rock faces for climbing)
Things in the physical environment that are important as symbols (e.g. a mountain or a river with cultural significance)
Things in the physical environment that we think are important to others and future generations
15. What are the most important factors when considering why an ecosystem service is important?
Please rank the following from least important to most important. 1 = least important, 6 = most important
Factor Rank Local businesses benefit economically Encourage new businesses and industry to set up in the area Attracting tourism/ecotourism leading to economic gain Enhancing flood protection, carbon storage and the regulation of climate-related processes Enhancing social well being Protecting native species and existing habitats
Question Title
16. What is the preferred development method for improving ecosystem services in the area?
Please rank the following from least desirable to most desirable 1 = least desirable, 5 = most desirable
Development method Rank Leave nature to its own accord Minimum Development – few facilities but accessible Medium Development – Some damage to the environment but better facilities High Development – considerable damage to the environment but many useful facilities and amenities Full Development – Natural environment is completely transformed, however, effort to build a semi-natural environment is complete and extensive facilities and amenities are available
Question Title
17. Finally, given your knowledge of the area and with how you've answered the questions above, which site do you think has the most potential to deliver the ecosystem services that you value?
The Ballyvergan Marsh The Slob Bank The Claycastle site
Why?