CORK COUNTY COUNCIL COMHAIRLE CONTAE CHORCAÍ RIVER BLACKWATER WWTP DISCHARGES – DISCHARGE LICENCES NATURA IMPACT STATEMENT For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. JUNE 2011 CONSULTING ENGINEERS Sherwood House, Sherwood Avenue, Taylor’s Hill, Galway Suite D4, The Cubes Offices, Beacon South Quarter, Sandyford Dublin 18 EPA Export 09-07-2011:03:45:38 Quality Control CLIENT CORK COUNTY COUNCIL PROJECT NO 2192 RIVER BLACKWATER WWTP DISCHARGES – DISCHARGE PROJECT TITLE LICENCES REPORT TITLE NATURA IMPACT STATEMENT Rev. Status Author(s) Reviewed By Approved By Issue Date 1 DRAFT GH MJ MJ 02.06.2011 For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. 2 FINAL GH MJ MJ 15.06.2011 Blackwater Catchment WWTPs Natura Impact Statement Page 2 EPA Export 09-07-2011:03:45:38 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................6 1.1 BACKGROUND.....................................................................................................................6 1.2 APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT – LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT...............................................7 1.3 NATURA 2000 SITES ...........................................................................................................9 1.4 SCHEME LOCATIONS....................................................................................................... 10 2 METHODOLOGY..................................................................................... 13 2.1 DESK STUDY....................................................................................................................... 13 2.2 CONSULTATION................................................................................................................ 13 2.3 FIELD SURVEYS .................................................................................................................. 14 3 ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................... 15 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE BLACKWATER RIVER CATCHMENT.............. 16 4.1 BACKGROUND.................................................................................................................. 16 4.2 BLACKWATER RIVER SPECIAL AREA OF CONSERVATION ...................................... 17 4.2.1 Details of site designation ........................................................................................................17 4.2.2 Conservation status of qualifying interest habitats species...............................................19 4.2.3 Additional habitats and species of conservation interest ..................................................21 4.3 FURTHER NOTES ON THE SPECIES OF CONSERVATION INTEREST....................... 23 4.3.1 Salmonids .....................................................................................................................................23 4.3.2 Otter..............................................................................................................................................24 For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. 4.3.3 White-clawed Crayfish.............................................................................................................25 4.3.4 Lamprey species .........................................................................................................................27 4.3.5 Twaite Shad.................................................................................................................................28 4.3.6 Killarney Fern ..............................................................................................................................29 4.3.7 Freshwater Pearl Mussel ...........................................................................................................30 4.4 PRESSURES ON PEARL MUSSEL POPULATIONS......................................................... 36 4.4.1 Drainage ......................................................................................................................................36 4.4.2 Barriers .........................................................................................................................................36 4.4.3 Agriculture practices ..................................................................................................................36 4.4.4 Fords..............................................................................................................................................37 4.4.5 Abstractions..................................................................................................................................37 4.4.6 Forestry.........................................................................................................................................38 4.4.7 On-site waste water treatment systems.................................................................................39 4.4.8 Waste Water Treatment Plants ..............................................................................................39 4.4.9 Quarries........................................................................................................................................39 4.4.10 Miscellaneous...............................................................................................................................39 Blackwater Catchment WWTPs Natura Impact Statement Page 3 EPA Export 09-07-2011:03:45:38 5 CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................... 40 5.1 BALLYCLOUGH.................................................................................................................. 40 5.2 BALLYHOOLEY................................................................................................................... 40 5.3 BANTEER.............................................................................................................................. 41 5.4 BOHERBUE.......................................................................................................................... 42 5.5 BUTTEVANT ........................................................................................................................ 42 5.6 BWEENG............................................................................................................................. 43 5.7 CASTLELYONS ................................................................................................................... 43 5.8 CASTLETOWNROCHE...................................................................................................... 44 5.9 CHURCHTOWN................................................................................................................. 44 5.10 CLONDULANE.................................................................................................................... 45 5.11 CONNA............................................................................................................................... 45 5.12 DONERAILE......................................................................................................................... 46 5.13 DROMAHANE..................................................................................................................... 46 5.14 FERMOY .............................................................................................................................. 47 5.15 GLANWORTH.................................................................................................................... 48 5.16 KANTURK ............................................................................................................................ 49 5.17 KILDORRERY....................................................................................................................... 50 5.18 KILLAVULLEN ...................................................................................................................... 51 5.19 KILWORTH.......................................................................................................................... 51 5.20 MALLOW ............................................................................................................................ 52 5.21 MILLSTREET ......................................................................................................................... 53 5.22 NEWMARKET ..................................................................................................................... For inspection purposes only. 54 Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. 5.23 RATHCORMACK................................................................................................................ 54 6 REFERENCES ............................................................................................. 56 APPENDIX 1 – NATURA 2000 SITE INFORMATION................................. 60 APPENDIX 2 – BALLYCLOUGH SCREENING & ASSESSMENT ................ 63 APPENDIX 3 – BALLYHOOLEY SCREENING............................................... 71 APPENDIX 4 – BANTEER SCREENING & ASSESSMENT............................ 76 APPENDIX 5 – BOHERBUE SCREENING...................................................... 84 APPENDIX 6 – BUTTEVANT SCREENING .................................................... 89 APPENDIX 7 – BWEENG SCREENING .......................................................