EIA report for restoration of AA. Mathiveri harbour under construction of harbours for tsunami victims project

Abstract

1. This Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report is prepared to fulfill the regulatory requirements under the environmental Protection and Preservation Act of Maldives prior to the proposed harbor restoration at Mathiveri in AA Atoll. 2. Mathiveri harbor restoration project is part of the Construction of Harbors for Tsunami Victims Project. This restoration project involves repair of harbors at 10 islands. The project is funded by a joint loan taken from Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the Saudi Government and Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) by the government of Maldives. The design consultancy was awarded to Alhabshi Consultants Office, a Kuwaiti Company in association with Riyan Pvt Ltd (a Maldivian company). The Agreement for consultancy was signed on 6th November 2008 between the Government of Maldives and Alhabshi Consultant. 3. Project proponent of the proposed harbor restoration project is Ministry of Housing and Environment. The project was bided as a design and consultancy project. The main design consulting company Alhabhsi Consultants is assigned to carry out the design works, preparing tender documents, carrying out EIAs and construction phase supervision consultant. 4. The proposed development project involves renovation and restoration of Mathiveri harbor. During the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, Mathiveri harbor facility received extensive damages. These include damage to harbor protection walls, side walls and quay walls. Under the proposed project, new quay wall (concrete sheet piles, L section) and breakwaters (armor rocks) will be constructed at the existing foot prints (See Appendix 2 for site plan). The harbor basin will also undergo maintenance dredging to -3MSL. Since the proposed project is only a restoration project, basin size will not be increased. The concept plan is formulated in light of the new third generation harbor concept which is focused at functionality of the harbor. In this regard harbor usage components such as passenger embarking/disembarking, loading unloading area, water and fuel recharging and mooring area will be demarcated. 5. Mathiveri is located at Alifu Alifu atoll, 82km from Male’. It is just about 2.6km west of AA Bodufulhadhoo located at a western side peripheral reef at AA Atoll north western side. In terms of geographic coordinates, it is located at 04° 11' 30" N and 72° 44' 46" E. Nearest island is Nika Island Resort (Kudafolhudhoo) just east of Mathiveri approximately 2.2km away. 6. The existing harbor facility is located at the north eastern side of the island, while access to the harbor is via entrance channel north eastern side of the harbor. The project boundaries are the harbor front area, either side breakwaters, eastern side seawall and entrance area. Under the proposed project maintenance dredging will be done at the basin and entrance area where necessary and this activity will generate sediment plumes east wards. Dredged material removed during the maintenance dredging works will be disposed at the NE side of the island where severe erosion is observed (option 1) and at the football ground for leveling purposes as community requested. Dredged material will be used during construction works and only surplus disposed. 7. The existing harbor footprint will not be changed due to the proposed project, breakwaters and quay wall will be constructed at existing foot print. Therefore the existing design of the harbor will remain as it is, although the present length of entrance breakwater will change (50m of northern side and 100m on southern side). The length of the harbor after completion of renovation works will be 170m and width 84m. The length of entrance channel is approximately 140m, while width is 30m. The harbor basin and entrance channel will have a depth of -3MSL after completion of the restoration works. 8. The harbor will have a total length of 150m of breakwater on either side of entrance channel. The breakwater will be constructed of armor stones and remains of existing breakwater as core 9. Dredge material removed from the harbor basin (maintenance dredging works) and entrance will be initially stockpiled near harbor area since part of the material will be required during construction works. Part of the sediment will be used for back filling the area in between the existing quay wall and new quay wall and for filling the geo textile bags of breakwaters and side quays. Approximately 2,000m3 will be used for back filling and leveling the harbor front area, where due to damaged quay wall sediment has run off. Approximately 21,000m3 of dredge material will be removed from the harbor basin and entrance channel. 10. Approximately 1,000m3 will be used as core material for type1 breakwaters, while approximately 2,100m3 will be used of filling the area between the existing quay wall and proposed quay wall. The harbor side quay areas are also required to be back filled; therefore approximately 1,000m3 of sand will also be used for leveling this area. The remaining 14,900m3 will be disposed at the areas where severe erosion is observed, northern side and leveling of football ground (as proposed by the community and Island Office). Volume of dredged material required for leveling the football ground is not yet known. 11. Existing environment was examined to identify significant environmental components that would be affected and to establish a baseline condition of the site. Available and relevant literature on environmental impacts associated with similar projects was evaluated to identify possible impacts. Oceanographic data and information on local hydrodynamics were qualitatively assessed to determine the current pattern around the island which was based on monsoonal wind patterns, wind generated waves, tidal flushing, geographic setting, the topography of the lagoon and shape of the shoreline. 12. Two sites are surveyed for assessing the reef condition, site one was located at the northern side of the entrance, while site two was located southern side of the entrance channel. 13. Live coral at site one dominated by acroporids, branching and tabulate forms. Numerous acropora tabulate life form colonies are observed at the back reef and reef flat area, while at the ref slope area branching corals are observed. The reef slope is sandy, with isolated porites bommy. Live coral at site one is estimated to be 35%, while rock to be 41%. Live coral cover at site two is estimated to be 30%, while rock and rubble is 61%. Branching and tabulate forms are the dominant acroporids observed. Large porites bommies are also observed at the area. 14. It is important to note that the most significant impact associated with the project would be impact on the marine environment from sedimentation. Dredging and excavation often carry a heavy load of sediments increasing sediment load in the water column causing discoloration due to suspended sediments of the impact area for a prolonged period. Since the project is a restoration project, the extent of sediment plum will be limited at the harbor basin area, whereas the entrance channel mouth area is needed to be deepened. The sediment plume is envisaged to be directed towards eastern side inter atoll waters. 15. Since the proposed project is restoration project, environmental impacts associated with the proposed project are considered minor to moderate. The significant environmental components that are likely to be affected are the coral community at the eastern side reef patches. 16. Mitigation measures are provided in the report for impacts that were categorized minor to moderate. Impact mitigation measures and monitoring is carried out to compare predicted and actual impacts occurring from project activities to determine the efficiency of the mitigation measures. It has to be noted that environmental monitoring has not been done since the completion of harbor, and extent of changes to habitat, live coral cover andshoreline is not known. Even though the project is not envisaged to cause impacts of shoreline (since construction will be done at existing footprint), it is important to monitor shoreline changes. 17. The main issue raised by island community during the meeting held at Mathiveri was the issue of entrance channel mouth area, quay wall at the reclaimed breakwater and disposal of dredged material. The community requested that shallow area in front of the entrance mouth to be deepened, L section quay wall to be constructed at the reclaimed breakwater (basin side) and to dispose dredged material at the northern side of the harbor and at football ground for leveling purpose. 18. With due consideration to main environmental components identified and the magnitude of impacts on these components from the proposed developments, the consultant concludes that the project components and designs are feasible and appropriate mitigation measures are given to correct and minimize unfavorable environmental consequences. Furthermore, the public and community consultation responses were in favor of the project due to the socioeconomic benefits foreseen to the community from a functional harbor.