Natura Impact Statement Shannon Airport Embankments Refurbishment, Shannon, Co. Clare This page has been left intentionally blank 19986-6002-C Natura Impact Statement March 2020 ISSUE FORM Project number 19986 Document number 6002 Document revision D (31.7.2020) Document title Natura Impact Statement: Shannon Airport Embankments Refurbishment, Shannon, Co. Clare Document status Final Document prepared by Document checked by i 19986-6002-D Natura Impact Statement June 2020 Table of contents 1 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ......................................................................................................................... 7 2 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1 CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL OBSERVATIONS........................................................................................................ 9 3 METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................................... 11 3.1 APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT GUIDANCE ......................................................................................................... 11 3.2 CONSULTATION ....................................................................................................................................... 11 3.3 DESK STUDY ............................................................................................................................................ 11 3.4 FIELD SURVEYS ........................................................................................................................................ 12 3.4.1 Site Walkover/Habitats ................................................................................................................... 12 3.4.2 Flora ................................................................................................................................................ 13 3.4.3 Otter ................................................................................................................................................ 13 3.5 WAVE MODELLING................................................................................................................................... 13 3.6 ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS ....................................................................................... 13 3.7 BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SCREENING FOR APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT ...................................................................... 14 3.8 CONCLUSIONS OF THE SCREENING FOR APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT .................................................................... 14 3.9 REASONS FOR ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................................ 14 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT .............................................................................................................. 15 4.1 BRIEF PROJECT DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................................................... 15 4.2 PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT ......................................................................................................................... 15 4.3 SITE LOCATION AND CONTEXT .................................................................................................................... 17 4.4 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROJECT .............................................................................................................. 18 5 DESCRIPTION OF THE RECEIVING ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................. 21 5.1 GEOLOGY/LAND USE ................................................................................................................................ 21 5.2 HYDROGEOLOGY ...................................................................................................................................... 22 5.3 INTERTIDAL PROCESSES ............................................................................................................................. 22 5.4 SURFACE WATER ..................................................................................................................................... 22 5.4.1 Watercourses .................................................................................................................................. 22 5.4.2 Shannon Airport Lagoon ................................................................................................................. 23 5.5 HUMAN POPULATION AND LAND USE .......................................................................................................... 25 5.6 HABITATS AND FLORA ............................................................................................................................... 25 5.7 FAUNA ................................................................................................................................................... 31 5.7.1 Otter ................................................................................................................................................ 31 5.7.2 Avifauna .......................................................................................................................................... 31 5.7.3 Fish .................................................................................................................................................. 34 6 IDENTIFICATION OF OTHER PROJECTS, PLANS AND ACTIVITIES ............................................................. 35 6.1 WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT .............................................................................................................. 35 6.2 LICENSED SITES ........................................................................................................................................ 36 6.3 PLANS .................................................................................................................................................... 37 6.4 PLANNING APPLICATIONS .......................................................................................................................... 38 6.5 ONGOING ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................................................ 41 6.5.1 Shannon Airport .............................................................................................................................. 41 7 IDENTIFICATION OF NATURA 2000 SITES ............................................................................................... 43 7.1 LOWER RIVER SHANNON CSAC (002165) ................................................................................................... 44 7.1.1 Description of the Natura 2000 Site ................................................................................................ 44 ii 19986-6002-D Natura Impact Statement June 2020 7.1.2 Identification of Potential for Significant Impacts to Qualifying Features ...................................... 46 7.1.3 Qualifying Features Selected for Further Assessment ..................................................................... 55 7.2 RIVER SHANNON AND RIVER FERGUS ESTUARIES SPA (004077) ...................................................................... 66 7.2.1 Description of the Natura 2000 Site ................................................................................................ 66 7.2.2 Identification of Potential for Significant Impacts to Qualifying Features ...................................... 69 7.2.3 Qualifying Features Selected for Further Assessment ..................................................................... 75 8 ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS ........................................................................... 81 8.1 WATER QUALITY ...................................................................................................................................... 81 8.1.1 Construction Phase ......................................................................................................................... 81 8.1.2 Operational Phase .......................................................................................................................... 82 8.2 HABITAT LOSS/ALTERATION ....................................................................................................................... 82 8.2.1 Lower River Shannon cSAC .............................................................................................................. 82 8.2.2 River Shannon and River Fergus Estuaries SPA (004077) ................................................................ 86 8.3 DISTURBANCE AND/OR DISPLACEMENT OF SPECIES ......................................................................................... 87 8.4 HABITAT OR SPECIES FRAGMENTATION ......................................................................................................... 88 8.5 ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS ................................................................................... 88 8.5.1 Habitat Loss and Alteration ............................................................................................................ 88 8.5.2 Habitat or Species Fragmentation .................................................................................................