Clare River (Claregalway) Flood Relief Scheme
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Clare River (Claregalway) Flood Relief Scheme Environmental Assessment of Viable Options November 2011 MGE0262/1.3/CR0009 rpsgroup.com/ireland Clare River (Claregalway) Flood Relief Scheme Stage 2 - Environmental Assessment of Viable Options TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 1 2 SYNOPSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS STUDY .................................................. 2 3 PROPOSED FLOOD ALLEVIATION MEASURES ................................................................... 5 4 IMPACT ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................ 9 4.1 DO-NOTHING ................................................................................................................... 9 4.2 PREFFERED SCHEME MEASURES .................................................................................... 10 4.2.1 Lough Corrib to Curraghmore Bridge ............................................................. 10 4.2.2 Montiagh South .............................................................................................. 11 4.2.3 Montiagh North ............................................................................................... 13 4.2.4 Claregalway Village ........................................................................................ 15 4.2.5 Kiniska ............................................................................................................ 19 4.2.6 Lakeview ......................................................................................................... 21 4.2.7 Caherlea/Lisheenavalla .................................................................................. 23 4.2.8 Carnmore/Cashla ........................................................................................... 30 4.2.9 Footbridge ...................................................................................................... 32 4.3 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS .................................................................................................... 34 5 CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................................................... 36 5.1.1 Socio-Economic.............................................................................................. 36 5.1.2 Archaeological, Architectural and Cultural Heritage....................................... 36 5.1.3 Terrestrial Ecology ......................................................................................... 36 5.1.4 Aquatic Ecology .............................................................................................. 37 5.1.5 Soils, Geology and Hydrogeology .................................................................. 37 6 REFERENCES ......................................................................................................................... 38 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3.1 Locations of Proposed Measures Figure 3.2 Preliminary design for proposed footbridge at Claregalway LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1 Environmental Constraints identified during Stage 1 of the Study .................................... 2 MGE0260RP0005 i Rev. F01 Clare River (Claregalway) Flood Relief Scheme Stage 2 - Environmental Assessment of Viable Options 1 INTRODUCTION In May 2011 the Office of Public Works (the OPW) appointed RPS as environmental consultants for the Clare River (Claregalway) Flood Relief Scheme. The Clare River and main tributaries form part of the Corrib Clare Arterial Drainage Scheme, which was constructed in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, for which the OPW have a statutory maintenance responsibility. These original Arterial Drainage Scheme works involved substantial widening and deepening of the existing channel and tributaries with the purpose of providing outfall for the drainage of agricultural lands. In March 2010 the OPW commissioned Ryan Hanley Consulting Engineers to undertake two studies. The first related to the Clare River and its main tributary, the Abbert River, within a study area from Corofin to Lough Corrib. The study was commissioned as a result of severe damage and disruption caused by flooding in the area in November 2009. The second study related to the townlands of Carnmore East and Cashla on the R339 Galway to Monivea Regional Road, which was also affected by flooding in November 2009. These studies should be read together, and are referred to as the Engineering Studies for the remainder of this report. The OPW are now progressing the Flood Relief Scheme to design stage and the required environmental outputs associated with the Scheme are set out in three distinct stages as follows: Stage 1 - Environmental Constraints Study - Public Consultation Stage 2 - Environmental Assessment of Viable Options - Screening for Appropriate Assessment Stage 3 - Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) - Appropriate Assessment (if deemed necessary as a result of the Appropriate Assessment Screening). - Public Consultation Stage 1 Environmental Constraints Study and Public Consultation were completed in early June. This report fulfils one required element of Stage 2 – to complete an Environmental Assessment of Viable Options for the proposed Flood Relief Scheme. The Environmental Assessment of Viable Options is tasked with reviewing the assessment of the environmental effects of the flood alleviation options that have been identified in the Engineering Studies, and suggest mitigation measures, where feasible (as per Tender documents, December 2010). This review will inform the Design Team in refining or changing the preferred scheme option. This assessment also includes the environmental effects of the proposed footbridge. MGE0260RP0005 1 Rev. F01 Clare River (Claregalway) Flood Relief Scheme Stage 2 - Environmental Assessment of Viable Options 2 SYNOPSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS STUDY The purpose of completing the Environmental Constraints Study was to identify where constraints may impact upon specific proposed flood relief measures and in so doing inform both the stakeholder consultation and design process for the scheme from an environmental view point. This report should be read in conjunction with the Environmental Constraints Study. The Study identified a number of significant environmental constraints as follows (*refers to figure and table numbers from the Environmental constraints Study Report): Table 2.1 Environmental Constraints identified during Stage 1 of the Study CATEGORY SUB SOURCE CONSTRAINTS MAP/TABLE CATEGORY REFERENCE* Socio Land Use & Galway County • Existing land uses Figure 2.1 Economic Communities Development Plan • Fisheries Table 2.3 2009 – 2015 • Clare River Walkway Stakeholder Project constraints Angler’s Guide to Game Fishing in the Western Fisheries Region Material assets • Existing road network – Figure 2.1 impact on commuters Figure 2.14 • Energy infrastructure – overhead & Table 2.12 underground network e.g. ESB lines, Bord Gáis supply • Water mains and private wells • Proposed new WWTP at Claregalway • Local authority licensed discharges to the Clare River Landownership • Liaison with local and access landowners in relation to works proposed • Storage or disposal of excavated materials Archaeology & Legislative • Three Protected Figure 2.2 Cultural Constraints Structures Heritage • Two NIAH structures Tables 2.4.1 & • Galway County 19 Archaeological 2.4.2 Development Plan Heritage sites (including 2009 – 2015 52 separate RMP listings and a national monument) Assessment by • Three Areas of Irish Archaeological Archaeological Potential Consultancy MGE0260RP0005 2 Rev. F01 Clare River (Claregalway) Flood Relief Scheme Stage 2 - Environmental Assessment of Viable Options CATEGORY SUB SOURCE CONSTRAINTS MAP/TABLE CATEGORY REFERENCE* Landscape & Galway County 2 protected focal points Figures 2.4 Visual Development Plan & views 2009 – 2015 Ecology Legislative • Compliance with the Figure 2.6 Constraints Habitats and Birds Directives and National Tables 2.5 - 2.7 legislation Stakeholder • Designated habitats and constraints species Protected Flora and Fauna NPWS databases • Fisheries – salmonids, lamprey Published literature Local Ecological Important Areas Hydrology & Stakeholder Important fisheries Figure 2.8 Water Quality Constraints zones Compliance with the Table 2.2 Water Framework Legislative Directive constraints Western River Basin Management Plan Soils/Geology/ Aquifer vulnerability Figures 2.11 - Hydrogeology Surface water and 2.13 groundwater interaction Tables 2.9 – 2.12 Other Waste Requirement to handle, Constraints Management store, remove and dispose of waste material in accordance with relevant waste management legislation Traffic - Crusheeny Bridge Figure 2.14 measures will lead to traffic diversions - Local roads in Montiagh North and Montiagh South townlands – Raising sections of access roads and increasing the size of a culvert in Montiagh South will cause traffic delays and possible diversions - Construction of the footbridge at Claregalway will cause traffic delays and disruption Noise Galway County Council Figure 2.15 Draft Action Noise Plan MGE0260RP0005 3 Rev. F01 Clare River (Claregalway) Flood Relief Scheme Stage 2 - Environmental Assessment of Viable Options CATEGORY SUB SOURCE CONSTRAINTS MAP/TABLE CATEGORY REFERENCE* 2008 Noise generated by the timing of works associated with the implementation of alleviation measures may impact on residential,