Appropriate Assessment of the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028
Table 3.1 Screening of European Sites Site Code Site Name Distance
Qualifying Feature
Potential Effects
Pathway for Significant Effects
Potential for In- Combination Effects
004030
Cork Harbour SPA
Within
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) [A004], Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) [A005], Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) [A017], Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) [A028], Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) [A048], Wigeon (Anas penelope) [A050], Teal (Anas crecca) [A052], Pintail (Anas acuta) [A054], Shoveler (Anas clypeata) [A056], Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) [A069], Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) [A130], Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) [A140], Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) [A141], Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) [A142], Dunlin (Calidris alpina) [A149], Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) [A156], Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) [A157], Curlew (Numenius arquata) [A160], Redshank (Tringa totanus) [A162], Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) [A179], Common Gull (Larus canus) [A182], Lesser Black- backed Gull (Larus fuscus) [A183], Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) [A193], Wetland and Waterbirds [A999] Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide [1140], Atlantic salt meadows (Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae)) [1330] Estuaries [1130], Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide [1140], Perennial vegetation of stony banks [1220], Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand [1310], Atlantic salt meadows ( Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae ) [1330], Mediterranean salt meadows ( Juncetalia maritimi ) [1410], Water courses of plain to montane levels with the Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion vegetation [3260], Old sessile oak woods with Ilex and Blechnum in the British Isles [91A0], Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae ) [91E0], Margaritifera margaritifera (Freshwater Pearl Mussel) [1029], Austropotamobius pallipes (White- clawed Crayfish) [1092], Petromyzon marinus (Sea Lamprey) [1095], Lampetra planeri (Brook Lamprey) [1096], Lampetra fluviatilis (River Lamprey) [1099], Alosa fallax fallax (Twaite Shad) [1103], Salmo salar (Salmon) [1106], Lutra lutra (Otter) [1355], Trichomanes speciosum (Killarney Fern) [1421]
The Plan provides a framework for land use development and activities with potential for construction and operation source effects throughout the City. This European site is hydrologically sensitive. It exists within the City boundary and within a receiving catchment of the Plan area. Therefore, there are pathways for potential direct effects to the ecological integrity of the site from the sources identified above. Therefore, further consideration is required under Stage 2 AA. Yes
Yes
001058
Great Island Channel SAC
1.4 km
The Plan provides a framework for land use development and activities with potential for construction and operation source effects throughout the City. This European site is hydrologically sensitive. It exists within 1.4 km of the Plan area and within a receiving catchment of the Plan area. Therefore, there are pathways for potential direct effects to the ecological integrity of the site from the sources identified above. Therefore, further consideration is required under Stage 2 AA. Yes The Plan provides a framework for land use development and activities with potential for construction and operation source effects throughout the City. This site is sensitive to hydrological changes and direct land use management. This European site is 7 km from the City boundary. An assessment of the hydrological connectivity of surface water pathways shows that this SAC is upstream of the Plan area. Furthermore, the site lies within a catchment that is outside of the plan area (WTD 19 6 ). Groundwater interactions are complex, reliant on hydrogeological and landscape characteristics 7 . It has been shown that the effects from groundwater contaminants are diluted through volume of water 8 . Considering the distance between the Draft Plan area and the groundwater sensitive features of the SAC, there is considerable dilution effect, and therefore no significant effects to the QIs are identified. Furthermore, the QIs are sensitive to direct land use management effects. There are no policies or objectives included in the Draft Plan that will influence the management practices of the SAC. Therefore, there is no risk to water quality of hydrological interactions from the Plan due to the absence of pathways. Given the distances involved there are no other sources for effects identified that have pathways for effects to the ecological integrity of the SAC. As there are no sources with pathways for significant effects foreseen, no further assessment is required. No
Yes
002170
Blackwater River (Cork/ Waterford) SAC
7 km
No
6 EPA Catchment database. Accessed 1 st April 2021 at: https://gis.epa.ie/EPAMaps/ 7 Wehncke, E.V. and Mariano, N.A., 2021. Groundwater and Its Role in Maintaining the Ecological Functions of Ecosystems—A Review. Intensified Land and Water Use: A Holistic Perspective of Local to Regional Integration , pp.55-86. 8 Lasagna, M. et. Al., 2013. Effect of the dilution process on the attenuation of contaminants in aquifers. Environmental earth sciences , 70 (6), pp.2767-2784.
CAAS for Cork City Council
9
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