Office of Public Works Arterial Drainage Maintenance Works - Bonet Arterial Drainage Scheme 2019-2023 Stage 2: Natura Impact Statement December 2018 Office of Public Works Templemungret House Mungret Co. Limerick JBA Project Manager Tom Sampson 24 Grove Island Corbally Limerick Ireland Revision History Revision Ref / Date Issued Amendments Issued to V0.5 Internal QA prior to issue Niamh Burke (JBA) V1.0 / 07 December 2018 Tony Brew (OPW) V2.0 / 19 December 2018 Edits to Table 7.1 Section 4-2- potential Annex I habitat added (3260) (reclassification) Contract This report describes work commissioned by the Office of Public Works, by a letter dated 6 June 2018. The Office of Public Works’ representative for the contract was Tony Brew. Patricia Byrne and William Mulville of JBA Consulting carried out this work. Prepared by .................................................. Patricia Byrne BSc (Hons) PhD MCIEEM Ecologist William Mulville BSc MSc Assistant Ecologist Hannah Mulcahy BSc (Hons) MSc Assistant Ecologist Reviewed by ................................................. Niamh Burke BSc (Hons) PhD CEnv MCIEEM Senior Ecologist Purpose This document has been prepared as a Final Report for Office of Public Works. JBA Consulting accepts no responsibility or liability for any use that is made of this document other than by the Client for the purposes for which it was originally commissioned and prepared. JBA Consulting has no liability regarding the use of this report except to Office of Public Works. Copyright © JBA Consulting Ltd 2018 Carbon Footprint A printed copy of the main text in this document will result in a carbon footprint of 421g if 100% post- consumer recycled paper is used and 535g535g if primary-source paper is used. These figures assume the report is printed in black and white on A4 paper and in duplex. JBA is aiming to reduce its per capita carbon emissions. 2018s0768 - Office of Public Works - NIS Bonet V2.0.docx i Contents 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1 Background ........................................................................................................................ 1 Legislative Context ............................................................................................................. 1 Appropriate Assessment Process ...................................................................................... 1 Methodology....................................................................................................................... 2 2 Project Description ................................................................................................. 6 Arterial Drainage Maintenance ........................................................................................... 6 Drainage Maintenance Activities ........................................................................................ 6 The Bonet Arterial Drainage Maintenance Scheme ........................................................... 13 Drainage Maintenance Works Proposed for the Bonet Arterial Drainage Scheme ............ 13 3 Screening Assessment Results ............................................................................. 14 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 14 4 Existing Environment ............................................................................................. 25 General .............................................................................................................................. 25 Ecology - Overview ............................................................................................................ 25 Ecological Walkover Survey Results .................................................................................. 25 Flora ................................................................................................................................... 39 Fauna ................................................................................................................................. 39 Non-native Invasive Species .............................................................................................. 43 5 Natura 2000 sites within the Zone of Influence of the works/scheme ................... 47 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 47 Glenade Lough SAC (001919) ........................................................................................... 47 Lough Gill SAC (001976) ................................................................................................... 49 6 Appropriate Assessment........................................................................................ 51 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 51 Identification of Potential Sources of Impact ...................................................................... 51 Impact Assessment ............................................................................................................ 53 Impact Evaluation ............................................................................................................... 57 7 Avoidance and Mitigation Measures ...................................................................... 65 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 65 Site specific mitigation measures ....................................................................................... 65 Mitigation for Bridge/Sluice/Structural Works ..................................................................... 66 8 Conclusions ........................................................................................................... 68 References.......................................................................................................................... I Appendices ......................................................................................................................... III A Conservation Objectives ........................................................................................ III B Protected Flora and Fauna .................................................................................... VII C Non-native Invasive Species ................................................................................. XVI D Environmental Drainage Maintenance Manual ............................................................................................................................... XVI I E Foreman’s Bridge Inspection Report ............................................................................................................................... XVI II F Environmental Risk Assessment Form .................................................................. XIX G Ecological Survey Extent ....................................................................................... XX H Channels, Embankments, Bridges and Sluices screened into assessment and pathways of impact ................................................................................................ XXI 2018s0768 - Office of Public Works - NIS Bonet V2.0.docx List of Figures Figure 1-1: The Appropriate Assessment Process (from: Appropriate Assessment of Plans and Projects in Ireland - Guidance for Planning Authorities, DoEHLG, 2009).. 1 Figure 1-2: Screening assessment process ...................................................................... 4 Figure 2-1 Extent of Bonet Arterial Drainage Scheme ....................................................... 13 Figure 3-1: Channels with potential impacts via surface water pathways. ......................... 15 Figure 3-2: Channels and embankments with potential impacts via land and air pathways ........................................................................................................................... 20 Figure 3-3: Channels and embankments with potential impacts via groundwater pathways ........................................................................................................................... 22 Figure 4-1: FL5 - Eutrophic lakes - Lough Glenade ........................................................... 27 Figure 4-2: Oxbow lake ....................................................................................................... 27 Figure 4-3: FW1 - Eroding/upland rivers- potential Annex 1 habitat Water courses of plain to montane levels with the Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion vegetation (3260) - Bonet River ........................................................................ 28 Figure 4-4: Water Crowfoot dominating areas of open water- with cobble base ............... 29 Figure 4-5: Starwort at river's edge .................................................................................... 29 Figure 4-6: Wider section of river with man-made stone weir ............................................ 30 Figure 4-7: FW2 - Depositing/lowland rivers ...................................................................... 31 Figure 4-8: Broad-leaved Pondweed along margin of river ............................................... 31 Figure 4-9: FS1 - Reed and large sedge swamps .............................................................