2013, RSK, Lincs Offshore Wind Farm, Saltmarsh Botanical Monitoring Survey, Eastern and Western Northshore Cables

Description

As part of the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), Lincs Marine Licence (Licence Number: L/2011/00111/8) and under Natural England request, RSK was commissioned by Centrica to undergo botanical surveys to monitor the recovery of saltmarsh vegetation affected following cable trenching operations associated with the Lincs Offshore Wind Farm. This report presents the results of the second year of botanical monitoring surveys carried out in connection with the trenching of two cables (Nearshore Western Cable and Nearshore Eastern Cable) for the Lincs Offshore Wind Farm. It provides the survey findings for botanical monitoring completed in September 2013 for both cables. As per the agreed monitoring schedule (RSK 2011a-c), further reports will be submitted on an annual basis for the next four years until (and including) 2016 for the eastern cable and 2017 for the western cable. The aim of the botanical survey was to monitor vegetation recovery in areas crossed by cable installation activities (impacted areas) with vegetation in unaffected areas (control areas). The botanical monitoring consisted of a National Vegetation Classification (NVC) survey of the consent corridor; seven transects located in the main saltmarsh zones and a subjective assessment made during the walkover.