THE MERSEY GATEWAY PROJECT TERRESTRIAL AND AVIAN ECOLOGY CHAPTER 10.0 The Mersey Gateway Project Chapter 10 Environmental Statement 1.0 Page 10.1 Terrestrial and Avian Ecology TERRESTRIAL AND AVIAN ECOLOGY C O N T E N T S 10. TERRESTRIAL AND AVIAN ECOLOGY...................................................................... 10.5 10.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 10.5 10.2 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................... 10.10 10.3 The Study Area.................................................................................................. 10.11 10.4 Relevant Legislation and Planning Policy.......................................................... 10.16 10.5 Assessment Methodology.................................................................................. 10.34 10.6 Baseline and Results: Literature Review and Collation of Existing Information on the Estuary................................................................................. 10.83 10.7 Baseline and Results: Habitat and Vegetation Surveys of the Saltmarshes and Intertidal Habitats in the Upper Estuary................................. 10.94 10.8 Baseline and Results: Habitat and Vegetation Surveys of the Fiddler’s Ferry Power Station Lagoons .......................................................................... 10.113 10.9 Baseline and Results: Habitat and Vegetation Surveys of Local Wildlife Sites Outside the Upper Mersey Estuary......................................................... 10.120 10.10 Baseline and Results: Birds Using the Mersey Estuary and the Surrounding Area............................................................................................. 10.140 10.11 Baseline and Results: Assessment of the Ecological Value of the Birdlife of the Upper Mersey Estuary ........................................................................... 10.200 10.12 Baseline and Results: Survey of Mammals Using the Upper Mersey Estuary and the Surrounding Area .................................................................. 10.202 10.13 Baseline and Results: Surveys of Reptiles and Amphibians........................... 10.213 10.14 Baseline and Results: Baseline Survey of Invertebrates................................. 10.219 10.15 Baseline and Results: Overall Ecological Importance of the Upper Mersey Estuary, the Project Corridor, and the Surrounding Area................................ 10.224 10.16 Baseline and Results: Baseline Projection ...................................................... 10.239 10.17 Effect Assessment ........................................................................................... 10.242 10.18 In Combination Effects..................................................................................... 10.289 10.19 Mitigation, Compensation, Enhancement and Monitoring............................... 10.295 10.20 Residual Effects............................................................................................... 10.316 10.21 Enhancement Opportunities ............................................................................ 10.334 10.22 Monitoring Requirements................................................................................. 10.338 10.23 Appropriate Assessment for the European Site .............................................. 10.342 10.24 Conclusions ..................................................................................................... 10.349 10.25 References....................................................................................................... 10.352 The Mersey Gateway Project Chapter 10 Environmental Statement 1.0 Page 10.2 Terrestrial and Avian Ecology FIGURES Figure 10.1 Map showing the extent of the Study Area for terrestrial and avian ecology. Figure 10.2 Map showing the location of additional sites, without nature conservation designations, that were included in the surveys for protected species. Figure 10.3 Map Showing the routes and locations from which observations were made during the fortnightly bird surveys from February 2002 to January 2003. Figure 10.4 Map showing the routes and locations from which observations were made during the monthly bird surveys from March 2003 to December 2006. Figure 10.5 Map showing the locations at the Runcorn Gap, and on Widnes Warth and Astmoor saltmarshes respectively, where surveys of bird movements between the Upper and Middle Mersey estuaries, and bird usage of the New Bridge corridor across the Upper Mersey Estuary, were undertaken. Figure 10.6 Map showing the locations within the Study Area where nocturnal surveys for foraging and commuting bats were undertaken in 2005. Figure 10.7 Map showing the extent of the Badger survey areas. Figure 10.8 Map showing the locations and results of the nocturnal bat surveys conducted in 2007 in the land-take areas in the Ditton Roundabout, North Junction and Speke Road areas. Figure 10.9 Map showing the locations and results of the nocturnal bat surveys conducted in 2007 in the land-take areas in the Bridgewater Interchange and Central Expressway areas. Figure 10.10 Map showing the locations and results of the nocturnal bat surveys conducted in 2007 in the land-take areas in the Weston Point Expressway and Silver Jubilee Bridge areas. Figure 10.11 Map showing the locations and results of the nocturnal bat surveys conducted in 2007 in the land-take areas at the Weston Point Expressway to Central Expressway. Figure 10.12 Map showing the buildings and other structures, and evidence of bat activity, at the Weston Point Expressway to Junction 12 of the M56. Figure 10.13 Map showing the areas surveyed for reptiles. Figure 10.14 Map showing the water-courses surveyed for Water Vole activity. Figure 10.15 Map showing the areas surveyed for terrestrial and saltmarsh invertebrates. Figure 10.16 Habitat and vegetation map of Widnes Warth Saltmarsh. Figure 10.17 Habitat and vegetation map of Widnes Warth Saltmarsh showing route alignment. Figure 10.18 Habitat and vegetation map of Astmoor Saltmarsh. Figure 10.19 Habitat and vegetation map of Astmoor Saltmarsh showing route alignment. Figure 10.20 Habitat and vegetation map of Fiddler’s Ferry Power Station lagoons. Figure 10.21 Habitat and vegetation map of the Manchester Ship Canal Bank Local Wildlife Site. Figure 10.22 Habitat and vegetation map of Haystack Lodge Local Wildlife Site. Figure 10.23 Habitat and vegetation map of Norbury Wood and Marsh Local Wildlife Site including Oxmoor Wood and Ponds Local Wildlife The Mersey Gateway Project Chapter 10 Environmental Statement 1.0 Page 10.3 Terrestrial and Avian Ecology Site. APPENDICES Appendix 10.1 Figures not included in the main text Appendix 10.2 Phase 1 Habitat Maps Appendix 10.3 Minutes of meetings with Natural England Appendix 10.4 Species Lists for Saltmarshes Appendix 10.5 Fiddlers Ferry Lagoons Baseline and Species Lists Appendix 10.6 Eastern Grasslands Appendix 10.7 Tables of plant species lists for the St. Helens Canal and the Manchester Ship Canal bank Local Wildlife Sites Appendix 10.8 Haystack Lodge Appendix 10.9 Norbury Marsh Oxmoor Appendix 10.10 Bowers and Lugsdale Appendix 10.11 Tables of Breeding, Feeding and Roosting Birds on the Saltmarshes in 2002 Appendix 10.12 Ornithological records of Fiddler’s Ferry Power Station Lagoons and the Adjacent Section Of The Upper Mersey Estuary Appendix 10.13 Observations from the Runcorn Gap of bird movements in 2005 between the Middle Mersey Estuary (SPA) and the Upper Mersey Estuary (Local Wildlife Site) Appendix 10.14 Surveys of Bird Movements in 2006 Appendix 10.15 Monthly surveys in 2005 and 2006 of Birds using the Mersey Gateway Corridor across the Upper Mersey Estuary, in areas up to 500 Metres and beyond 500 metres on both sides of the proposed Mersey Gateway Bridge. Appendix 10.16 Spring Tide Surveys Appendix 10.17 Neap Tide Surveys Appendix 10.18 Breeding bird survey of saltmarshes 2005 and 2007 Appendix 10.19 Results of the Great Crested Newt surveys of ponds in the vicinity of the proposed Mersey Gateway junction improvements. Appendix 10.20 Invertebrate surveys of the saltmarshes Appendix 10.21 Diets of wildfowl waders and gulls Appendix 10.22 The impact on wading birds of the M4 Severn Road Bridge: Literature review and field surveys (January 2006). Appendix 10.23 Glossary The Mersey Gateway Project Chapter 10 Environmental Statement 1.0 Page 10.4 Terrestrial and Avian Ecology 10. TERRESTRIAL AND AVIAN ECOLOGY 10.1 Introduction General Introduction to Terrestrial and Avian Ecology 10.1.1 This Chapter describes the likely significant and non-significant other effects of the construction and operation of the Mersey Gateway Project (the Project), which crosses the Upper Mersey Estuary, on terrestrial and avian ecology. 10.1.2 The existing terrestrial and bird habitat ecological conditions of the Estuary and its surroundings are described and evaluated. This includes all terrestrial wildlife habitats and associated biodiversity that may be directly or indirectly affected by the Project. This description and evaluation is referred to as the baseline assessment. 10.1.3 The Estuary, like most other estuaries, is a complex ecosystem that consists of many terrestrial and aquatic habitats. As well as the saltmarsh and other terrestrial or predominantly terrestrial habitats that are assessed in this Chapter, there are subtidal and intertidal maritime habitats and other types