Corrimony EIA Ecology Chapter Final

Glenurquhart & Strathglass Wind Energy Project Ecology chapter GLENURQUHART & STRATHGLASS WIND ENERGY PROJECT ECOLOGY CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 SCOPE OF WORK This chapter aims to assess the ecological status of the proposed development site, giving a baseline description of the habitats and species present, together with an evaluation of their conservation importance. The likely impacts of the development are discussed and assessed. 1.2 SITE DESCRIPTION AND CONTEXT 1.2.1 Brief site description and setting The proposed position for the development is around a flat-topped spur (referred to as ‘the turbine spur’) lying at about 460m above sea level in the upper catchment of Glenurquhart. It lies between the confluence of the River Enrick and Abhainn na Ruighe Duibhe, with the river running on northwards into Glenurquhart. The topography in the area is mostly aligned SSW–NNE with the spur itself a lower northward projection from a somewhat higher ridge (to 550m) which ends at the rounded hill of Sliabh an Ruighe Dhuibh. The site is in a wide, relatively open area of low hills and valleys, with much higher ground lying several kilometres to the west around Glen Affric. Closer to the east, the ridge that runs southwards from Suidhe Ghuirmain rises to 680m, forming a steep watershed 2km from the development site A long access route of 7-8km is required from the nearest public road to the north. This starts in improved agricultural ground in the upper glen then runs through a farmyard and old parkland, up into older pine plantations and on through a mixture of enclosed moor, recent native tree plantings and open moor. The 3-4km of new or significantly upgraded track will lie at either end of the route, mostly on enclosed or open moorland, with an initial stretch over improved grassland. The middle section lies along and existing forestry track, which runs through the RSPB Corrimony reserve. The turbine positions themselves will be on open moorland above the reserve. Firth Ecology, Dec 2009 1 Glenurquhart & Strathglass Wind Energy Project Ecology chapter Peat of varying depth and wetness underlies all of the moorland and planted areas, with the most extensive deeper peat lying at the centre of the spur proposed for the development. The hill slopes around the site have not been subject to peat cutting and there is only very limited artificial drainage, close to the existing track in places. There are localised areas of flushing, both alongside watercourses and where spring lines emerge. The access route would have one river crossing (currently bridged with a flat-bed lorry chassis, which would be completely replaced) and would also cross two other sizeable burns (one currently culverted, one a new crossing) and one or two very small watercourses (that currently run across the surface of the existing track). 1.2.2 Current land use The land uses in the area are sporting (deer stalking and trout fishing), commercial forestry, nature conservation and stock grazing. The area around the turbine positions has been subject to variable, but very light, autumn stocking of cattle and/or sheep during the past decade, with no other agricultural pressure. Red Deer have a greater influence on the vegetation than domestic stock, being present throughout the year and now excluded by deer fences from all of the ground below the site. There are patches below the turbine spur where deer grazing and poaching is readily apparent. The southernmost corner of the RSPB Corrimony reserve lies less than 500m from the nearest turbine position, at an elevation of about 90m below it. The main management aim on the reserve is to plant, and promote regeneration of, native Scots Pine forest, with Black Grouse particularly in mind. This has been augmented by the landowner of the proposed development site, who has planted 120 hectares of native pine and broad-leaved trees, adjacent to the reserve, under the Woodland Grant Scheme. 1.2.3 Nature conservation designations - sites Within their scoping response, SNH identified several sites designated for nature conservation at which there might be an interaction with the proposed development. These are the West Inverness-shire Lochs Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Dubh Lochs SSSI, and Balnagrantach SSSI (each designated under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981), and the West Inverness-shire Lochs Special Protection Area (SPA) and the North Inverness Lochs SPA (both designated under the European Union Birds Directive, 79/409/EEC). The West Inverness-shire Lochs SSSI and SPA cover the same area, and the Dubh Lochs SSSI and Balnagrantach SSSI together make up the North Inverness Lochs SPA. It should be noted that none of these designated sites is closer than 10km to the proposed development and, on the West Inverness-shire Lochs sites, Common Scoter are not known to occur within 20km of Corrimony. In their Firth Ecology, Dec 2009 2 Glenurquhart & Strathglass Wind Energy Project Ecology chapter scoping response, SNH acknowledge that there would be no impact on Common Scoters and none on any SSSI vegetation interest. In addition, on 1 st December 2009, SNH announced proposals for a new SPA for Golden Eagles, covering Glen Affric north to Strathconon. The southern boundary of this lies 5km to the northwest of the Corrimony turbine positions. A summary of the reasons for the SSSI and SPA designations are given in Table 1 below, with copies of the citations for the sites included in Appendix 4. Table 1. Summary of sites designated for their nature conservation interest potentially affected at Corrimony. [SPA – Special Protection Area; SSSI – Site of Special Scientific Interest. Numbers of birds are those used at the time of designation] Designated site Geographic Nearest point Qualifying interests or notified features level of to Corrimony importance turbines Glen Affric to Inter- 5km Resident breeding birds: Golden Eagle Strathconon national – (10 pairs – 2.3% of GB). proposed SPA EU North Inverness Inter- 10km Breeding birds: Slavonian Grebe (7 Lochs SPA national – pairs – 12% of GB). EU West Inverness- Inter- 15km Breeding birds: Black-throated Diver shire Lochs SPA national – (no figures given), Common Scoter EU (main concentration in Britain). Dubh Lochs UK 10km Breeding birds: Slavonian Grebe (1– SSSI 2 pairs, 1–3% of GB). Balnagrantach UK 16km Breeding birds: Slavonian Grebe (no SSSI figures given); Vascular plants: Club Sedge. West Inverness- UK 15km Breeding birds: Black-throated Diver shire Lochs (no figures given), Common Scoter SSSI (main concentration in Britain). 1.2.4 Nature conservation designations - species Under UK legislation (the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, as amended) general protection is given to nearly all species of wild birds to prevent capture or killing and to prevent damage to or the destruction of active nest sites. Protection is extended to certain species under Schedule 1 of the act, so that it is also an offence to cause disturbance to these birds at their nest. Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive lists bird species considered to be under threat in the EU and provides for the designation of protected areas (see 1.2.3 above) but does not imply any specific protection of the birds themselves. In contrast, Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive lists plants and animals (other than birds), which are subject to protection from disturbance wherever they Firth Ecology, Dec 2009 3 Glenurquhart & Strathglass Wind Energy Project Ecology chapter are found, both within and outside of designated areas – these are termed European Protected Species. Table 2. Summary of species listed in legislation that could occur at Corrimony. Legislation Geographic Protection given Species likely or possible on a level of regular basis at Corrimony importance Annex IV, Internat- Against: Habitats ional – EU a) killing or taking; Bats, Otter, Wildcat Directive “European b) destruction or damage to protected breeding or resting place; species” c) deliberate disturbance. Wildlife & UK Against: Bats, Otter, Pine Marten, Wildcat, Country- a) killing, injuring or taking; Red Squirrel; Water Vole (b and c side Act b) destruction, damage or only); Adder and Viviparous 1981 (as obstruction of a shelter; Lizard (both from killing & amended) c) disturbance in a shelter. injuring only) Protection UK Against: of Badgers a) killing, injuring or taking; Badger Act 1992 b) destruction, damage or obstruction of a sett; c) disturbance in a sett. Schedule 1, UK Against: Whooper Swan, Red-throated Wildlife & • killing or taking; Diver, Black-throated Diver, Hen Country- • destruction or damage to nest; harrier, Golden Eagle, Merlin, side Act • disturbance at nest. Peregrine, Greenshank, Redwing, Crossbill spp Annex 1, Internat- Requirement to designate Whooper Swan, Red-throated EC Birds ional – EU protected areas. Diver, Black-throated Diver, Hen Directive Harrier, Golden Eagle, Merlin, Peregrine, Golden Plover, Short- eared Owl, Scottish Crossbill 1.3 WORK DONE 1.3.1 Survey objectives and timescales The objectives and overall timescales of the ecological survey work were as follows: Vegetation – to produce a vegetation map of the development site to National Vegetation Classification (NVC) standards. The areas around the turbine positions and along the upper access and cable routes were surveyed in two main phases: July–September 2007 and then again September–December 2008, with finalisation in March 2009. Following a late change to the access point from the A831, a briefer Phase One habitat survey was carried out in July 2009 across the lowest fields. Firth Ecology, Dec 2009 4 Glenurquhart & Strathglass Wind Energy Project Ecology chapter Mammals – to locate the presence of any dens, roosts or places of shelter for any protected mammal species on and around the development site. Surveys were carried out over the summer months in 2007 and 2008, covering the ground and watercourses out to 500m around the turbine positions, sections of new track, and the upgraded hill track.

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