ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT For the reconstruction of a harbour in Maabaidhoo island, Laamu Atoll, Maldives September 2013 Proposed by Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Prepared by Ahmed Jameel (EIA 07/07) For Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Maldives I EIA for the reconstruction of a harbour at L. Maabaidhoo Table of Contents Table of Contents II Declaration of the consultants ...............................................................................................................IV Proponents commitment V Non Technical Summary IX 1 Introduction.................................................................................................... 1 1.1 STRUCTURE OF THE EIA ......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE EIA........................................................................................ 1 1.3 EIA IMPLEMENTATION ........................................................................................................... 1 1.4 TERMS OF REFERENCE ............................................................................................................ 1 2 Project Setting................................................................................................ 2 3 Project Description......................................................................................... 4 3.1 PROJECT PROPONENT.............................................................................................................. 4 3.2 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR MANAGING THE PROJECT ............................................. 4 3.3 PROJECT LOCATION AND STUDY AREA................................................................................... 4 3.4 DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING ACCESS TO THE ISLAND.......................................................... 4 3.5 NEED AND JUSTIFICATION TO UNDERTAKE THE PROJECT ........................................................ 5 3.6 WHY REBUILD THE HARBOUR? ............................................................................................... 5 3.6.1 Why is the Project Important for the Local Community?.................................................. 5 3.6.2 Why Proposed Design? ..................................................................................................... 6 3.7 PROJECT DURATION AND BOUNDARY...................................................................................... 8 3.8 THE PROJECT .......................................................................................................................... 8 3.8.1 Brief Description of Proposed Concept ............................................................................ 8 3.8.2 Process and Materials....................................................................................................... 9 3.9 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ............................................................................................ 9 3.10 PROJECT INPUTS AND OUTPUTS .............................................................................................. 9 3.11 RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT ................................................................................ 10 3.12 PROJECT SCHEDULE.............................................................................................................. 11 3.13 CONSTRUCTION METHODOLOGY........................................................................................... 11 3.13.1 Construction strategy ................................................................................................. 11 3.13.2 Work methods for coast-based activities .................................................................... 11 3.13.3 Work method for marine-based activities................................................................... 11 3.13.4 Management of dredged spoil and its disposal .......................................................... 11 3.14 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE .......................................................................................... 12 3.14.1 Flood control measures.............................................................................................. 12 3.14.2 Project management................................................................................................... 12 4 Methodology................................................................................................ 14 4.1 GENERAL METHODOLOGIES OF DATA COLLECTION .............................................................. 14 4.2 MAPPING AND LOCATION IDENTIFICATION ........................................................................... 14 4.3 MARINE SURVEY .................................................................................................................. 14 4.4 BATHYMETRIC SURVEY ........................................................................................................ 15 4.5 MARINE WATER QUALITY ..................................................................................................... 15 4.6 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITION AND STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION...................................... 15 5 Existing Environment of Maldives .............................................................. 16 5.1 COASTAL ENVIRONMENT...................................................................................................... 16 5.1.1 Climatic setting ............................................................................................................... 16 5.2 NATURAL HAZARD RISK........................................................................................................ 19 5.3 RAINFALL ............................................................................................................................. 20 5.4 TEMPERATURE...................................................................................................................... 20 5.5 TOPOGRAPHY........................................................................................................................ 20 5.6 EXISTING TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................ 21 5.7 BEACHES .............................................................................................................................. 21 5.8 BATHYMETRY....................................................................................................................... 21 5.9 CORAL REEF.......................................................................................................................... 22 5.10 STATUS OF CORAL REEF AT SITE 1......................................................................................... 22 5.11 STATUS OF CORAL REEF AT SITE 2......................................................................................... 23 6 Status of fish abundance .............................................................................. 24 II EIA for the reconstruction of a harbour at L. Maabaidhoo 7 Marine water quality.................................................................................... 26 7.1 EXISTING SOCIOECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT .......................................................................... 27 7.1.1 Setting.............................................................................................................................. 27 8 Environmental Impacts ................................................................................ 29 8.1 ASSESSING AND IDENTIFICATION OF IMPACT ........................................................................ 29 8.2 IMPACT IDENTIFICATION MATRIX.......................................................................................... 29 8.3 MAGNITUDE OF IMPACTS ...................................................................................................... 30 8.4 UNCERTAINTIES IN IMPACT PREDICTION .............................................................................. 31 8.5 IMPACTS ON THE MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENT..................................................... 31 8.6 IMPACT ON THE COASTAL ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................ 32 8.6.1 Mobilization Impacts....................................................................................................... 32 8.6.2 Impacts of Sedimentation ................................................................................................ 32 8.6.3 Impact of Breakwaters and Quay walls........................................................................... 32 8.6.4 Impacts of Land Reclamation (filling)............................................................................. 32 8.6.5 Impacts due to Harbour Operation ................................................................................. 32 8.6.6 Solid waste disposal ........................................................................................................ 32 8.6.7 Impacts on the Marine Environment from the Proposed Harbour Project ..................... 33 8.6.8 Mobilization Impacts....................................................................................................... 33 8.6.9 Impacts from Construction Materials and Other Waste.................................................. 33 8.6.10 Impacts due to Construction Work ............................................................................. 34 8.6.11 Impacts of Built Coastal Structures...........................................................................