View from Twyford Village along the River Trent looking upstream towards Willington. Willington C Gas Pipeline Environmental Statement Appendix 8.15 Aquatic Invertebrate and River Survey Report Version 1, July 2013 – Approved for Submission Application Reference Number – EN060001 Document Reference – WCGP 014.2.8.15 Required document as set out in Section 5(2)(a) of the Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 APPENDIX 8.15 AQUATIC INVERTEBRATE AND RIVER SURVEY REPORT WILLINGTON C GAS PIPELINE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT VERSION 1 RWE NPOWER WILLINGTON C GAS PIPELINE ECOLOGY BASELINE ASSESSMENT AQUATIC INVERTEBRATE AND RIVER SURVEY REPORT JUNE 2012 APPENDIX 8.15 ________________________________________________ RWE NPOWER WILLINGTON C GAS PIPELINE ECOLOGY BASELINE ASSESSMENT AQUATIC INVERTEBRATE AND RIVER SURVEY REPORT JUNE 2012 APPENDIX 8.15 ________________________________________________ Penny Anderson Associates Limited ‘Park Lea’ 60 Park Road Buxton Derbyshire SK17 6SN Project Manager Gerard Hawley, BA (Hons), MSc, DipPSE (Dist), MIEEM Author Emily Williams, BSc (Hons), MSc June 2012 This project has been undertaken in accordance with PAA policies and procedures on quality assurance. Signed:_________________________________ Ref. No.120039 RWE npower June 2012 Willington C Gas Pipeline Aquatic Invertebrate and River Survey Report Appendix 8.15 ECOLOGY BASELINE ASSESSMENT AQUATIC INVERTEBRATE AND RIVER SURVEY REPORT JUNE 2012 APPENDIX 8.15 Version Date Sent Status/Comments PAA Ref V1 01/03/12 First Draft 120039 V2 22/3/2012 Second Draft 120039 V3 20/6/2012 Final version with amended wording 120039 for working areas. Ref. No.120039 RWE npower June 2012 Willington C Gas Pipeline Aquatic Survey Report Appendix 8.15 1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................. 3 Background .................................................................................................................. 3 Aims.............................................................................................................................. 3 2. METHODS ........................................................................................... 4 Desk Study ................................................................................................................... 4 Biological Water Quality ............................................................................................... 4 Interpretation............................................................................................................ 4 Biological Monitoring Working Party Score (BMWP)............................................... 4 Average Score Per Taxon (ASPT) .......................................................................... 5 Taxon Richness ....................................................................................................... 5 Chemical Water Quality................................................................................................ 5 River Survey ................................................................................................................. 5 Survey Limitations ................................................................................................... 6 3. RESULTS ............................................................................................ 7 Desk Study ................................................................................................................... 7 Macroinvertebrates .................................................................................................. 7 Environment Agency General Quality Assessment (GQA) Classification.................... 7 Macrophytes .......................................................................................................... 12 Field Survey................................................................................................................ 12 Biological Water Quality......................................................................................... 12 Table 6 Summary of Biological Water Quality Samples, January 2012..................... 12 RX1, River Swarbourn at Yoxall................................................................................. 14 RX2, Mill Fleam at Rolleston on Dove, Upstream...................................................... 14 RX3, Mill Fleam at Rolleston on Dove, Downstream ................................................. 14 RX5, Hilton Brook Upstream Egginton....................................................................... 14 RX6, Egginton Brook Downstream Saltersford Bridge............................................... 15 RX7, Unnamed Ditch at Willington ............................................................................. 15 DX4, Unnamed Ditch near Anslow Gate.................................................................... 15 DX5, Tributary to Rolleston Brook near Stockley Park .............................................. 15 DX6, Rolleston Brook near Belmot Bridge ................................................................. 15 DX11, Unnamed Ditch near Fishing Lakes ................................................................ 15 DX12, Unnamed Ditch near Willington Chicken Farm ............................................... 16 Chemical Water Quality......................................................................................... 16 Ref. No.120039 1 RWE npower June 2012 Willington C Gas Pipeline Aquatic Invertebrate and River Survey Report Appendix 8.15 River Survey .......................................................................................................... 16 4. SUMMARY......................................................................................... 21 5. REFERENCES................................................................................... 22 TABLES 1 Biological Water Quality Categories (Environment Agency 1999) 2 GQA Classification: Biology 3 GQA Classification: Chemistry 4 Summary of Biological Water Quality Monitori ng Results from the Environment Agency 5 Summary of Fisheries Interest from EA Desk Study Data 11 6 Summary of Biological Water Quality Samples, January 2012 7 Chemical Water Quality, January 2012 8 River Survey Site Descriptions FIGURES 1 Gas Pipeline Route Water Crossings 2 Desk Study Results for Aquatic Species 3a River Crossings – 2012 Macroinvertebrate Sample Site (South) 3b River Crossings – 2012 Macroinvertebrate Sample Site (North) APPENDICES A Environment Agency Desk Study B Macroinvertebrate Samples Species Lists C River Survey Photographs Ref. No.120039 2 RWE npower June 2012 Willington C Gas Pipeline Aquatic Invertebrate and River Survey Report Appendix 8.15 1. INTRODUCTION Background 1.1 RWE npower has submitted a proposal to the Department of Energy and Climate Change for consent to construct a new gas-fired power station on the former site of Willington A and Willington B Power Stations in South Derbyshire. S36 consent for the new power station was granted 4th March 2011. 1.2 A new gas pipeline is required to link the proposed power station with the National Transmission System (NTS ). This is a national network of large gas transmission pipelines operated by the National Grid. The proposed pipeline would connect with th e NTS near the village of Yoxall in Staffordshire, where an Above Ground Installation (AGI) would be constructed. The pipeline would run from Yoxall for approximately 27km to the site of the proposed gas-fired power station in Willington, Derbyshire. 1.3 Consent for the new gas pipeline is required in the form of a Development Consent Order under the Planning Act (2008) and subject to The Infrastructure Planning (EIA) Regulations (2009). The body responsible for the administration of this process is currently the Planning Inspectorate (PINS), formerly the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC). 1.4 The route of the pipeline crosses under a number of rivers, streams and drainage ditches. The aquatic macroinvertebrate and river survey examines the physical character of the channels at the point where the pipeline crosses and assesses the ‘health’ of the watercourse by examining the macroinvertebrate assemblage. This information will be used to assess the impacts of the proposals upon rivers. 1.5 The aquatic macroinvertebrate and river survey is one of a number of ecology surveys carried out along a land corridor following the route of the proposed pipeline as part of an ecological baseline assessment. 1.6 This is to establish the character of habitats, presence of protected species, protected areas of wildlife value and featu res of ecological interest. The results of the surveys will be used to evaluate the immediate and long-term impacts of the pipeline and inform appropriate routing, construction methods and mitigation measures. 1.7 This report presents the results of Aquatic Macroinvertebrate and River Surveys completed in January 2012. Aims Examine river habitat features and physical character of rivers, streams and ditches at the point where the pipeline crosses; Assess the biological water quality of each watercourse; and Produce recommendations and inform mitigation for any predicted adverse impacts (included within ES). Ref. No.120039 3 RWE npower June 2012 Willington C Gas Pipeline Aquatic Invertebrate and River Survey Report Appendix 8.15 2. METHODS Desk Study 2.1 The desk study consisted of a consultation exercise whereby the Environment Agency (EA)