Newlands Cross Upgrade EIS - European Investment Bank

South Dublin County Council N7 Newlands Cross Upgrade
Environmental Impact Statement
Arup Consulting Engineers
and it is unlikely to occur as no previous occurrences have been observed in the Liffey
Catchment to date. White clawed crayfish are endemic to the Liffey Catchment and have been
observed during previous surveys, most recently in 2004 for the environmental impact
assessment of the M50 upgrade. This species is endemic to Irish lowland lakes and rivers that
are underlain by carboniferous limestone and glacial till derivatives. Due to the proximity to
the Grand Canal which has a known otter population, it is also highly likely that the Camac
River is used by otters. Lamprey, white clawed crayfish and otter are listed for protection
under the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) 6 .
It is likely that Kingfishers frequent the Camac River. The kingfisher is listed in Annex I of
the EU Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) 7 .
The Camac River has a poor record for water quality and has limited riparian habitat except in
the parkland areas it runs through i.e. Corkagh Demesne and Clondalkin Park have a sequence
of man made ponds fed by the Camac River. However, as it is highly likely to hold stocks or
lamprey and crayfish and does hold brown trout stocks, it can be rated as having a high
ecological value, as well as social amenity value in its urban setting.
14.3.2.4 Dodder River
The Dodder River rises in the Dublin Mountains upstream of the Bohernabreena Reservoir. It
flows from the Dublin Mountains in an approximately northern direction in an arc shaped
catchment. It flows in a north easterly direction out of the Dublin Mountains to the south of
Tallaght. In Tallaght the Killinarden Stream joins the Dodder at Dodder Valley Park. This
stream flows parallel to the N81 Blessington Road and forms the main surface water features
of Sean Walsh Memorial Park at the southern end of the Belgard Road in Tallaght.
The Dodder River crosses under the M50 at the N81 Interchange. From there it flows in a
roughly north eastern direction through Templeogue, Bushy Park, Milltown, Clonskeagh,
Donnybrook, Ballsbridge and finally discharges to the Liffey Estuary at Grand Canal Dock.
The upper rural catchment (upstream of the M50) of the Dodder Rover is approximately 56.5
km 2 . The Dodder River is a larger and longer river than the Camac River, and with the Tolka
River form the two primary sub-catchments that flow directly into the Liffey Estuary between
the entraining Bull Wall and Ringsend Wall.
14.3.2.5 Water Quality
The EPA conducts water quality assessment for both physico-chemical and biological water
quality at various locations along the Dodder River. Routine monitoring of these parameters is
undertaken at the following sampling points along the Dodder River upstream of its
confluence with the Liffey Estuary:
• (0800) Milltown Bridge (Milltown);
• (0700) Dodder Road Weir (Rathfarnham);
• (0620) Springfield Avenue Bridge (Templeogue);
• (0600) Springfield Crescent (Templeogue);
• (0300) Old Bawn Road Bridge (Oldbawn);
• (0200) Fort Bridge (Kiltipper);
• (0100) Upstream of Piperstown Stream;
• (0010) 1.3 km upstream of Bohernabreena Reservoir.
December 2007 Page 224