Natura Impact Statement Shannon Airport Embankments Refurbishment, Shannon, Co. Clare This page has been left intentionally blank 19986-6002-B Natura Impact Statement December 2019 ISSUE FORM Project number 19986 Document number 6002 Document revision B (18.12.2019) Document title Natura Impact Statement: Shannon Airport Embankments Refurbishment, Shannon, Co. Clare Document status Final Document prepared by CH, HD Document checked by GH i 19986-6002-B Natura Impact Statement December 2019 Table of contents 1 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ............................................................................................ 7 2 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 8 3 METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................... 8 3.1 Appropriate Assessment Guidance .................................................................................... 8 3.2 Consultation ..................................................................................................................... 9 3.3 Desk Study ........................................................................................................................ 9 3.4 Field Surveys ..................................................................................................................... 9 3.4.1 Site Walkover/Habitats ......................................................................................................................... 9 3.4.2 Flora .................................................................................................................................................... 10 3.4.3 Otter .................................................................................................................................................... 10 3.5 Wave Modelling .............................................................................................................. 10 3.6 Assessment of Potentially Significant Effects ................................................................... 10 3.7 Brief Overview of Screening for Appropriate Assessment ................................................. 11 3.8 Conclusions of the Screening for Appropriate Assessment ............................................... 11 3.9 Reasons for Assessment .................................................................................................. 11 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ................................................................................. 12 4.1 Brief Project Description ................................................................................................. 12 4.2 Purpose of the Project..................................................................................................... 12 4.3 Site Location and Context ................................................................................................ 14 4.4 Characteristics of the Project ........................................................................................... 16 5 DESCRIPTION OF THE RECEIVING ENVIRONMENT ..................................................... 19 5.1 Geology/land Use ........................................................................................................... 19 5.2 Hydrogeology ................................................................................................................. 20 5.3 Intertidal Processes ......................................................................................................... 20 5.4 Surface Water ................................................................................................................. 20 5.5 Human Population and Land Use ..................................................................................... 22 5.6 Habitats and Flora ........................................................................................................... 22 5.7 Fauna ............................................................................................................................. 28 5.7.1 Otter .................................................................................................................................................... 28 5.7.2 Avifauna .............................................................................................................................................. 28 5.7.3 Fish ...................................................................................................................................................... 29 6 IDENTIFICATION OF OTHER PROJECTS, PLANS AND ACTIVITIES ................................. 30 6.1 Wastewater Treatment Plant .......................................................................................... 30 ii 19986-6002-B Natura Impact Statement December 2019 6.2 Licensed Sites ................................................................................................................. 31 6.3 Plans .............................................................................................................................. 31 6.4 Planning Applications ...................................................................................................... 32 6.5 Ongoing Activities ........................................................................................................... 35 6.6 Shannon Airport ............................................................................................................. 35 6.6.1 Bird Strike ............................................................................................................................................ 35 6.6.2 Airport Activities ................................................................................................................................. 36 7 IDENTIFICATION OF NATURA 2000 SITES .................................................................. 37 7.1 Lower River Shannon cSAC (002165) ................................................................................ 37 7.1.1 Description of the Natura 2000 Site .................................................................................................... 37 7.1.2 Identification of Potential for Significant Impacts to Qualifying Features .......................................... 40 7.1.3 Qualifying Features Selected for Further Assessment ........................................................................ 48 7.2 River Shannon and River Fergus Estuaries SPA (004077) ................................................... 59 7.2.1 Description of the Natura 2000 Site .................................................................................................... 59 7.2.2 Identification of Potential for Significant Impacts to Qualifying Features .......................................... 62 7.2.3 Qualifying Features Selected for Further Assessment ........................................................................ 68 8 ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS ............................................... 74 8.1 Water Quality ................................................................................................................. 74 8.1.1 Construction Phase ............................................................................................................................. 74 8.1.2 Operational Phase ............................................................................................................................... 75 8.2 Habitat loss/Alteration.................................................................................................... 75 8.2.1 Lower River Shannon cSAC.................................................................................................................. 75 8.2.2 River Shannon and River Fergus Estuaries SPA (004077) .................................................................... 79 8.3 Disturbance and/or Displacement of Species ................................................................... 80 8.4 Habitat or Species Fragmentation .................................................................................... 80 8.5 Assessment of Significance of Potential Impacts .............................................................. 81 8.5.1 Habitat Loss and Alteration ................................................................................................................. 81 8.5.2 Habitat or Species Fragmentation....................................................................................................... 82 8.5.3 Disturbance and/or Displacement of Species ..................................................................................... 82 8.5.4 Water Quality ...................................................................................................................................... 83 8.6 Assessment of Effect on Conservation Objectives ............................................................ 83 8.6.1 Lower River Shannon cSAC.................................................................................................................. 84 8.6.2 River Shannon and River Fergus Estuaries SPA ................................................................................... 89 8.7 Assessment of Potentially Significant Cumulative Effects ............................................... 106 9 MITIGATION .........................................................................................................