A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 1 – Environmental Statement 11 ECOLOGY AND NATURE CONSERVATION 11.1 Executive summary 11.1.1 The ecology and nature conservation assessment focussed on the evaluation of the Proposed Scheme’s potential impact on sites designated for nature conservation and biodiversity value, habitat and species of nature conservation value. This has allowed for mitigation to be proposed to avoid or reduce the severity of negative impacts on sensitive sites, habitats and species. 11.1.2 The Proposed Scheme would interact with the internationally important designated River Foyle, River Finn and Owenkillew River, as well as Tully Bog, however no significant deleterious effects are predicted. 11.1.3 The assessment has allowed for the scheme design and mitigation to be developed to avoid impacts arising or reduce their severity on these assets. Construction procedures have been proposed that would specify pollution control measures and the minimisation of damage to valuable habitats in the contractor’s method statement. 11.1.4 The Proposed works would impact on a number of habitat types including Woodland, grassland, marsh, bog, watercourses and ponds. Impacts are likely to result from the permenant loss, fragmentation and disturbance of these habitats in the construction and operational phases. The Proposed Scheme would have the potential to impact upon a number of protected species of fauna. This include but are not limited to otters, bats, badger, newts, breeding birds and wintering birds. Adverse impacts would result from the loss or disturbance of breeding, resting and foraging sites, loss of habitat and potential killing/injury from the construction or operation of the Proposed Scheme. Works with the potential to impact on protected species would be carefully managed under license for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). 11.2 Scope of the assessments 11.2.1 The assessments relating to ecology and nature conservation have been focused on sites designated for their ecological / nature conservation value, and outside of such sites, aquatic habitats and fauna and terrestrial habitats and fauna. Designated sites 11.2.2 Designated sites which have been considered include international, national and local designations. The international designations of relevance to the Proposed Scheme are Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Ramsar Sites. Nationally designated sites comprise Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs). Local wildlife sites include statutory and non-statutory sites. © Mouchel 2016 11-1 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 1 – Environmental Statement 11.2.3 The following sites have been subject to assessment: • Lough Foyle SPA and Ramsar site • Lough Swilly (including former Inch Lough and Levels) SPA • River Foyle and Tributaries SAC and ASSI • Owenkillew River SAC and ASSI • River Finn (Republic of Ireland) SAC • Tully Bog SAC and ASSI • Lough Neagh and Lough Beg SPA / ASSI / Ramsar • McKean’s Moss parts I & II ASSI • Strabane Glen ASSI • Grange Wood ASSI • Baronscourt ASSI • Strabane Nature Reserve LWS Aquatic habitats and fauna 11.2.4 The assessments for aquatic habitats and fauna have been focused on macrophytes and freshwater fish. Macrophytes 11.2.5 The study area for macrophytes has been 13 sections of watercourse extending 250m upstream and downstream of the point at which the Proposed Scheme would cross them as scheduled below. • Burn Dennet • Glenmornan River • River Mourne • River Finn • River Derg © Mouchel 2016 11-2 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 1 – Environmental Statement • Fairy Water • Aghnamoyle drain • Loughmuck drain • Drumragh River • Froughmore drain • Unnamed watercourse • River Blackwater tributary • Coolaghy Burn 11.2.6 The watercourses were selected following a review of surveys reported in the A5WTC ES 2010, which had established that many of the watercourses crossed by or in close proximity to the Proposed Scheme, do not support macrophyte assemblages of note. These are mainly heavily modified field drains, or sites subject to intense pollution from agriculture or sewage overflow resulting in high eutrophication thus severely limiting natural aquatic plant growth. 11.2.7 Access was refused for 7 of the 13 sites selected for survey. In the case of these, reference has been made to data included in the A5WTC ES 2010. This involved an assessment of the watercourses in the context of a more extensive study area adopted during the selection of the preferred alignment for the scheme proposed at that time. Freshwater fish 11.2.8 The study area for freshwater fish has comprised 16 sections of watercourse which the Proposed Scheme would either cross or be in close proximity to. The location of the 16 sections is indicated in Figure 11.35. The 16 sections were selected following a Fisheries Habitat Survey (FHS) of 47 sections of watercourse which were, in turn, selected following a review of data obtained as part of a River Habitat Survey (RHS) completed during preliminary planning and selection of a preferred corridor for the Proposed Scheme. Terrestrial habitats 11.2.9 The assessments for terrestrial habitats have been focused on: • woodland and scrub; • grassland and marsh • bogs; © Mouchel 2016 11-3 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 1 – Environmental Statement • ponds; • hedgerows and veteran trees; and • bryophytes. 11.2.10 The study area for the assessments has been the proposed land take as defined by the vesting line for the Proposed Scheme, land that would be temporarily required during construction, and a further 250m beyond the proposed vesting line and temporary areas. Terrestrial fauna 11.2.11 The assessments for terrestrial fauna have been focused on: • Otter; • bats; • red squirrel; • pine marten; • badger; • Irish hare; • Deer; • wintering swan and goose; • breeding birds; • wintering birds; and • smooth newt. Otter 11.2.12 The study area adopted for otter has been focused on sections of watercourse which would be crossed by the Proposed Scheme or which are located within 500m of the land take for the Proposed Scheme. Information within a more extensive 3km study area either side of the Proposed Scheme which was adopted for the studies reported in the A5WTC ES 2010 has also been taken into account for the purposes of setting a broader context for presence of the species. Bats 11.2.13 The study area for bats has been the proposed land take for the Proposed Scheme and land up to a further 500m from the land take boundary. Information within a more extensive study area adopted for the studies reported in the A5WTC ES 2010 has also © Mouchel 2016 11-4 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 1 – Environmental Statement been taken into account for the purposes of setting a broader context for the presence of bats. Red squirrel 11.2.14 The study area for red squirrel comprises 19 woodland sites located along or in close proximity to the Proposed Scheme alignment as indicated in Figures 11.44 – 11.58. Access was refused for 5 of the sites selected for survey. The 19 sites were selected following a preliminary review of woodlands within 2km of the land take boundary for the Proposed Scheme. Woodlands that were either greater than 5ha in area or smaller woodlands greater than 1ha in area, within 100m of other woodland (connected via linear habitat features) which aggregate to 5ha or more were selected. Information within a more extensive study area adopted for the studies reported in the A5WTC ES 2010 has also been taken into account for the purposes of setting a broader context for presence of the species. Pine marten 11.2.15 The study area for pine marten has been 6 woodland sites located along or in close proximity to the Proposed Scheme alignment as indicated in Figures 11.59 – 11.64. The 6 sites were selected following a preliminary review of woodlands within 2km of the land take boundary for the Proposed Scheme. Blocks of woodland greater than 1km² together with smaller patches of woodland which aggregated to 5km² and were within 1 km of each other were selected. Riparian woodland greater than 10m wide which extended for more than 5km or which was located within 1km of other habitat totalling 5 km in length or 5km² in area was also selected. Information within a more extensive study area adopted for the studies reported in the A5WTC ES 2010 has also been taken into account for the purposes of setting a broader context for presence of the species. Badger 11.2.16 The study area for badger has been the proposed land take for the Proposed Scheme and land up to a further 50m from the land take boundary. Irish hare 11.2.17 There was no defined study area established for Irish hare, the site-based collection of data having been restricted to incidental recording of sightings during the conduct of other surveys for habitats and fauna. Deer 11.2.18 The study area for deer has been the proposed land take for the Proposed Scheme and land up to a further 250m from the land take boundary. © Mouchel 2016 11-5 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 1 – Environmental Statement Wintering swan and goose 11.2.19 The study area for wintering swan and goose has been the Foyle floodplain and land west of the existing A5 between Magheramason and the Burn Dennet and two groups of fields west of the River Foyle, one north of Saint Johnstown and one north of the Swilly Burn. The location and extent of the study area, which is indicated in Figures 11.67 and 11.68, has been informed by consultation with NIEA, RSPB and BTO. Breeding birds 11.2.20 The study area for breeding birds has comprised 20 sites identified as being representative of the range of habitats along the Proposed Scheme corridor. The location of the sites is indicated in Figure 11P.1 in Appendix 11P.