European Sites wholly or partially within the 4km NCN Proposed Corridor
Consideration of potential impacts
Mitigation approach for Corridor
Dunes SAC,Bunduff Lough and Machair /Trawalua/Mullaghmore SAC, Donegal Bay (Murvagh) SAC, Sligo/Leitrim Uplands SPA, Donegal Bay SPA, Drumcliff Bay SPA, Lough Swilly SPA, Cummeen Strand SPA
visual disturbance impacts, and air quality impacts, (if construction was required) could arise if the final route ran within 200m of the SACs and SPAs, these impacts are avoidable for the majority of the corridor through either routing decisions or decisions regarding how the relevant sections of cycle route will be created (e.g. utilising existing infrastructure rather than creating new infrastructure in the most
Swilly SPA and Cummeen Strand SPA. There will therefore need to be consideration of any potential for loss of functionally-linked habitat for SPA birds once the actual cycle route is determined. This will only be required if new construction is required within natural habitats and loss of habitat is greater than trivial; this is relevant because very little land is required for a cycle route. In such a situation wintering bird surveys to determine use of the habitats by SPA birds may be required and, if necessary, appropriate mitigation provided to ensure no adverse effect on the integrity of the European site before the works are consented. The approach to delivering the crossing of Lough Melvin will be as follows: 1. Where feasible the crossing will be made using one of the three existing road bridges north from Sligo and one of the existing bridges crossing Lough Melvin; 2. Where engineering works to a road bridge would be required to render it suitable, any permanent works must remain out of the water column, unless it can be demonstrated this would not affect site integrity, and must not hinder potential for otter passage along the riverbanks. If any temporary ‘in river’ works were to be necessary, studies (including but not limited to underwater noise and hydrodynamic studies), and potentially mitigation, would be required to ensure the works could be delivered without an adverse effect on the SAC habitats or white-clawed crayfish, salmon or lamprey populations; 3. If a new bridge is required, the following general requirements must be followed in designing and assessing the structure: a. Any abutments must be located outside the SAC/SPA boundaries and/or must involve no loss of qualifying SAC habitat or supporting habitat for SPA birds; b. Any abutments must be located outside the river channel and must be set sufficiently far back from the bank top to ensure passage of otter along the banks is not prevented; c. The soffit of the bridge should be sufficiently high that significant shading impacts on the water column and in river vegetation will not arise. Research suggests this would require a soffit height: deck width ratio of 0.7 or above. d. A noise impact assessment of bridge construction regarding SPA birds, salmon,
Corridor Number and Name
European Sites wholly or partially within the 4km NCN Proposed Corridor
Consideration of potential impacts
Mitigation approach for Corridor
constrained sections, or using standard mitigation methods). Parts of the 4km corridor within which the final cycle route will be located lie within 2km of Sligo/Leitrim Uplands SPA, Donegal Bay SPA, Drumcliff Bay SPA, Lough Swilly SPA and Cummeen Strand SPA. Since these sites are designated for mobile species that may make use of habitat outside the SPA boundary there is potential for any new cycle route
lamprey and otter will be required, and potentially mitigation (such as seasonal restrictions on working, alternative construction methods or noise control techniques) to ensure no significant effect on the population of either species. e. Water quality protection measures will be required as well as a hydrological study to confirm any new construction would not affect special interest features that are hydrologically sensitive (e.g. alluvial woodland). f. Lighting should be avoided in areas that are currently unlit unless it can be demonstrated that there would be no adverse effect on site integrity. If detailed design work indicates that a new crossing of either Cummeen Strand SPA/Cummeen Strand/Drumcliff Bay (Sligo Bay) SAC, Lough Gill SAC, or Lough Melvin SAC would not be possible without an adverse effect on site integrity, the Corridor should be revised, such as to cease north of Sligo or make the 12km eastwards detour to avoid Lough Melvin to demonstrate no adverse effect on site integrity.
Corridor Number and Name
European Sites wholly or partially within the 4km NCN Proposed Corridor
Consideration of potential impacts
Mitigation approach for Corridor
construction to affect functionally- linked land for SPA birds outside the SPA boundary. At Sligo, the entire 4km corridor traverses either the Cummeen Strand SPA and Cummeen Strand/Drumclif f Bay (Sligo Bay) SAC, or Lough Gill SAC. Cummeen Strand SAC is designated for its estuaries, mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide, embryonic shifting dunes, shifting dunes along the shoreline with
Corridor Number and Name
European Sites wholly or partially within the 4km NCN Proposed Corridor
Consideration of potential impacts
Mitigation approach for Corridor
Ammophila arenaria (white dunes), fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation (grey dunes), Juniperus communis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands and calcareous grassland. Lough Gill SAC is designated for its natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamio n or Hydrocharition - type vegetation, calcareous grassland, oak woodland, alluvial forest,
Corridor Number and Name
European Sites wholly or partially within the 4km NCN Proposed Corridor
Consideration of potential impacts
Mitigation approach for Corridor
and populations of white-clawed crayfish, sea lamprey, brook lamprey, river lamprey, salmon and otter. The SPA is designated for its light- bellied brent goose, oystercatcher, redshank and wetland and waterbirds. The entire corridor also crosses Lough Melvin SAC at Magheracar. Lough Melvin is designated for its oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters with vegetation of the Littorelletea
Corridor Number and Name
European Sites wholly or partially within the 4km NCN Proposed Corridor
Consideration of potential impacts
Mitigation approach for Corridor
uniflorae and/or Isoeto- Nanojuncetea, Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey- silt-laden soils and populations of salmon and otter. There is no way the connection to Sligo can be accomplished without crossing either Cummeen Strand SPA/Cummeen Strand/Drumclif f Bay (Sligo Bay) SAC, or Lough Gill SAC, as these form an east west barrier north of Sligo. It would be possible to
Corridor Number and Name
European Sites wholly or partially within the 4km NCN Proposed Corridor
Consideration of potential impacts
Mitigation approach for Corridor
avoid traversing Lough Melvin but only with a substantial 12km detour to the east and back.
6
Sligo to Enniskillen
Lough Gill SAC,Cummeen Strand/Drumcliff Bay (Sligo Bay) SAC,Ballysadare Bay SAC,Boleybrack Mountain SAC,Unshin River SAC,Union Wood SAC,Corratirrim SAC,Ballysadare Bay SPA,Cummeen Strand SPA
For the most part the 4km corridor allows for the final route to be moved well away from European sites if necessary. Therefore, while noise and visual disturbance impacts, and air quality impacts, (if construction was required) could arise if the final route ran within 200m of these SACs or SPAs, these impacts
The final route alignment should avoid any new construction within 200m of any European sites as a first preference. Where European sites are to be traversed existing roads and bridges should be used to carry the cycle route where feasible and there should be no new lighting introduced in areas that are currently unlit unless it can be demonstrated that there would be no adverse effect on site integrity. If any new construction within 200m is needed to create the cycle route a noise and air quality assessment (and potentially noise and air quality mitigation) will be required to ensure there is no construction-related disturbance that could significantly affect SPA birds or significant air pollution impacts on sensitive habitats. Parts of the 4km corridor lies within 2km of Ballysadare Bay SPA and Cummeen Strand SPA. There will therefore need to be consideration of any potential for loss of functionally-linked habitat for SPA birds once the actual cycle route is determined. This will only be required if new construction is required within natural habitats and loss of habitat is greater than trivial; this is relevant because very little land is required for a cycle route. In such a situation wintering bird surveys to determine use of the habitats by SPA birds may be required and, if necessary, appropriate mitigation provided to ensure no adverse effect on the integrity of the European site before the works are consented. The approach to delivering the crossing of the Unshin River should be as follows: 1. Where feasible the crossing will be made using existing road bridges; 2. Where engineering works to a road bridge would be required to render it suitable, any permanent works must remain out of the water column, unless it can be demonstrated this would not affect site integrity, and must not hinder potential for