Mersey Warrington Flood Risk Management Scheme (Phase 3A) Water Vole Survey Report B1823300/031/51 April 2014 Document Control Sheet BPP 04 F8 Version 15; March 2013 Project: Mersey Warrington Flood Risk Management Scheme (Phase 3A) Client: Environment Agency Project No: B1823300 Document title: Water Vole Survey Ref. 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Contents 1 Executive Summary 2 2 Introduction 3 2.1 Background 3 2.2 Aims and Objectives 3 3 Methods 4 3.1 Survey Area 4 3.2 Limitations to Survey 5 4 Results 6 4.1 Desk Study 6 4.2 Habitat Description 6 4.3 Presence / Absence Survey 7 5 Discussion and Recommendations 9 5.1 Discussion 9 5.2 Recommendations 9 6 References 10 Appendix A Photographs 11 Appendix B Legislation 14 Appendix C Target Notes 15 Appendix D Figures 17 Mersey Warrington FRMS: Water Vole Survey April 2014 1 1 Executive Summary This report presents the findings of water vole surveys undertaken by Jacobs UK Ltd. for the Environment Agency. The survey was undertaken to verify and update a previous survey undertaken by Halcrow in 2010 and Jacobs in 2012. This report has been produced to inform an addendum to the Environmental Statement (ES) for the Mersey Warrington Flood Risk Management Scheme (Environment Agency 2011). Water vole surveys were carried out in April 2013. An update survey was conducted in September 2013 of Padgate Brook (River Mersey to Farrell Street road bridge), and on 4 th April 2014 of Padgate Brook new course and old course. Suitable habitat for water vole was identified but no evidence confirming water vole presence was recorded. It is therefore considered that water vole is not currently present within the survey area. Current development proposals involve embankment works on two small sections of Padgate Brook new course; at the far north of the Twiggeries, and at the south of the Twiggeries approximately 120m north of Farrell Street. To dissuade water voles from colonising the development area, regular strimming of the bank side and channel vegetation should be undertaken in the months leading up to construction. In order to be effective, all vegetation both on the bank and in the water should be strimmed down to bare earth and all arisings should be removed (Strachan & Moorhouse, 2006). The area strimmed should cover the working area and include at least a 5m buffer either side. Water voles are a highly mobile species therefore a further water vole survey should be undertaken prior to construction works on site, or within 12 months should the commencement of the Scheme be delayed. Mersey Warrington FRMS: Water Vole Survey April 2014 2 2 Introduction 2.1 Background The Environment Agency (EA) is proposing to undertake engineering works as part of the Mersey Warrington Flood Risk Management Scheme, hereafter described as the “Scheme”. A full description of the Scheme can be found in the Environmental Statement (EA 2011). The Scheme includes proposals within the survey area to re-cut Padgate Brook old course, with habitat creation works including reedbed to enhance the brook for water voles. Embankment works will be undertaken on Padgate Brook new course at the far north and south of the Twiggeries to tie in to Padgate Brook old course. Jacobs UK Ltd. (Jacobs) was commissioned by the EA to undertake an ecological assessment of areas within Phase 3 of the Scheme. Phase 1 and 2 of the Scheme are under construction; Phase 3A is the subject of an updated Environmental Impact Assessment (EA, 2014) A desk study undertaken in 2010 identified records of water vole ( Arvicola terrestris ) within 2km of the study area (Halcrow 2010). Non-conclusive signs of water vole presence (old burrows) were recorded on Padgate Brook, Spittle Brook and several ditches during a previous extended Phase 1 habitat survey (Halcrow 2011). A survey of the lower reaches of Padgate Brook in 2012 (Jacobs 2012) also found non-conclusive signs of water vole presence (old burrows). This report presents the findings of water vole surveys undertaken by Jacobs in April 2013 and update surveys conducted in September 2013 and April 2014. A summary of relevant wildlife legislation and policy is provided in Appendix B. 2.2 Aims and Objectives The aim of the water vole surveys was to establish the current status of water vole on Padgate Brook and within the Twiggeries. Survey objectives were to: • Undertake water vole surveys of Padgate Brook and the Twiggeries. • Inform the detailed design of engineering works in this vicinity. • Inform the need to provide mitigation for water voles in relation to the Scheme. Mersey Warrington FRMS: Water Vole Survey April 2014 3 3 Methods 3.1 Survey Area The survey area comprised Padgate Brook new course from its confluence with the River Mersey upstream to where it flows underneath the A50 Kingsway North. Padgate Brook old course within the centre of the Twiggeries was also surveyed where habitat was deemed suitable. A total length of approximately 900m of Padgate Brook was subject to survey (see Figure 1 in Appendix D). The right bank of the River Mersey between the A49 Kingsway Bridge (at the downstream limit) to the New Cut Canal (a disused canal) was also surveyed for water vole. The River Mersey channel has a deep fast flow with unsuitable habitats along the bankside to support water vole, therefore this stretch of the Scheme is not considered further in this report and updated surveys were not carried out on this section of the Scheme. An initial water vole survey was undertaken on 29 th April 2013. An update survey was conducted in September 2013 of Padgate Brook (River Mersey to Farrell Street road bridge), and on 4 th April 2014 of Padgate Brook new course and old course. Conditions during the surveys were dry and warm and suitable for conducting a water vole survey. Survey methods followed those described by Strachan and Moorhouse (2006). Both banks of the brook were surveyed from the east bank, and the opposite bank was viewed through binoculars for signs indicating the presence of water vole (burrows, droppings, latrines, runs/paths, feeding remains and prints). Immediately to the east of the lower reach of Padgate Brook new course a small pond has been created (see Photo 2 in Appendix B and Figure 1 in Appendix D). The margins of the pond were also surveyed for signs indicating water vole presence.