Item5Appendix2HRA20200108DET

This document contains a Natura Appraisal Form for the River Dee Special Area of Conservation (SAC). It reviews a proposal to construct a new single carriageway road and bridge at Gairnshiel on the A939 Deeside-Tomintoul road. The qualifying interests of the River Dee SAC are freshwater pearl mussels, otters, and Atlantic salmon. The appraisal assesses the potential impacts of the proposed construction on these species and their habitats, including distribution, habitat extent, and supporting processes. The proposal could have a significant effect on otters, freshwater pearl mussels and Atlantic salmon. The document concludes that the project could adversely affect the site's integrity if mitigation measures are not implemented. It recommends that the project proponent submits a detailed construction method statement that addresses the following effects: disturbance to salmon and otters; sediment run-off leading to suffocation of fish and mussels and smothering of the river bed; fuel run-off leading to poisoning of fish, mussels and otter and accidental trapping and injury to otter. It also mentions the need for freshwater ecology surveys and the mapping of habitats for salmon and freshwater pearl mussels.