Proposed Fisheries Enhancement - Ballyartella, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary

Statutory consultation on proposed works by the OPW as required under Section 42 (6) and (8) of the EU (Birds and Habitats) Regulations 2011, as amended.

Ref: 24/2022 Natura Impact Statements for Fisheries Enhancement Ballyartella, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary for the Nenagh OPW Arterial Drainage Schemes.

Proposed Works

This plan proposes the introduction of a series of structural modifications and material to the riverbed at some specific locations along the main river channel, which will provide variable flows and dissipate the river’s energy downward to create scour and maintain pools. Narrow channels will be cut within the existing river bed, increasing flow rates and scouring a “thalweg”, which will be more amenable to migrating fish. This will mostly be in the form of installation of individual boulders or paired deflectors, and gravel. A pool will then be excavated downstream from the deflectors, with the increased flow rates between the points of the paired deflectors, maintaining scour and depth in the head of the pool. All works carried out to improve in-stream conditions will be done in a manner so that disturbance to the riparian area in minimised

Brief description

The proposed works are within the River Nenagh catchment on Channel C1 of the Nenagh CDS. This work is done for fisheries enhancement.

Appropriate Assessment

In accordance with Section 42 (6) and (8) of the EU (Birds and Habitats) Regulations 2011, as amended, the OPW is now required to carry out an appropriate assessment of the implications of the proposed works, alone and in combination with other plans and projects, on the integrity of all relevant Natura 2000 sites in view of its conservation objectives.

An Appropriate Assessment Screening Report and a Natura Impact Statement have been prepared in respect of these proposed works and is provided below.

The OPW now invites submissions and observations from the public relating to the likely significant effects of the proposed works on the following European Sites, if carried out:

• Lough Derg, (North-east Shore) SAC code 2241

• Lough Derg (Shannon) SPA code 4058

The OPW shall have regard to any submissions or observations received during this public consultation when arriving at a decision. The OPW will also consult with the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

How to make a submission

We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. Public consultation forms an important part of advancing the consideration of the environmental impacts associated with these works and allows the involvement of the public in developing a better outcome for the associated SACs and SPAs.

Submissions will be accepted from Wednesday 21st Sept 2022 to Wednesday 26th Oct 2022, up to 5pm. Submissions will not be accepted outside this consultation period.

You can make a submission via email: please email your submission to nis@opw.ie and you must include the email subject as "Fisheries Enhancement - Nenagh River."

Information about Submissions received

We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. Individual responses to submissions will not be provided however all submissions and feedback will be considered before the final decision is made.

Please note that responses to this consultation are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI), Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2018 (AIE) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Please also note that we may publish the contents of all submissions received to our consultations on our website. We will redact personal data prior to publication. In responding to this consultation, parties should clearly indicate where their responses contain personal information, commercially sensitive information or confidential information which they would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published.

We would like to draw your attention to our Data Privacy Notice which explains how and when we collect personal data, why we do so and how we treat this information. It also explains your rights in relation to the collection of personal information and how you can exercise those rights.