DEPARTMENT OF THE MARINE AND NATURAL RESOURCES LEESON LANE DUBLIN 2
These Guidelines were drawn up with the assistance of the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards and The Marine Institute.
Published 1998
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
Land use and transportation developments, accelerated by infrastructural programmes, are changing the countryside at a pace and scale not experienced before. Many of these developments have had an adverse impact on rivers, streams and lakes. Local Authorities are the principal promoters of many public works or are otherwise the planning authority for development. They are therefore in a position to ensure that where these developments impact on inland waters they are carried out in an environmentally sensitive manner.
The purpose of these guidelines is to outline the fisheries concerns and to advise on the precautions to be taken for the protection of inland fisheries. They are intended for use by Local Authority Engineers & Planners, their Consultants and Contractors.
A local Authority when executing works pursuant to the Local Authority (Works) Act, 1949 is obliged to take such precautions and make such provision for the protection of fisheries as the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources may advise, either generally, or in particular cases. These guidelines may be taken as the general advice of the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources. These guidelines do not encompass effluent discharges or water abstractions which require more detailed consideration by the Fisheries Authorities.
More detailed advice can be obtained from the relevant Fisheries Authorities. Early consultation will ensure that impacts on rivers, lakes and streams are greatly reduced or in many cases eliminated altogether.
2. THE AQUATIC ENVIRONEMENT
The aquatic environment includes all streams, rivers and lakes. All are essential elements contributing to the sum of the total aquatic ecosystem. Treat all streams, rivers, water courses and lakes shown on a 6" ordnance survey map as important features of the aquatic environment. Even small streams less than 1 metre wide may be important spawning areas for fish and may contain many minute plant and animals essential to the growth of fish.
3. The Fisheries Resource
Our inland fisheries are a valuable natural resource estimated as generating around £80 million per annum (1996). Important fish are the salmonids:- salmon, sea trout and brown trout; the coarse fish species and the eel. Recreational fishing, a major source of tourist income, is regarded as the most important sector in inland fisheries. There are commercial fisheries for salmon and eels on many inland and estuarine waters and the important salmon drift net fishery at sea is dependent on the salmons' freshwater life stages. Irish inland waters are for the most part of very high quality and almost all rivers, streams and lakes support fish stocks of importance.
4. Fisheries Authorities
The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, the Central Fisheries Board, the seven Regional Fisheries Boards and the Foyle Fisheries Commission are responsible for inland fisheries. The addresses of the Regional Boards, the Foyle Fisheries Commission and the Central Fisheries Board are shown in Appendix (1 A). The boundaries of the fisheries regions are shown on the map at Appendix (1 B). Addresses for the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources offices are shown in Appendix (2).
5. Local Authority Works and Fisheries
It is acknowledged that Local Authorities have statutory powers to carry out works in or near inland waters. However they should take all reasonable steps to ensure that fisheries are not damaged. Once constructed, works that are detrimental to fisheries are often difficult or prohibitively expensive to remedy. It is therefore essential that the Manager of the relevant Regional Board is consulted during the planning of the works. This applies both to small scale and localised works or projects concerning many miles of river. The Regional Board will advise on measures to prevent or mitigate any likely impacts. It is often possible to plan the works in a way that will enhance the river from fisheries and amenity viewpoints.
Local Authority Planning should endeavour to protect the fishery resource and to lay down appropriate conditions on developments likely to impact on inland waters. County Development Plans in urban areas should promote streams and rivers as part of the aesthetic amenity. Rivers and streams can often form the central theme for the development of linear parks while still retaining their qualities as a fishery .
6. IMPACTS ON FISHERIES
The most common and most serious impact from public works is the destruction of fish habitat. Works may also:
- Interfere with Fish Migration
e.g. Bridge Sills/Aprons:- no passage way in low flows or too much flow so
that passage is only available for the largest fish.
- Interfere with Angling
e.g. Access to rivers removed or obstructions interfere with fishing effort.
- Give rise to harmful discharges
e.g. Cement washing, fine solids, drainage and discharge from certain structures.
- Facilitate poaching
e.g. Creating obstructions that cannot be passed by fish except at high flow.
- Cause aesthetic offence
e.g. Stark contrast to surroundings with no attempt to blend in. Even the
water bridge sills could be masked with stone facings set into concrete.
7. WHAT A GOOD FISHERY NEEDS
HABITAT
Salmonids require well oxygenated water with varied flows and depths, and clean gravel beds for spawning. Rivers should have well developed riffle and pool patterns and varied bank and stream vegetation. All are necessary for successful reproduction, growth and shelter. In general the greater the variety of features the more attractive a stream is as a fishery. Canalised rivers with uniform flows and banks devoid of vegetation are the least attractive habitat for fish.
FISH MIGRATION
As salmon and sea trout spend part of their life cycle in inland waters and
part at sea, rivers witness continuous upstream and downstream movement of
adult fish and downstream movement of juvenile fish called smolts. Resident
brown trout also undertake spawning migrations but to a lesser extent than
salmon and sea trout. Lake trout move out of the lakes to spawn in feeder
streams and outlet channels. Salmon and trout migrate to the extremities of
river systems and may spawn in streams less than 1 metre wide. Sea trout in
particular will spawn in extremely small narrow streams provided that there
is ample gravel. Young eels move upstream from the sea in spring. Adult eels
migrate to sea in late autumn. It is essential for the health of fish stocks
that the free movement of these species is not impeded.
ANGLING
Angling for salmon, sea trout and brown trout and many species of coarse fish
is an important tourist industry as well as being a major recreational pursuit.
Angling requires access to rivers and lakes, gently sloping or level banks,
fishing stands and stiles to cross fences. The angler desires waters free
from artificial discolouration or pollution. The angler appreciates a pleasing
environment free from undue noise or other interference which may detract
from its aesthetic appeal.
8. GUIDELINES
The guidelines in this leaflet are treated under the following headings.
- RIVER DRAINAGE
- RIVER DIVERSION/ROADWORKS
- BRIDGES
- CULVERTS
- FORDS
- STORAGE AND USE OF FUELS AND CHEMICALS
- CONCRETE AND CEMENT
- AMENITY WORKS.
8.1 RIVER DRAINAGE
Traditional drainage practices resulting in the widening, deepening and straightening
of rivers or streams and the creation of channels of uniform gradient and
sections are highly destructive to fisheries. Such drainage results in severe
habitat loss and is also detrimental to angling. The problem is often perpetuated
by continuing maintenance schemes which keep the river flora and fauna in
an impoverished state. The removal of gravel from river or stream bed is highly
detrimental as gravel beds are the incubators of salmon and trout eggs. The
fisheries concerns are to maintain the pre-drainage river morphology, bed
material and vegetation as far as possible.
- Flood relief can be handled in an environmentally sensitive way by constructing flood berms away from the existing channel or flood bypass channels. These techniques leave the existing channel and bank vegetation intact.
- If it is necessary to drain the existing channel consider a two-stage channel retaining as much bank vegetation as possible and avoiding disturbance of the existing river bed.
- If lowering the existing channel bed cannot be avoided. Maintain the original low flow channel width. Retain existing bankside vegetation on one side if possible. Restore riffles, pools, bed material and bank cover at the new drainage level. Store gravel bed material for reuse if not naturally available in the lower excavated bed.
- Spoil should not be deposited in mounds on the river banks except as a flood berm.
8.2 ROAD WORKS
Modern roads are designed to present a continuous smooth flowing alignment
to the motorist. Natural features such as rivers do not easily conform with
the road alignment and river diversion often results. River diversion is similar
to drainage and is often highly destructive. It is desirable therefore to
limit such diversions to the absolute minimum.
- Consider alternative horizontal road alignment to avoid necessity for river diversion. This is the best fisheries option and should be given weighty consideration.
- Consider bridging over river loops as an alternative to diversion.
- Do not build roads within 50 metres of rivers or streams if possible. (Where necessary use soakaways or settlement ponds for roadway runoff.)
Pipework culverting
It is now common practice to pipe streams under roads often resulting in too
high a stream velocity or an impassable fall for migrating fish at the downstream
pipe-end or fish passage blockage through build up of debris (see also culverts).
- Use arch type culvert if possible to avoid disturbing the natural bed and gradient.
- If using pipes over design in size and lay to flat gradient.
- If steeper gradient is unavoidable floor baffles may be necessary as well as a fishpass pool at the outlet.
Severance
Many main routes and urban roads are causing severance problems as low culverts
or pipes prevent the free access along the stream bank for angler or walker
.
- Provide access under main roads and busy urban roads.
Runoff
Runoff from road surfaces can contain high levels of pollutants especially
after long dry periods.
- Install soakaways or settlement ponds on drains from heavily trafficked roads.
Runoff of sediment from earth works can smother aquatic stream life (including vegetation, invertebrates & fish eggs) or interfere with angling for miles downstream.
- Pond and settle runoff .
- Take precautions with fuel and lubricants to prevent direct pollution or indirect pollution through spillage to drains. In particular, oil spillages on roads should not be washed into drains.
- Avoid concrete/cement washings near drains or water.
8.3 BRIDGES
The construction of bridges often create obstructions to fish passage or loss
of habitat or spawning gravel through concreting the river bed. They may facilitate
poaching where fish passage is impeded or fish are observable. Avoid creating
shallow or shooting flow at bridge aprons or culverts. Water velocities above
1.5 metres/sec for salmon or 1.0 metres/sec. for trout cannot be tolerated
for more than a short period.
FOR NEW BRIDGES:
- Avoid paving the river bed. Maintain the natural bed. Allow access for anglers
through bridge span or through false eye (where possible).
EXISTING BRIDGES:
- If renewing bridge apron in concrete dish pavement towards centre. A fish
pass may be required if water velocity increases excessively.
8.4 FORDS
These are usually constructed in upland areas and often in important spawning
streams. Concrete structures may give rise to high velocity flow or form a
fall obstructing upstream movement of spawning fish. Piping or culverting
of fords will often be required to allow fish passage.
- Taper downstream face of concrete ford. Ensure the drop from ford apron to downstream bed level does not exceed 300mm.
- Do not construct fords on spawning gravel.
8.5 CULVERTS
The practice of culverting or covering rivers or streams in urban areas usually
in low concrete structures or with concrete pipes, is widespread. Culverts
are highly inimical to stream plant and fish life and become effectively sterile.
Trash screens are often fitted which prevent the free passage of fish upstream.
- Never culvert long stretches of river or stream.
- Culvert rivers or streams for essential reasons only. Buildings, car parks and storage areas are not essential reasons to cover streams.
- Keep openings as large as possible to prevent blockage and allow for manual access for cleaning.
- Never screen culverts. The design is defective if the expected river debris can-not pass freely or blocks the discharge through the culvert.
8.6 CONCRETE AND CEMENT
CONCRETE
Concrete is an extremely versatile and durable construction material. It is
not surprising therefore, that its use is widespread. The use of concrete
in stream bed and banks prevents the growth of bankside vegetation, inhibits
the growth of essential flora and fauna and destroys fish habitat. It presents
an unyielding unaesthetic face to what should be an organic and changing environment.
- Except for essential structures avoid using concrete to form stream beds or banks. Never form concrete conduits in natural streams.
- For bank armouring use natural bank protection techniques such as sally faggoting where possible or stone armour .
CEMENT
Cement is a strong pollutant.
- Avoid cement release by working in dry if possible.
- Monitor pressure grouted or tremied concrete carefully for cement washing release.
- Mixer washings or excess concrete should not discharge to water.
8.7 STORAGE AND USE OF FUELS AND CHEMICALS
A number of substances commonly used in engineering or amenity works can be
harmful to fish or aquatic life if discharged to watercourses. These include
fuel oils and lubricants, inappropriate chemical weedkillers and heavy runoff
from works. With careful planning and good housekeeping these risks can be
much reduced by the following precautions:
- Bund storage tanks.
- Equipment should be maintained and refuelled at least 50 metres from water.
- Prepare and store chemicals at least 50 metres from water.
- Do not apply chemical weedkillers within 10 metres of a watercourse or lake unless they are approved for use in or near watercourses.
- Chemical weedkillers must be used in accordance with manufacturers instructions.
- Clean out equipment at least 50 metres from water and dispose of washwater off site safely.
- Runoff from works should be ponded and settled before discharge to water .
REMEMBER: Treat all drains as flowing to water.
8.8 AMENITY WORKS
There is increasing interest in river amenity works in urban areas. These
are generally to be welcomed as they focus positive community attention on
the river and remove river rubbish. However care must be taken to ensure that
amenity works are compatible with fisheries. In particular instream features
and bank and stream vegetation should be altered only with advice. The Regional
Fisheries Board will advise on how to optimise conditions for fisheries in
any scheme for riverside amenity.
- Keep stream work simple, natural and as maintenance free as possible.
WORKING PERIOD
Where the principal risk arising from any works is damage to eggs and young
fish the work should generally be restricted to the period May to September.
APPENDIX 1A
FISHERIES BOARDS ADDRESSES
Central Fisheries Board
Balnagowan
Mobhi Boreen,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 9
Tel: 8379206
Fax: 836 0060
Eastern Regional Fisheries Board
Balnagowan
Mobhi Boreen,
Glasnevin
DUBLIN 9
Tel: 8379209
Fax: 8360060
South-Western Regional Fisheries Board
1 Nevilles Terrace
Masseytown
MACROOM
Co Cork
Tel: 026 41221/41222
Fax: 026 41223
Western Regional Fisheries Board
Weir Lodge
Earl's Island
GALWAY
Tel: 091 563118 / 563119 Fax: 091 566335
Northern Regional Fisheries Board
Station Road
BALLYSHANNON
Co Donegal
Tel: 072 51435 / 52053 Fax: 072 51816
Southern Regional Fisheries Board
Epworth
Anglesea Street
CLONMEL
Co Tipperary
Tel: 052 23624
Fax: 052 23971
Shannon Regional Fisheries Board
Thomond Weir
LIMERICK
Tel: 061 455171 / 455305 Fax: 061 326533
North Western Regional Fisheries Board
Abbey Street
BALLINA
Co Mayo
Tel: 096 22623
Fax: 096 70543
Foyle Fisheries Commission
8 Victoria Road
DERRY
BT47 2AB
Tel: 08 01504 42100
Fax: 08 01504 42720
APPENDIX 2
DEPARTMENT OF THE MARINE AND NATURAL RESOURCES ADDRESSES
Department of the Marine and Natural Resources
Leeson Lane
DUBLIN 2
Tel: 6199200
Fax: 661 8214
Department of the Marine and Natural Resources
Government Buildings
Sullivans Quay
CORK
Tel: 021 4962317
Fax: 021 4313418
Department of the Marine and Natural Resources
3, Greenview Tce.
Princes Quay,
TRALEE
Co Kerry
T el: 066 7127235
Fax: 066 7128213
Department of the Marine and Natural Resources
Ross House
Merchants Road
GALWAY
Tel: 091 564514
Fax: 091 568316
Department of the Marine and Natural Resources
Upper Main Street
BALLYSHANNON
Co Donegal
Tel: 072 52561
Fax: 072 52563
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