Environmental impact assessment report for redevelopment of Kudarah Island Resort, Adh Atoll

Abstract

1. This Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report is to fulfil the regulatory requirement under the environmental preservation act of Maldives prior to the proposed redevelopment of Adh. Kudarah. 2. Major component of the proposed development are; • 14 Beach villas • 21 Beach suites • 14 Water villas • 1 water suite • Main restaurant • Speciality restaurant • Grill restaurant • Beach bar and swimming pool facility • Spa facility • Installation of waste water grid and STP The project also involve excavation and dredging of a 1600m2 harbour at the south western side of the island, and beach recreation work involving construction of head land bays (breakwater type of headlands and bay like beach in the middle). A seawall is also proposed at the eastern side of the island for protection against refracted swells coming from the channel at the eastern side of the atoll. 3. Sediment excavated to deepen the harbour basin would be used to back fill the beach creation areas and back filling of some of the inland structures. 4. The island of Kudarah is located in the southern half of Ari Atoll; Kudarah is at global coordinates 267923.5437Northing and 395294.9766Easting. This elliptical shape island oriented in a SENW direction and has a land area of 29,822sqm. The island is formed on a reef system that has an area of 94,305sqm (including the island). This reef has the same shape and orientation same as the island. The lagoon area within this reef system is 64,483sqm. The average depth of reef flat except for the SE end of the island is approximately 0.8m. The reef flat on the SE end of the island has depths less than 0.4m at MSL. This part of the lagoon is a high energy environment which consists of large rocks and rubble. 5. Excavators and bulldozers will be used for demolition and pilling works (access jetty and water villa piles). Excavators and bull dozers were transported to the island on barges. The existing revetment walls on the southern and northern side of the island will be demolished and removed. Headland bay type structures will be constructed at approximately 60m apart. Beach will be created at in between the two breakwaters (headlands). Sand for creation of beaches will be purchased from local sand miners at Fenfushi and Maamigili. Estimated volume of sand required is (top segment, beach area) 1460m3, while backfilling volume is estimated to be 3400m3. The headlands will be constructed using the demolished materials from the existing breakwaters around the south western, western and north western side of the island (total volume estimated 2200m3). Total volume of rock required for the headlands is 950m3 (core material will compose demolished revetment walls around the island and filter rock removed during dredging works after screening). Removal of existing breakwaters and construction of headlands will be by manual labour (contracted to Fenfushi and Maamigli groups). The seawall at the eastern side of the island will be constructed using armour stones, total volume of armour stones are estimated to be 2200m3. The stones will be placed in position by excavator. The stones will be brought to the island on a barge, and temporarily stockpiled near the seawall construction site. The harbour at the south western side of the island will be excavated using excavator on barge (where depth exceeds 1.5m). Area of the proposed harbour is 1600m2 (38m at maximum width, 45m at maximum length). The harbour walls will be constructed with coral rock removed from the existing breakwaters (1:2 gradients). Total volume estimated for the harbour walls is 1800m3. Entrance of the harbour will be cleared at the south eastern side. The depth of the harbour and entrance will be -3MSL. 6. This report provides the results of the fieldwork carried out on Kudarah in October 2007 and associated stakeholder consultations that followed. The environmental impacts arising from the proposed developments are predicted based on the findings of the fieldwork along with the activities that cause these impacts during the construction and operation phase. 7. 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. 8. Three sites were selected to assessment reef benthos and selected fish community as the baseline data which would also be considered for long-term monitoring program to monitor the impact of the project. In addition to the fish and benthic surveys seawater quality was assessed at two locations at the reef edge area. 9. The substrate of the lagoon is mostly abiotic. The proposed harbour area has several colonies of large Acropora table corals (south western side of the island near the existing service/arrival jetty). The area located east of the arrival jetty at the northern side was also dominated by Acropora table corals (only these two areas had high abundance of live coral) 10.The lagoon areas around the island were dominated by sand and rubble, while the eastern side was dominated by rock and rubble (surf zone). Compared to the western side north eastern side lagoon was deeper, but experiences swells (refracted swells). 11.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 heavy load of sediments increasing sediment load in the water column causing discoloration (due to suspended sediments) of the of the impact area for a prolonged period. Environmental impact matrix in chapter G identified key components of the natural and socioeconomic environment; the likely impacts on each component based on the criteria used for impact prediction. The proposed development will have direct impact on the benthos at the harbour area, breakwater construction area and beach creation areas. However, there is no established coral community that would be directly affected except the colonies located at the immediate harbour area and colonies observed at eastern side of arrival jetty located at the northern side. 12.The proposed new inland structures are designed to fit the existing footprints of old structures thereby reducing the need for vegetation clearance. The proposed coastal protection measures are designed to hold the sediment in between the bays, while the seawall at the eastern side will minimise the swell induced energy reaching rest of the island. The harbour is designed with culverts to allow flow of current and water. 13.Environmental impacts associated with the proposed project are considered moderate to major. The significant environmental components that are likely to be affected are the coral community established on the reef flat and changes to littoral drift and nearshore coastal hydrodynamics. Impact on the coral community from sedimentation as a result of excavation and beach creation works is inevitable. It is also important to note that the coral community in the immediate impact areas are rather sparse and coral rubble and sand dominates the reef lagoon (expect a small area east of arrival jetty located at the northern side). 14.Mitigation measures were provided in the report for impacts that were categorized moderate to major. 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 environmental monitoring proposed here is to determine the effectiveness of the mitigation measures and long term change to the benthic community (especially coral community) where the baseline information was collected. In addition to this additional monitoring station would be established at the reef slope (near harbour area and northern side) to determine the changes to this habitat by sediment deposition. 15.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 unfavourable environmental consequences. Furthermore it has to be noted that the existing shoreline of the island is greatly modified over the years by the previous management in a bid to mitigate erosion problems facing the island. At present only beach around the island is located at the northern side greatly due to the complete obstruction of the waves and currents by the breakwaters located at the area. The eastern and western side of the island‘s shoreline is composed of a revetment or retainment wall. The proposed project involves redesigning of the coastal structures, in an effort to mitigate the erosion problem and in the meantime create an aesthetically pleasant structure. Installation of a new sewage treatment plant will have a positive impact on the seawater quality since existing method of sewage disposal is by septic tank system.