BRANCOTE SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS STAFFORDSHIRE
OTTER SURVEY
A Report to NMC Nomenca
Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Triumph House Birmingham Road Allesley Coventry CV5 9AZ
Tel: 01676 525880 Fax: 01676 521400
E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.middlemarch-environmental.com
Report Number: RT-MME-113606-01
March 2013
Brancote Sewage Treatment Works, Staffordshire: RT-MME-113606-01 Otter Survey
BRANCOTE SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS STAFFORDSHIRE
OTTER SURVEY
CONTROLLED COPY
01 OF 02
01 NMC NOMENCA 02 MIDDLEMARCH ENVIRONMENTAL LTD
This study was conducted and compiled by Colin Bundy BSc (Hons), MIEEM and Paula Bateson BSc (Hons), Grad IEEM
This report is the responsibility of Middlemarch Environmental Ltd, It should be noted that whilst every effort is made to meet the client’s brief no site investigation can ensure complete assessment or prediction of the natural environment
Contract Number C113606
March 2013
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CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ...... 4
1.1 PROJECT INTRODUCTION ...... 4
1.2 SITE INTRODUCTION ...... 4
1.3 OTTER ECOLOGY ...... 4
2. METHODOLOGY ...... 6
2.1 DESK STUDY ...... 6
2.2 FIELD SURVEY ...... 6 2.2.1 Habitat Assessment ...... 6 2.2.2 Presence / Likely Absence Survey ...... 6
3. RESULTS ...... 7
3.1 DESK STUDY RESULTS ...... 7
3.2 FIELD SURVEY ...... 7 3.2.1 Survey Constraints ...... 7 3.2.2 Habitat Survey...... 8 3.2.3 Presence / Likely Absence Survey ...... 8
4. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 10
4.1 CONCLUSIONS ...... 10 4.1.1 Habitats...... 10 4.1.2 Otters ...... 10
4.2 RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 11
REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 12
APPENDICES ...... 13
APPENDIX 1 ...... 14
APPENDIX 2 ...... 17
APPENDIX 3 ...... 19
APPENDIX 4 ...... 21
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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 PROJECT INTRODUCTION In February 2013, NMC Nomenca commissioned Middlemarch Environmental Ltd to undertake a survey for otter Lutra lutra along a section of the River Sow adjacent to Brancote Sewage Treatment Works in Staffordshire. This was following the completion of an Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey undertaken by Middlemarch Environmental Ltd in February 2013, which recorded habitat considered suitable for otters within and close to an area of the proposed works. The findings and conclusions of the Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey can be found in Middlemarch Environmental Ltd report number RT-MME-113284.
Works will include the construction of a new area of plant for phosphate removal and the installation of a new chemical dosing area with an associated works compound. In addition, an area of excavation is proposed to provide flood compensation for the phosphate removal infrastructure.
To fulfil the above brief to assess the presence or absence of otters within the survey area, an Otter Survey was undertaken on 14th March 2013.
In conjunction with this otter survey, Middlemarch Environmental Ltd was also instructed by NMC Nomenca to undertake a reptile survey at Brancote STW (Report reference RT-MME-113606-02).
1.2 SITE INTRODUCTION Brancote Sewage Treatment Works is located to the east of the town of Stafford, south of Tixhall Road. The proposed excavation works associated with the flood compensation project will impact upon the south-east corner of the STW site. The section of the River Sow included within this survey is located immediately south of this area, between National Grid Reference SJ 95396 22320 and SJ 95888 21934. The survey also included areas of suitable terrestrial habitat within and around the area of proposed works, and the network of wet ditches between the sewage treatment works and the River Sow.
The section of the River Sow that this survey focuses on flows in an easterly direction, and is bordered by agricultural fields. The agricultural flood plain is bound by Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal to the south and Brancote STW to the north. In the wider area, a railway line and residential areas of Stafford are located beyond the canal to the south whilst the landscape to the north of Brancote STW is dominated by arable fields.
1.3 OTTER ECOLOGY Since individual otters can have a home range extending over 10 km, populations depend on the conditions within the catchment. Otters have been recorded as exploiting virtually all types of water and waterway in the UK. Although populations in England and Wales are confined to mainly fresh water, otters have been recorded on still waters (canals, lakes, ponds and reservoirs) as well as rivers and streams. Otters will also utilise habitats adjacent to the rivers / lakes and will travel overland between waterbodies (Chanin, 2003).
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Within a home range an otter may use many resting sites or ‘lay ups’. These include above-ground shelters such as stands of scrub or areas of rank grass, and underground cavities such as under tree roots and dry drainage pipes. Some resting places are used as breeding sites and are termed ‘holts’.
A summary of legislation relevant to otters is included in Appendix 1.
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2. METHODOLOGY
2.1 DESK STUDY As part of the Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey a desk study was undertaken to determine records of otter within a 1 km radius of the site. This involved contacting appropriate statutory and non-statutory organisations which hold ecological data relating to the survey area. Middlemarch Environmental Ltd then assimilated and reviewed the desk study data provided by these organisations.
The consultees for the Desk Study were: • National Biodiversity Network Gateway website; and • Staffordshire Biological Records Centre.
The data collected from these consultees is discussed in Chapter 3, section 3.1.
2.2 FIELD SURVEY The River Sow was surveyed between National Grid Reference SJ 95396 22320 and SJ 95888 21934. The survey also included areas of suitable terrestrial habitat within and around the area of proposed works, and the network of wet ditches between the sewage treatment works and the River Sow.
2.2.1 Habitat Assessment The methodology involved an assessment of the banks of the river, ditches and surrounding land with regard to the suitability for otters and evidence of otter activity.
2.2.2 Presence / Likely Absence Survey The survey area was searched for any evidence of otter including: • Spraint; • Slides; • Holts; • Couches; • Footprints; or • Individual otters.
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3. RESULTS
3.1 DESK STUDY RESULTS Desk study data received from Staffordshire Biological Records Centre identified fifteen records of otter within a 1 km search area of Brancote STW. The closest record to STW was located adjacent to the north-west boundary, recorded in 2006. Four further records of otter were identified along the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal between 1998 and 2008, at locations 282 m south-west, 242 m south and 476 m south-east of Barncote STW. The remaining otter records identified by the local records centre were located over 400 m east, around the joining point of the River Sow, the River Penk and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, recorded between 1998 and 2006.
An assessment of the National Biological Network (NBN) dataset was also completed to determine any records of otter from within the 10 km square in which the site exists, the results of which are presented in Appendix 2. Results from the NBN dataset revealed over 180 records of otter with 10 km of the site with the most recent being recorded in 2009. Of these, exact locations were only provided for 10 records. The closest of these records was located 85 m south of Brancote STW, where spraint was recorded present on top of the concrete wingwall of the discharge outfall of the sewage works in 2007. The remaining 9 records were located over 500 m from the sewage treatment works, along the River Trent, the Trent and Mersey Canal, the River Sow and the Staffordshire and Warwickshire Canal.
3.2 FIELD SURVEY The otter survey was undertaken on 14th March 2013 by Colin Bundy, Principal Ecological Consultant and Paula Bateson, Ecological Project Officer. Weather conditions at the time of the survey are presented in Table 3.1.
Parameter Condition
Temperature (°C) 5 Cloud Cover (%) 20 Wind Force (Beaufort) F2 Precipitation Dry Table 3.1: Weather Conditions During Survey
An annotated Otter Survey Drawing (Middlemarch Environmental Ltd Drawing C113606-01-01) is attached in Appendix 3. This drawing illustrates the location and extent of the water bodies included within the survey. Any notable features or features too small to map are detailed using target notes.
3.2.1 Survey Constraints The start of 2013 has been particularly wet however, Middlemarch Environmental is not aware of any heavy rainfall or flooding that could wash away signs of otter in the days immediately preceding the survey.
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3.2.2 Habitat Survey This section describes the habitat characteristics along the section River Sow included within the survey. Photographs of the river are included in Appendix 4.
Water Course Description The stretch of the River Sow included within the survey measured approximately 15 m in width and was estimated to be over 0.5 m in depth. The substrate of the river was mainly silt and occasional marginal vegetation was recorded adjacent to the banks. The river flowed in a south-easterly direction and was fast flowing at the time of the survey. Bankside vegetation comprised that of the adjacent short grassland with young scattered trees.
A concrete headwall was present on the north bank of the river, 80 m south of the sewage treatment works and approximately 260 m west from the area of proposed works. A fresh otter spraint was recorded on the edge of this structure, in addition to an old otter spraint. No further evidence of otter (e.g. footprints or slides) were recorded along the banks of the River Sow during the survey.
Two wet ditches were located within the south-west of the area of proposed works, and another connected an area close to the proposed works within the STW to the River Sow. These ditches were approximately 3 m in width and held standing water, approximately 0.3 m in depth. Bankside vegetation of the ditches comprised that of the adjacent habitats; grassland field towards the River Sow and woodland within the area of proposed works. These were considered to provide suitable commuting features for otters. The ditches and adjacent land was inspected for evidence of otters and none was recorded.
A mature collapsed willow Salix sp. was located within the area of proposed works, in close proximity to a ditch leading to the River Sow. The willow tree provided suitable, sheltered features for otter lay ups, however upon inspection, no evidence of otter (e.g. spraints, slides, couches or footprints) was recorded.
The tree had caused damage to the perimeter fencing providing an access point for fauna into the area of proposed works, however no evidence of otter was recorded associated with the access point. A badger Meles meles latrine was recorded adjacent to this access point. The remainder of the perimeter fence surrounding the area of proposed works was inspected and no further areas of broken fencing or mammal push-throughs were recorded where otters may access the site.
3.2.3 Presence / Likely Absence Survey A fresh otter spraint was recorded on the edge of a concrete headwall, next to an old otter spraint. No further evidence of otter (e.g. footprints, slides, holts, couches, footprints or individual otters) was recorded during the field survey.
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4. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 CONCLUSIONS
4.1.1 Habitats The River Sow provides a food source for otters, and points where otters can emerge on to the banks. Features such as the concrete headwall provide suitable places for otters to spraint when marking territories. Wet ditches provided commuting features between the River Sow and the area of proposed works and an area of damage to the perimeter fencing provided an access point for otters into the area of proposed works. The collapsed willow tree within the south-west of the area of proposed works, by the damaged fencing, was considered to provide a suitable habitat for otters to use as a lay up.
4.1.2 Otters Over 180 records of otter were identified by the National Biological Network database within 10 km of the Brancote STW and 15 records of otter were identified by the local records centre within 1 km of the site. The closest record identified by the ecological desk study was located 85 m south of Brancote STW, where spraint was recorded present along the River Sow on top of the concrete wingwall of the discharge outfall of the sewage works in 2007.
During the field survey, a fresh otter spraint and an old otter spraint were recorded on the edge of the concrete headwall along the River Sow, considered to be the same location of the record identified by the ecological desk study. No further evidence of otters e.g. spraints, slides, holts, couches and footprints, was recorded along the river, wet ditches or adjacent land.
Despite a suitable connectivity to the River Sow, and suitable features for otter layups, no evidence of otters was recorded within the area of proposed works.
One possible access point for otters into the area of proposed works was recorded through the perimeter fencing. This was inspected and no evidence of otter activity was recorded and no further damaged perimeter fencing or mammal push-throughs were noted, suggesting that otters are not accessing the area of proposed works.
Biological records and evidence recorded during the field survey suggest otters utilise the River Sow, and an otter population is present within the local area. However the survey concluded that the area of proposed works is not utilised by otters.
Construction Phase Construction works are generally of a small scale and primarily restricted to active areas of the works, within hardstanding or heavily managed habitats. The area of flood compensation (approximately 40 m3) will be located however, in the south-east of the work, within an area not currently managed and including trees, scrub and tall ruderal vegetation. The key feature recorded was the collapsed willow which
Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Page 10 Brancote Sewage Treatment Works, Staffordshire: RT-MME-113606-01 Otter Survey provides a suitable location for an otter to lay-up. This tree will not be directly impacted by the proposed excavation works which will be of small scale and temporary nature. It is not considered that the proposed works will impact on otters.
4.2 RECOMMENDATIONS
R1 If development works have not commenced within 12 months this survey should be updated as otter usage of the site may change.
R2 As mammals including otters and badgers were identified within the area of proposed works during the survey, any excavations on site should either be covered at night, or fitted with suitable mammal ramps in order to prevent badgers, or any other mammals, from becoming trapped.
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REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
Chanin, P. (2003). Ecology of the European Otter. Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers Ecology Series No. 10. English Nature, Peterborough, 64
DEFRA. (2005). Fourth Quinquennial Review of Schedules 5 and 8 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Department for Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs, London.
Liles, G. (2003). Otter Breeding Sites. Conservation and Management. Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers Conservation Techniques Series No. 5. English Nature, Peterborough.
ODPM. (2005). Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation. Available from: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/pps9
Middlemarch Environmental Ltd (2013) Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey: Brancote Sewage Treatment Works. Report number RT-MMME-113284
Middlemarch Environmental Ltd (2013) Reptile Survey: Brancote Sewage Treatment Works. Report number RT-MMME-113606-02
NBN Gateway (2013) ‘Occurrence of Lutra lutra (terrestrial mammal), in the 10km grid square SJ92’ [online] Available at:
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Appendix 1 Otter Legislation
Appendix 2 NBN Map of Otter Records Within The 10 km Grid Square SJ92
Appendix 3 Middlemarch Environmental Ltd Drawing C113606-01-01 Otter Survey
Appendix 4 Photographs
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APPENDIX 1
OTTER LEGISLATION
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Otters The otter benefits from world-wide protection under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. It also receives European protection under Appendix II of the Bern Convention and Annexes II and IV of the EU Habitats Directive 94/43/EEC, which is transposed into UK Law by means of The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (Habitats Regulations 2010).
Regulation 41 of the Habitats Regulations 2010, states that a person commits an offence if they: • deliberately capture, injure or kill an otter; • deliberately disturb otters; or • damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place.
Disturbance of animals includes in particular any disturbance which is likely to impair their ability to survive, to breed or reproduce, or to rear or nurture their young, or in the case of animals of a hibernating or migratory species, to hibernate or migrate; or to affect significantly the local distribution or abundance of the species to which they belong.
It is an offence under the Habitats Regulations 2010 for any person to have in his possession or control, to transport, to sell or exchange or to offer for sale, any live or dead otter, part of an otter or anything derived from an otter which has been unlawfully taken from the wild.
Whilst broadly similar to the above legislation, the WCA 1981 (as amended) differs in the following ways: • Section 9(1) of the WCA makes it an offence to intentionally (rather than deliberately) kill, injure or take any protected species. • Section 9(4)(a) of the WCA makes it an offence to intentionally or recklessly* damage or destroy, or obstruct access to, any structure or place which a protected species uses for shelter or protection. • Section 9(4)(b) of the WCA makes it an offence to intentionally or recklessly* disturb any protected species while it is occupying a structure or place which it uses for shelter or protection.
*Reckless offences were added by the Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000.
The Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 places a duty on public bodies to have regard for the conservation of biodiversity and maintains lists of species and habitats which are of principal importance for the purposes of conserving biodiversity in England and Wales. These lists supersede Section 74 of the CRoW Act 2000.
The United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) first published in 1994 and updated in 2007, is a government initiative designed to implement the requirements of the Convention of Biological Diversity to conserve and enhance species and habitats. The UK BAP contains a list of priority habitats and species
Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Page 15 Brancote Sewage Treatment Works, Staffordshire: RT-MME-113606-01 Otter Survey of conservation concern in the UK, and outlines biodiversity initiatives designed to enhance their conservation status. The priority habitats and species in England correlate with those listed on Section 41 of the NERC Act.
Otters are listed on the UK BAP and Section 41 (England) and Section 42 (Wales) of the NERC Act 2006. Otters are also priority species on the Cheshire Local BAP.
The reader should refer to the original legislation for the definitive interpretation.
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APPENDIX 2
NBN MAP OF OTTER RECORDS WITHIN THE 10 KM GRID SQUARE SJ92
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APPENDIX 3
MIDDLEMARCH ENVIRONMENTAL LTD DRAWING C113606-01-01 OTTER SURVEY
Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Page 19 395300 395400 395500 395600 395700 395800 395900 396000 C113606-01-01
Legend
Section of River Sow surveyed 0 0 0 0
4 4 Standing water 2 2 2 2 3 3 H! Target notes: 1 Otter spraint recorded on wall of concrete outlet 2 Collapsed mature willow 0 0 0 0 3 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 1 H! 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 H! 0 0 0 0 1 R 1 2 2
2 I 2 3 V 3 E R S O W 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 2 $ 2 2 3 3 Project Brancote STW, Stafford, Staffordshire Drawing Otter Survey Client NMC Nomenca Drawing Number Revision
0 0 C113606-01-01 00 0 0 9 9
1 1 Scale @ A4 Date 2 2 3 3 1:4,000 March 2013 Approved By Drawn By PB SKS 0 0 0 0 8 8 1 1 2 2 3 3 Triumph House, Birmingham Road, Allesley, Coventry CV5 9AZ T:01676 525880 F:01676 521400 E:[email protected] 0 50 100 m
Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, and the GIS User Community 395300 395400 395500 395600 395700 395800 395900 396000 Brancote Sewage Treatment Works, Staffordshire: RT-MME-113606-01 Otter Survey
APPENDIX 4
PHOTOGRAPHS
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Plate A2.1: Fresh and Old Otter Spraint on A2.2: The River Sow and Headwall Concrete Headwall
A2.2: The River Sow Looking Downstream
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MIDDLEMARCH ENVIRONMENTAL LTD
QUALITY ASSURANCE
BRANCOTE SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS STAFFORDSHIRE
OTTER SURVEY
A Report to NMC Nomenca
Report Number: RT-MME-113606-01 Revision Number: 00 Description: Final Date: March 2013
Checked by:
Nick Steggall Principal Technical Ecologist
Approved by:
Dr Philip Fermor Managing Director
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