Environmental impact assessment report harbour reconstruction works at Feydhoo, Addu City

Abstract

1. This Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report is to fulfill the regulatory requirements under the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act of Maldives prior to the proposed harbor restoration at Feydhoo in Addu City. 2. Project proponent of the proposed harbor restoration project is Ministry of Housing and Environment. The project was bided as a design and build project. The contractor for the project is Works Corporation Limited. 3. The proposed development project involves renovation and restoration of Feydhoo harbor. The existing harbor quay wall is badly damaged and is in need for repair. Under the proposed project, new quay wall (concrete sheet piles, L section) will be constructed. The harbor basin and entrance channel will also undergo maintenance dredging to -3MSL, while the harbor will be expanded at the southern side and widened. The existing quay wall will be shifted approximately 15m eastwards (outwards from existing quay wall location). 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, fish landing, water and fuel recharging and mooring area will be demarcated. 4. The island of Feydhoo lies at the southern side of Gan-Hithadhoo reef, north of Gan at Addu atoll. Measuring 1.6 km in length and around 0.58 km in width (at maximum), the island covers an area of 65ha; the island is oriented north west to south east. The island is located at 00° 40' 55" N and 73° 08' 06" E. 5. The existing harbor facility is located at the north-eastern side. The site boundaries are harbor basin area. The harbor facility will undergo expansion, maintenance dredging and construction of new quay wall. 6. The harbor design includes a side quay wall at the southern side for use as a loading and unloading area. The side quay wall will have a width of 39m and length of 59m (basin side). The side quay wall T jetty section will have L section concrete elements on the basin side while rock revetment will be constructed at rest of T jetty. The existing harbor has a basin 240m long and 66m wide. After the restoration works the harbor basin will have a length of 366m and a width of 91m. The new quay wall will be placed at an offset of 15m from existing footprint to create sufficient room for harbor front area and as safety for link road. The entrance channel will have a length of 45m while the width will be 30m. The harbor basin and entrance channel will have a finish depth of -3MSL. 7. Dredge material removed from the harbor basin (maintenance dredging and expansion works) will be used for filling the area where quay wall will be moved (15m offset) and side quay wall area. Approximately 33,000m3 of dredged material will be removed from the harbor expansion area (southern side and eastern side, increase of width and length). Dredged material needed for filling the offset area and side quay wall is 32,000m3 (offset area 11,000m3 and side quay wall area approximately 21,000m3). If surplus sediment is remaining these will be transport on barge to Hithadhoo harbor project site for back filling works. 8. Drain system will be installed at the quay wall area for draining storm water, while the finish level of harbor quay wall will be 1.5MSL. 9. Detailed assessment of the reef was carried out. This include assessment of the coral community, sea grass community and seawater quality. The coral community is dominated with Goniastrea and few other species with approximately 40% cover overall. 10. 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 (limiting light penetration which is essential for coral growth) 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; the natural deep lagoon and manmade deep channel paths at the area will limit the spread of the sediment plume. 11. Since the proposed project is a restoration project, environmental impacts associated with the proposed project are considered minor to moderate. 12. 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. The north-eastern shoreline of Feydhoo is modified over the years, with reclamation works and coastal modifications. In this regard harbor proximity area, has no natural shoreline but composed of entirely of revetment structures. 13. 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.