Ecological Assessment of Symonds Yat Rapids

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Ecological Assessment of Symonds Yat Rapids
Eric Palmer Cresswell Associates
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Desk Study
Field Survey
Assessment of Results
Recommendations
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Desk Study

• Herefordshire Biological Records Centre
• Environment Agency
• Natural England
• NBN Gateway
• MAGIC web site
• Symonds Yat Rapids Preservation Group web site

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Ecological Survey

• Phase I botany
• Habitats of conservation value, and
• Protected species of plants and animals
• White-clawed crayfish
• Water voles
• Otters
• Bats
• Badgers
• Birds

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Desk Study Results

• Special Area for Conservation (SAC)
• Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
• Lower Wye SSSI designated as a salmonid fishery
• EA highlighted rapids, adjacent and downstream
  habitats as suitable spawning areas for SAC fish
  species although no specific records
• Area supports a diverse assemblage of aquatic
  invertebrates
• Other protected species records great crested
  newt, several bat species, and hazel dormouse

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Survey Results Plants and Habitats
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Survey Results protected species
Otters spraint and resting sites
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Survey Results protected species

• Bats
• Potential roost sites

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Survey Results protected species
Dormice Woodland on river banks
suitable Reptiles unlikely to be present in
large numbers, grass snakes may use island to feed
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Survey Results protected species

• Fish
• Habitat suitable for a variety
• of species at different life stages.
• Scoured areas
• Clean gravels
• Silt berms
• Pools

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Survey Results protected species

• White-clawed crayfish
• Not found during 2005 survey
• Habitat is suitable
• Remains found in otter spraint on island

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Survey Results protected species
Badgers no signs Water voles Habitat of
limited suitability unlikely to be
present Amphibians No breeding areas noted, but
terrestrial habitat
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Assessment

• Most valuable features and habitats
• Substrate of the river bed for fish and
• invertebrates
• Otter resting sites
• Trees with potential to support roosting bats
• Potential impacts
• Fish and invertebrates (including crayfish)
• Otters
• Bats
• Dormice

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Mitigation

• Fish Timing of works protect and enhance
  habitat
• Invertebrates enhance habitat
• Crayfish rescue if present enhance habitat
• Otters protect known resting site temporary
  disruption
• Bats avoid impacts on occupied trees
• Dormice avoid impacts on occupied nests