G Sites of Special Scientific Interest Screening Assessment

WRMP19

SEA Environmental Report G Sites of Special Scientific Interest screening assessment

SSSIs considered

Water dependent sites Sites within 2 km of option located downstream of Option types that require new Option name Sites within 200 m of new reservoir abstraction or Screening narrative Screening decision reference built infrastructure (i.e., pipeline or repair/amendments discharge points, or groundwater, reservoir to existing pipelines supported by target aquifer and water treatment works for groundwater options) abstractions

Catchment management

CGW-2 Catchment Management N/A None N/A No adverse impacts from water quality improvement No significant impacts likely. Interventions at actions Woodgarston

CGW-3 Targeted catchment N/A Pembury Cutting and Pit [all N/A No adverse impacts from water quality improvement No significant impacts likely. management units at favourable condition] actions interventions in the Pembury area

Water reuse

EFF-35 Effluent reuse to River Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs Proposed pipeline route runs adjacent to Lewes Brooks Measures to avoid significant effects on Lewes (plan Ouse: source – [100% of units at favourable or [100% of units at favourable [100% of units at favourable (no intersection with site) and in close proximity to Brooks and Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs SSSIs alternative Peacehaven (25Ml/d unfavourable – recovering or unfavourable – recovering or unfavourable – recovering Lewes Downs (minimum distance of approximately identified though SEA and recorded in option option) Option) condition] condition] condition] 200m), however no direct impacts and no drainage dossiers. For Lewes Downs this would include impacts anticipated. No significant effects likely either rerouting pipeline east of existing route via Lewes Brooks [93.6% of units at Lewes Brooks [93.6% of following implementation of standard mitigation. the South Downs Way, or potentially the use of favourable or unfavourable – units at favourable or directional drilling to avoid the site.For Brighton recovering condition, 6.5 % at5 unfavourable – recovering Potential significant adverse effect on notified features to Newhaven Cliffs this could include careful unfavourable – declining] condition, 6.5 % at (Kittiwake colonies) and supporting habitat (chalk cliff) timing of construction works and site specific unfavourable – declining] of Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs due to construction measures to ensure no damage to structural Lewes Downs [100% of units at disturbance (pipeline routed approximately 30m from integrity of chalk cliffs. favourable or unfavourable- Lewes Downs [100% of units site at closest point). recovering condition] at favourable or unfavourable-recovering Notified features of Plashett Park Wood sensitive to condition] changes in water quality/availability, however site is not influenced by the Ouse, hence no significant effects Plashett Park Wood [100% of likely. units at favourable or unfavourable-recovering condition]

New groundwater abstraction

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SSSIs considered

NGW-44 Aylesford Newsprint - None Aylesford Pit [all units at Peter’s Pit [all units at Option involves continuation of use of existing No significant effect likely. use of existing unfavourable – declining] favourable condition] groundwater abstraction, and at lower rate of groundwater sources abstraction – no significant effects likely. Holborough to Burham Holborough to Burham Marshes [all units at Marshes [all units at favourable condition] favourable condition]

Medway Estuary and Marshes [54% of units at unfavourable-recovering condition, 0.2% at unfavourable – no change, and 46 % at unfavourable- - declining]

Surface water

RES-24 New Arlington Reservoir, Arlington Reservoir [100% of units Arlington Reservoir [100% of Lewes Downs [100% of units Potential significant adverse impacts from construction Measures to avoid significant effects on Arlington R. Ouse - 26m AOD - at favourable condition] units at favourable condition] at favourable or of new reservoir on Arlington Reserir associated with Reservoir SSSI identified though SEA and 3,900Ml unfavourable-recovering disturbance to over wintering and migrating birds recorded in option dossier. These would include Milton Gate Marsh [76.3% at condition] which, without mitigation, could reduce populations ensuring reservoir design provides valuable new favourable or unfavourable- below target level (50% of existing population, and habitat, careful timing of construction activities to recovering condition, 23.8% Lewes Brooks [93.6% of reduction of >25 % respectively)Pipeline installation minimise disturbance to overwintering and at unfavourable-declining] units at favourable or could also result in the loss of habitats identified in migratory bird populations and further refinement unfavourable – recovering conservation objectives for the site (fen, marsh, to the pipeline routing to make use of existing condition, 6.5 % at swamp). metalled tracked within the site where possible or unfavourable – declining] use of directional drilling. Further detailed habitat There would be no direct impacts on Milton Gate Marsh and species surveys would be required to inform Offham Marshes [all units at during construction or operation, and standard detailed reservoir design and determine detailed favourable or unfavourable- surveys and construction practice can avoid impacts on mitigation and enhancement opportunities. recovering status] this site.

Firle Escarpment [96.3% of Notified features of Offham Marshes, Lewes Brooks units at favourable or and Lewes Downs are sensitive to changes in water unfavourable -recovering level and quality. This option proposes to abstract condition] under high water flows only and the Ouse is tidal below the proposed abstraction point at Barcombe, therefore no likely significant adverse effects on Offham Marshes (located approximately 6.5 km downstream of the abstraction point) are anticipated. Lewes Brooks and Lewes Downs are not influenced by the Medway, hence no significant impacts anticipated.

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SSSIs considered

Notified features of Firle Escarpment not sensitive to changes to water quality or quantity – no pathway of impact.

RES-27 Goose Green Reservoir None None Beeding Hill to Newtimber Notified features of Beeding Hill to Newtimber Hill are No significant effects likely (plan - 30mAOD - 7,200Ml Hill [all units at favourable or sensitive to changes in water quality and quantity and alternative unfavourable-recovering channel morphology, but are not influenced by the Adur option) status] and hence no significant effects are anticipated.

Adur Estuary [all units at Notified features of Adur Estuary are sensitive to favourable or unfavourable- changes in water quality and quantity and channel recovering status] morphology. However, given the distance between the abstraction point at Wineham and the site (located approximately 16 km downstream) and the fact that the notified features of the Adur Estuary are mainly influenced by the saline/estuarine conditions at the mouth of the Adur estuary, no significant effects are considered likely.

RES-31 Broad Oak Reservoir - West Blean and Thorndean Sturry Pit [100% of units at Stodmarsh SSSI [82.3% of Potential significant adverse impacts on West Blean Measures to avoid significant effects on West 36m AOD - 5,126 Ml Woods [90.6% of units at favourable condition] units at favourable or and Thornden Woods from construction which could Blean and Thornden Woods identified though favourable or unfavourable- unfavourable-recovering result in loss of ancient woodland, woodland and open SEA and recorded in option dossiers. These recovering condition, 3.1% at West Blean and Thornden condition, 17.7% at space in the areas adjacent to the SSSI with would include ensuring the reservoir design unfavourable-no change, 6.3% at Woods [90.6% of units at unfavourable-no change] subsequent impacts on connectivity. Habitat loss in provides new habitat for overwintering birds and unfavourable-declining] favourable or unfavourable- surrounding areas could indirectly affect breeding bird, further habitat and species studies to influence recovering condition, 3.1% Sandwich Bay to Hacklinge invertebrate assemblages and heath fritillary detailed mitigation and enhancement East Blean Woods [100% of units at unfavourable-no change, Marshes SSSI [96.5 % of populations within the SSSI. Reservoir design has been opportunities. at favourable or unfavourable- 6.3% at unfavourable- units at favourable or modified to avoid direct loss of SSSI and significant recovering condition] declining] unfavourable -recovering enhancement measures are included to improve SSSI condition, 3.2 % at woodland connectivity. unfavourable – no change and 0.3 % at unfavourable- Pipeline route and construction area avoids direct declining] impact on East Blean Woods and no drainage impacts considered likely. Standard detailed surveys and construction practice can avoid significant adverse effects on the site.

Notified features of Sturry Pit are geological – no pathway for impact.

Notified features of Stodmarsh and Sandwich Bay to Hacklinge Marshes are sensitive to changes in water availability and quality, however this option proposes to abstract under high water flows only and therefore no

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SSSIs considered

likely significant adverse impact on these sites is anticipated.

Company transfers

CTR-17 SEW RZ1 to RZ7 None N/A N/A No direct or drainage impacts on SSSI from pipeline No significant impacts likely. Transfer - Blackhurst to construction considered likely. Bewl (4Ml/d)

CTR-36 SEW RZ3 to RZ2 Arlington Reservoir N/A N/A Potential signficiant adverse impacts on Arlington Measures to avoid significant effects on Arlington Transfer - Arlington to Reservoir SSSI associated with disturbance to Reservoir SSSI identified through SEA and Barcombe (10Ml/d) overwintering and migratory birds which could reduce recorded in option dossier. This would include populations below target levels and loss of habitats careful timing of construction measures to identified in conservation objectives for the site (fen, minimise disturbance to overwintering and marsh, swamp). migratory bird populations.

Regional transfers

RTR-94 SESW to SEW RZ1 Hubbard’s Hill [100% of units at N/A N/A Potential significant adverse impacts on Hubbard’s Hill Measures to avoid significant effects on Transfer - Bough Beech favourable condition] from pipeline installation which would disturb the Hubbard’s Hill identified though SEA and to Riverhill SR (10Ml/d) periglacial landforms for which the site is designated. recorded in option dossier. This would include Polebrook Farm [100% of units at further refinement of the pipeline routing or use favourable condition] Pipeline route and construction area avoids direct of directional drilling to avoid direct impacts on impact on Polebrook Farm (located approximately 30m the site. from pipeline route at closest point) which comprises an area of unimproved and species rich grassland, and no drainage impacts considered likely. Standard detailed surveys and construction practice can avoid significant adverse effects on the site.

Water treatment works

WTW-29 Bewl-Darwell Option 1c: Ashburnham Park [100% of units Combwell Wood [100% of N/A – option replaces Construction area and pipeline routing avoids direct No significant impacts likely. Transfer of 8Ml/d from at favourable or unfavourable- units at favourable or existing raw water impact on Ashburnham Park, Combwell Wood and Bewl to Hazards Green recovering condition] unfavourable-recovering abstraction from Darwell Scotney Castle and no drainage impacts considered via a Southern Route condition] likely. Standard detailed surveys and construction practice can avoid impacts on these sites. Scotney Castle [100% of units at favourable or unfavourable-recovering condition]

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SSSIs considered

Zonal schemes

ZON-12 RZ3 Zonal Scheme - Folkington Reservoir [100% of N/A N/A Potential direct adverse impact on Folkington Reservoir Measures to avoid significant impacts on [RES-24/RES-25/RES- units at favourable condition] and Arlington Reservoir as a result of pipeline Folkington Reservoir and Arlington Reservoir 30] - Arlington to installation which would result in short to medium term identified through SEA and recorded in option Folkington Reservoir Wilmington Downs [100% of units loss of species rich grassland at Folkington, and could dossier. This would include further refinements to Reinforcement (GR- at favourable condition] disturb overwintering and migratory birds at Arlington the pipeline routing at Folkington and careful RZ3-EB-5) resulting in a reduction in population levels. timing of construction activities at Arlington to Arlington Reservoir [100% of units minimise disturbance to bird populations. at favourable condition] Pipeline route and construction area avoids direct impact on Wilmington Downs and no drainage impacts considered likely. Standard detailed surveys and construction practice can avoid impacts on Wilmington Downs.

ZON-22 RZ8 Zonal Scheme - West Blean and Thornden [90.6% N/A N/A Potential direct adverse impact on West Blean and Measures to avoid significant effects on West [RES-23/RES-31] - of units at favourable or Thornden Wood as a result of pipeline installation Blean and Thornden Woods identified though Distribute extra water unfavourable-recovering condition, within the site boundary resulting in the loss of ancient SEA and recorded in option dossier. These could from Broad Oak (GR- 3.1% at unfavourable-no change, woodland and woodland and disturbance to breeding include the use of directional drilling to avoid loss RZ8-CB-4) 6.3% at unfavourable-declining] bird populations. of ancient woodland and woodland and careful timing of construction works to minimise East Blean Woods [100% of units Pipeline route and construction areas avoid direct disturbance to breeding bird populations. at favourable or unfavourable- impacts on East Blean Woods and no drainage impacts recovering condition] considered likely. Standard detailed surveys and construction practice can avoid impacts on East Blean Woods.

ZON-52 RZ6 Zonal Scheme - None N/A N/A No direct or drainage impacts on SSSI from pipeline No significant effects likely. [NGW-44] - Mains from construction considered likely. Aylesford to Kingshill booster and Kingshill booster to Beech (GR- RZ7-WD-104)

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