10 Fixed LinkProjects in Denmark and Ecological Monitoring of the 0resund Fixed Link
10.5
Ecological Monitoring Programme of the 0resund Link
10.5.1
Objectives
107
The Danish Public Works Act for the 0resund Link states that the link shall be executed
with due considerations of what is ecologically motivated, technically feasible and financially reasonable in order to prevent detrimental effects on the environment. Ecological objectives for the environmental impact should be established together with a
control and monitoring programme. The completed structure and the construction
work shall satisfy two overall environmental objetives imposed by the authorities (Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Environment and Energy 1995):
• Far field
- The 0resund Link must not affect the Baltic Sea in such a way that chemical!
physical and hence biological changes arise.
• Nearfield
- The 0resund Link must only transiently cause conditions in the 0resund that are
in conflict with the national plans for the coastal areas. More extensive effects can
be accepted in an inner impact zone covering the area 500 m either side of the
link trajectory measured from the north and south sides of the completed link,
respectively, including areas where compensatory dredging is undertaken. Around
the island of Saltholm, however, the zone must not extend closer than to a water
depth of 1 m. Temporary effects can be accepted in an outer impact zone lying
7 km either side of the inner impact zone.
- The permanent loss of areas as a result of the establishment of the artificial peninsula, artificial island and bridge piles, and permanent effects resulting from
local changes in hydrographic conditions can be accepted.
- Outside the outer impact zone the effects of the construction work must not hinder
fulfilment of the objectives and criteria for coastal waters stipulated in the regional environmental plans. As far as the open parts of the 0resund are concerned, the construction work must not reduce the possibilities for establising an
indigenous natural flora and fauna.
10.5.2
Criteria
More extensive effects can be accepted in the inner and outer impact zones, and special
criteria for fulfilment of the objectives have therefore been drawn up for a number of
selected aspects of nature and the environment (Ministry of Transport and Ministry of
EnviroIiment and Energy 1995). The first objective implies that the link is to be establised
in such a way that there will be no change in the throughflow of water in 0resund nor
in the saltwater and oxygen input to the Baltic Sea. This is achieved by optimizing the
design of the construction so the blocking effect from the construction is less then
0.5% and then carrying out compensation dredging until unchanged flow conditions
have been established. The second objective is achived by careful planning and execu-
10.5
Ecological Monitoring Programme of the 0resund Link
10.5.1
Objectives
107
The Danish Public Works Act for the 0resund Link states that the link shall be executed
with due considerations of what is ecologically motivated, technically feasible and financially reasonable in order to prevent detrimental effects on the environment. Ecological objectives for the environmental impact should be established together with a
control and monitoring programme. The completed structure and the construction
work shall satisfy two overall environmental objetives imposed by the authorities (Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Environment and Energy 1995):
• Far field
- The 0resund Link must not affect the Baltic Sea in such a way that chemical!
physical and hence biological changes arise.
• Nearfield
- The 0resund Link must only transiently cause conditions in the 0resund that are
in conflict with the national plans for the coastal areas. More extensive effects can
be accepted in an inner impact zone covering the area 500 m either side of the
link trajectory measured from the north and south sides of the completed link,
respectively, including areas where compensatory dredging is undertaken. Around
the island of Saltholm, however, the zone must not extend closer than to a water
depth of 1 m. Temporary effects can be accepted in an outer impact zone lying
7 km either side of the inner impact zone.
- The permanent loss of areas as a result of the establishment of the artificial peninsula, artificial island and bridge piles, and permanent effects resulting from
local changes in hydrographic conditions can be accepted.
- Outside the outer impact zone the effects of the construction work must not hinder
fulfilment of the objectives and criteria for coastal waters stipulated in the regional environmental plans. As far as the open parts of the 0resund are concerned, the construction work must not reduce the possibilities for establising an
indigenous natural flora and fauna.
10.5.2
Criteria
More extensive effects can be accepted in the inner and outer impact zones, and special
criteria for fulfilment of the objectives have therefore been drawn up for a number of
selected aspects of nature and the environment (Ministry of Transport and Ministry of
EnviroIiment and Energy 1995). The first objective implies that the link is to be establised
in such a way that there will be no change in the throughflow of water in 0resund nor
in the saltwater and oxygen input to the Baltic Sea. This is achieved by optimizing the
design of the construction so the blocking effect from the construction is less then
0.5% and then carrying out compensation dredging until unchanged flow conditions
have been established. The second objective is achived by careful planning and execu-