9 9.1 147
Otter Baseline
Detailed baseline relating to Otter is provided in Volume 3, Section 24.5.2.18 of the ES. Otters are a European Protected Species. Presence was confirmed at 12 locations although no confirmed evidence of couches or holts on the Onshore Cable Route during the 2012 survey. Information and figures setting out the results of the survey are included in Appendix 24.7 of the ES.
9.2 148 Pre-construction Survey
A pre-construction walkover would be undertaken along all suitable open-cut watercourses to confirm that no new holts or lying up sites have been used by Otter. This would preferably take place in summer. If Otter holts or couches are identified during these pre-construction surveys then Natural England would be consulted regarding an appropriate mitigation strategy.
9.3 Embedded Mitigation
149 Where possible, night-time working during open trenching of watercourses would be minimised in order to minimise impacts on Otters.
9.4
Additional mitigation During Construction
150
As Otters are largely nocturnal, mitigation measures during construction would focus on the restriction of night-time working (to avoid disturbance to roaming Otters), and the maintenance of barrier-free, night access along banks as follows:
Wherever possible, night-time working near watercourses would be avoided or else minimised, in which case noisy operations would particularly be avoided at night, and lighting close to watercourses would be minimised
Obstructions to Otter movement along watercourses would, wherever possible, be temporarily removed, beached or bridged at night (to the extent that Otters could use either bank or the bed of the watercourse)
Outline Landscape and Ecological Management Strategy. Version 2
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