9. Flora, Fauna
and Fisheries
9.4
Summary and Conclusions
There
are nine designated conservation areas for flora and fauna
within the constraints study area. One of these is a proposed
candidate Special Area of Conservation (pcSAC), and eight
are proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHA). As most of the
pNHAs are small and have a scattered distribution, it should
be possible to avoid any direct impact on these sites unless
otherwise unavoidable.
The
main ecological constraint is River Barrow and River Nore
pcSAC. This site comprises the River Nore and part of the
King's River, and will have to be crossed by the proposed
road at some point. Any river crossing should target sections
of the river where the ecological and fisheries value is comparatively
low.
In the case of pcSACs, projects that are likely to have a
significant adverse impact on the integrity of the site may
only be carried out for "imperative reasons of overriding
public interest, including those of a social or economic nature".
Consultations with Dúchas, the Heritage Service will be required
if any pNHAs are affected by this scheme.
There are 77 additional ecological sites in the constraints
study area. These are generally concentrated in upland areas
and along river corridors. While all ecological sites should
be avoided, this is unlikely to be possible owing to the number
of long narrow sites along river corridors, and the high density
of sites in the uplands. If sites cannot be avoided then mitigation
will be required.
Numerous watercourses occur in the constraints study area
and most of these are important for fisheries. They include
the main channels and numerous tributaries of the Barrow and
Nore rivers, and tributaries of the River Suir in the south.
The River Nore dissects the constraints study area from north
to south and will have to be crossed by the proposed road
at some point. Particular attention will be required in the
selection of crossing points for any watercourse to avoid,
where possible, designated conservation areas, other ecological
sites and stretches of the channel that are of high fisheries
value and/or contain protected freshwater species listed in
Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive.
All river and stream crossings should be treated with care
and should be the subject of consultation with the Southern
Regional Fisheries Board. Single span bridges for rivers and
bottomless culverts for streams are recommended, where practical,
as they have the least impact on fish and macro-invertebrate
populations, and on the stream or river habitat.
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