Environmental Impact Assessment

and Creation of Reed Fields in North

Chiba Road Construction Project
November 21, 2019
North Chiba Road Construction Office
Road Improvement Division
Land Development Department
Chiba Prefecture
1
 High-standard
arterial highways
in Chiba Prefecture
Choshi Renraku Road
North Chiba Road
北千葉道路
■ Metropolitan Inter-city Expressway
■ Tokyo Outer Ring Road 6
356

■ Higashikanto Expressway Tateyama Line

408
北千葉道路 大栄

■ Tokyo Bay Aqua-line Tokyo外環道

Outer 16

■ North Chiba Road Ring Road 14 成田国際空港 296

■ Choshi Renraku Road 51

横芝

■ Mobara Ichinomiya Ohara Road

etc. 126

Tokyo Outer Ring Road 千葉東金道路

Metropolitan Inter-city
Expressway

297
圏央道
409

茂
原
首都圏中央連絡

･
自動車道 297 一
宮
Tokyo Bay Aqua-line
410

･
大
原 Mobara Ichinomiya
Futtsu Tateyama Road
館 465 道 Ohara Road
路
山 128

道 127

供用済み区間
暫定供用区間
未供用区間
Overview of plan for North Chiba Road
Constructed by Constructed by Constructed by Chiba
Chiba Prefecture National Government Prefecture
Period I: Approx. 4.2 km Approx. 5.6 km Period II: Approx. 3.7 km
From 2005 From 2005 From 2007

Inzai
City

Inzai
City

Integrated development of road and railway: Approx. 10 km

3
About North Chiba Road

Wakahagi
Opened
Inzai City in FY2018
Funakata 3.8 ㎞ Oshihata
Narita City Narita City

North Chiba Road North Chiba Road (eastern part;

(near Chiba New Town) near Wakahagi, Inzai City)
About North Chiba Road

Opened
Wakahagi
Inzai City in FY2018
Oshihata
Funakata 3.8 ㎞
Narita City Narita City

North Chiba Road

(near Oshihata, Narita City)

To Oshihata
To Ohyama
North Chiba Road (Inzai–Narita)
Chiba Pref. construction National Gov. construction

Partially opened in FY2016

4/4 lanes Yoshitaka, 2/4 lanes (downbound)

1.3 km Inzai City 2.9 km

Construction with the railroad

6
 About Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Impact Assessment is:
A system in which a development project operator investigates, forecasts and
evaluates what the impact will be on the environment, publishes the results,
hears the opinions of the public and the local government, and develops a
better project plan based on those opinions from the perspective of
environmental preservation. (Ministry of the Environment homepage)

Steps taken for Environmental Impact Assessment for North Chiba Road construction project
◼ Publication of scoping document Aug 2, 2002 to Sep 2, 2002
◼ Field survey Dec 2002 to Aug 2004
◼ Publication of preliminary document Dec 1, 2004 to Jan 4, 2005
◼ Collection of residents’ opinions Dec 1, 2004 to Jan 18, 2005
◼ Report from committee Jun 17, 2005
◼ Governor’s opinion Jun 24, 2005
◼ Sending to MLIT Aug 4, 2005 (to Director General of Kanto Regional Development Bureau)
◼ MLIT opinion Nov 1, 2005 (from Director General of Kanto Regional Development Bureau)
◼ Revised evaluation document sent to MLIT
Nov 21, 2005 (to Director General of Kanto Regional Development Bureau)
7
◼ Publication of revised evaluation document Dec 1, 2005 to Jan 4, 2006
 Environmental preservation measures
in North Chiba Road construction project
Animals and ecosystem
(1) Measures for mammals, amphibians and reptiles
・Build fences on embankments to prevent small animals from entering and being roadkilled.
・Build slopes in side ditches for fallen small mammals, amphibians and reptiles to escape back.
(2) Measures for goshawks
・Make gradual modifications to land so that they can adapt to the new environment. (Conditioning)
(3) Measures for grey-faced buzzards
・Build perches in the center of the hill-bottom valley for them to stop at.
・Make gradual modifications to land so that they can adapt to the new environment. (Conditioning)
(4) Measures for remarkable habitats of bitterns / measures for great reed
warblers, fan-tailed warblers, etc.
・Create reed fields as habitats for rare marsh birds, based on experts’ opinions.
(5) Measures for bitterns
・Build concrete fences to reduce the influence of noise.
(6) Measures for not attracting insects
・Use light shielding not to attract insects.
・Use lighting less likely to attract insects.
8
 Reed fields and adaptive management
North Chiba Road and Narita New Rapid Railway are
planned to pass over (by bridge) North Lake Inba,
which is designated as a special area of Chiba
Prefectural Natural Park. Environmental Impact
Assessment showed that habitats for rare marsh
birds (bitterns) might be partially damaged by the
development project.

Since avoiding or reducing the environmental impact

on these birds was difficult, it was determined that as
an alternative, reed fields be created around Lake
Inba to provide new habitats for marsh birds.
9
 Overall view of the creation of reed fields

Ohdake area
Kitasuka area

○ Areas where bitterns were observed

10
 About rare marsh birds
Bittern (Ciconiiformes: Ardeidae)
◼ Ministry of the Environment (MOE) Red Data
Book: Endangered
Likely to become extinct in the wild in the near future.
◼ Chiba Prefecture Red Data Book:
A (Most important species to be protected)
Very small population. Every effort must be made to
reduce or eliminate factors that may further reduce its
population.
◼ Large type of heron, which thrives in marsh grasses and reed fields in
Hokkaido and central Honshu.
◼ Is distributed locally and has a small population.
◼ Eats fish, shellfish, insects and amphibians; builds nests in reed fields
from May to August.
◼ Lives in large reed fields and marsh grasses; needs a quiet
environment to reproduce.
◼ North Lake Inba is one of the most important habitats for bitterns in
Japan. 11
◼ The male bittern sings like the bullfrog.
 About rare marsh birds
Japanese marsh warbler
(Passeriformes: Sylviidae)
◼ MOE Red Data: Endangered
◼ Chiba Red Data: A (Most
important)
Eastern marsh harrier
(Accipitriformes: Accipitridae)
◼ MOE Red Data: Endangered
◼ Chiba Red Data: A (Most
important)
Yellow bittern
(Ciconiiformes: Ardeidae)
◼ MOE Red Data: Near threatened
◼ Chiba Red Data: B (Important)
Japanese reed bunting
(Passeriformes: Emberizidae)
◼ MOE Red Data: Vulnerable
◼ Chiba Red Data: A (Most
important)
Ruddy-breasted crake
(Gruiformes: Rallidae)
◼ MOE Red Data: Near threatened
◼ Chiba Red Data: A (Most
important)
12
Steps taken to create reed fields: Kitasuka area

1. Pine piles driven 2. Wooden fences completed 3. Dredging

4. Sand carrier 5. Filling 6. Reeds planted 13

Steps taken to create reed fields: Ohdake area

1. Soil excavation 2. Pine piles driven 3. Rubble stones piled

4. Reeds planted 5. Reed planting event 6. Work completed 14

“Meeting to Discuss Adaptive Management of
Reed Fields in Lake Inba”
Inbanuma Basin Water Circulation
Revitalization Council Committee to Discuss Adaptive
Inbanuma Award
Selection
Committee
Committee Management of Reed Fields in Inba Lake
(From Nov 13, 2007)
Cooperation Cooperation
Administrative Action Cooperation Council Inbanuma
Task Force
Members:
Water Quality
Improvement
Technology
Administrat
or Meeting
Meeting
・Kazuhiro Hotta (Chair)
(Former President, Chiba Keiai Junior College)
・Tatsuyuki Ohba (Plant)
(Former Deputy Director, Natural History Museum
and Institute, Chiba)
・Hisashi Nagata (Bird)

Waterweed Restoration Working Group

Municipal Cooperation Working Group
Environmental Experience Committee

Water Quality Improvement Method

(Professor, Center for Toki and Ecological Restoration,
Tributary Area Working Group

Water and Regional Network

Civic-Corporate Cooperation

Agriculture Working Group

Infiltration Working Group

Ecosystem Working Group
Learning Working Group

Niigata University)
Sewage Working Group
Working Group
Working Group

Working Group
Data Center

Secretariat:
・Road Improvement Division, Land
Development Department, Chiba Prefecture
・Narita Rapid Railway Access Co., Ltd.
Cooperation ・North Chiba Road Construction Office
Cooperation

Meeting to Discuss Adaptive Management of Reed Fields in Lake Inba

Observers:
・River Environment Division, Land Development
Department, Chiba Prefecture
・Inba Public Works Office, Chiba Prefecture
15
・Narita Public Works Office, Chiba Prefecture
“Meeting to Discuss Adaptive Management of
Reed Fields in Lake Inba” meeting calendar
・1st Nov 13, 2007
・2nd Feb 7, 2008
・3rd Jun 22, 2008
・4th Aug 26, 2008
・5th Dec 1, 2008
・6th Feb 16, 2009
・7th Jun 23, 2009
・8th Nov 16, 2009
・9th Mar 8, 2010
・10th Jun 21, 2010
・11th Nov 15, 2010
・12th Jun 27, 2011
・13th Oct 3, 2011
・14th Feb 27, 2012 Visit to Ohdake area (19th)
・15th Jul 24, 2012
・16th Nov 20, 2012
・17th Feb 19, 2013
・18th Jul 30, 2013
・19th Nov 19, 2013
・20th Feb 25, 2014
・21st Jul 16, 2014
・22nd Dec 3, 2014
・23rd Feb 25, 2015
・24th Aug 7, 2015
・25th Dec 4, 2015
・26th Feb25, 2016
・27th Aug 8, 2016 16
・28th Dec15, 2016 Meeting (22nd)
・29th Mar 8, 2017
Reeds growing in Kitasuka area
(FY2009 to FY2014)
[July 2009] [June 2014]

17
 Stem length (cm) Stem length (cm)
Area A

Area B
Apr Apr
May May
Jun Jun
Jul Jul

2009

2009
Aug Aug
Sep Sep

Oct Oct

Apr Apr
May
White: A-2 (Planted in 2008)

May
Jun Jun
Color: A-1, 4, 7 (Planted in 2009)

Jul Jul
2010

2010
Aug Aug
Sep Sep

Oct Oct

Apr Apr

May May

Jun Jun

Jul Jul
2011

2011
Aug Aug

Sep Sep

Oct Oct

Apr Apr

May May

Jun Jun

Jul Jul
2012

2012
Aug Aug

Sep Sep

Oct Oct

Apr Apr

May May

Jun Jun

Jul Jul
2013

2013

Aug Aug

Sep Sep

Oct Oct
Shift in average stem length of reeds planted in Kitasuka area A

Apr
Apr
Shift in average stem length of reeds planted in Kitasuka area B

May
May
Reeds growing in Kitasuka area

Jun
Jun
Jul
Jul
2014

2014

Aug
Aug
Sep
Sep
Oct
Oct
18
 Stem length (cm) Stem length (cm)

Area D
Area C
Apr Apr
May May
Jun Jun
Jul Jul

2009

2009
Aug Aug
Sep Sep
Oct Oct

Apr Apr
White: C-3 (Planted in 2008)

May May
Color: C-1, 4 (Planted in 2009)

Jun Jun
Jul Jul
2010

2010
Aug Aug
Sep Sep

Oct Oct

Apr Apr
May May

Jun Jun
Jul Jul
2011

2011
Aug Aug
Sep Sep

Oct Oct

Apr Apr
May May

Jun Jun

Jul Jul
2012

2012
Aug Aug
Sep Sep

Oct Oct

Apr Apr
May May

Jun Jun

Jul Jul
2013

2013

Aug Aug
Sep Sep

Oct Oct
Shift in average stem length of reeds planted in Kitasuka area C

Shift in average stem length of reeds planted in Kitasuka area D

Apr Apr
May May
Reeds growing in Kitasuka area

Jun Jun
Jul Jul
2014

2014

Aug Aug
Sep Sep

Oct Oct
19
Reeds growing in Ohdake area
(FY2009 to FY2014)
[July 2009] [June 2014]

20
 Reeds growing in Ohdake area
Area 1: Y.P+2.0m (1-A, 1-B)
320
280 238 240
240
length (cm)

168 177
Stem茎長(cm)

200 154
160
120
101
80
40
0

10月
10月

10月

10月

10月

10月
9月

8月
4月
5月
6月
7月
8月

4月
5月
6月
7月
8月
9月

4月
5月
6月
7月
8月
9月

4月
5月
6月
7月

9月

4月
5月
6月
7月
8月
9月

4月
5月
6月
7月
8月
9月
Apr

Apr

Apr

Apr
Apr
Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct
May

May

May

May
Oct
May
Jun

Sep

Jun

Sep

Jun

Sep

Jun

Sep
Jul

Aug

Jul

Aug

Jul

Aug

Jul

Aug
Jun

Sep
Jul

Apr
Aug

Oct
May
Jun

Sep
Jul
Aug
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
2009年 2010年 2011年 2012年 2013年 2014年

Shift in大竹１工区(1-A,B)の植栽新条株の平均茎長と経年変化
average stem length of reeds planted in Ohdake area 1 (1-A, B)

Area 2: Y.P+1.8m (2-A), Y.P+1.4m (2-C)

320
262
280 247
240 209
175
(cm)
茎長(cm)

200
160 135
Stem length

120 90
80
40
0
7月

5月

8月
4月
5月
6月

8月
9月

4月
5月
6月
7月
8月
9月

4月

6月
7月
8月
9月

4月
5月
6月
7月
8月
9月
10月
4月
5月
6月
7月
8月
9月

4月
5月
6月
7月

9月
10月

10月

10月

10月

10月
Apr

Apr
Oct

Oct
May

May
Sep

Sep
Jun

Jun
Jul

Aug

Jul

Aug
Apr

Apr

Apr

Apr
Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct
May

May

May

May
Jun

Sep

Jun

Sep

Jun

Sep

Jun

Sep
Jul

Aug

Jul

Aug

Jul

Aug

Jul

Aug
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
2009年 2010年 2011年 2012年 2013年 2014年
Shift in average stem length of reeds planted in Ohdake area 2 (2-A, C)
大竹2工区(2-A,C)の植栽新条株の平均茎長と経年変化 21
 茎長(cm)
Stem length (cm) length (cm)
Stem茎長(cm)

120
160
200
240
280
320

0
40
80

120
160
200
240
280
320

0
40
80
Apr
4月 Apr
4月
May
5月
May
5月
Jun
6月 Jun
6月
Jul
7月
Jul
7月

2009

2009
2009年

2009年
Aug
8月 Aug
8月
Sep
9月
Sep
9月
Oct Oct
10月

81
10月
110

Apr Apr
4月
4月
May
5月 May
5月
Jun Jun
6月
6月
Jul
7月
Jul

2010
7月

2010
2010年

2010年
Aug Aug
8月
Area 3: Y.P+1.4m (3-A)

Area 4: Y.P+1.3m (4-B)

8月
Sep
9月
Sep
9月
Oct
Shift Oct
10月
10月
120

124
Apr
4月 Apr
4月
May May
5月
5月
Jun
6月 Jun
6月
Jul
2011

Jul 7月

2011
7月
2011年

2011年
Aug Aug
8月
8月
Sep
9月
Sep
9月
Oct
10月 Oct
10月
120

102
Apr
4月
Apr
4月
May
5月
May
5月
Jun
6月
Jun
6月
Jul
7月
2012

Jul
7月

2012
2012年

2012年
Aug
8月
Aug
8月
Sep
9月
Sep
9月
Oct
10月
Oct
10月
164

182

Shift大竹4工区(4-B)の植栽新条株の平均茎長と経年変化
Apr
4月 Apr
4月
May May
5月
大竹3工区(3-A)の植栽新条株の平均茎長と経年変化

5月
Jun Jun
6月
6月
in average stem length of reeds planted in Ohdake area 4 (4-B)
in average stem length of reeds planted in Ohdake area 3 (3-A)

Jul
2013

Jul 7月
2013

7月
2013年

2013年

Aug Aug
8月
8月
Sep Sep
9月
9月
Oct
10月
Oct
10月
171

212
Reeds growing in Ohdake area

Apr
4月
Apr
4月
May
5月
May
5月
Jun
6月
Jun
6月
7月Jul
2014

Jul
7月
2014
2014年

2014年

Aug
8月
Aug
8月
Sep
9月
Sep
9月
Oct Oct
10月
10月
172

212

22
 Results of survey of
fish, shellfish and amphibians (FY2014)

Stone moroko Black ricefish Loach

Tamoroko Bluegill Tokyo Daruma Pond Frog

23
 Results of survey of
fish, shellfish and amphibians (FY2014)

Short-spined trident goby Chinese false gudgeon Freshwater prawn

Lake prawn Red swamp crayfish Catches from Ohdake area

(north pond) 24
Adaptive management in Ohdake area (FY2014)
Water channels were expanded and sediments removed to prevent harmful animals from entering the road.

Current state Widening

Removal of sediments Water channel development

25
Field survey of birds in Kitasuka area (FY2015)
標識
Marker
Observation spot
観察地点

26
Field survey of birds in Ohdake area (FY2015)
標識
Marker
Observation spot
観察地点

27
 Field survey of birds (FY2015)
(number of territory/hectare)
Great reed
warbler
Area 1st 2nd 3rd
(ha)

Kitasuka

Great reed warbler

Kitasuka
(control)

Meadow bunting

Ohdake

Japanese reed bunting

Ohdake
(control)
28
Yellow bittern
1st: 26 April, 2nd: 17 May, 3rd: 7 June 2015
Field survey of birds (FY2015 territory map)

Great reed
warbler

29
Field survey of birds (FY2015 territory map)

Great reed
warbler

30
 Other initiatives
(v) (Ohdake reed field)

(iii)&(iv)

(i)
(ii)
(iii)&(iv)

(i) Build fences to prevent small animals from entering the road. Build slopes in side
ditches for fallen small animals to escape.
(ii) Build perches in the center of the hill-bottom valley for birds to stop at.
(iii) Build concrete fences to reduce the influence of noise.
(iv) Use lighting less likely to attract insects. Use light shielding not to leak outside
the road.
(v) Hold children’s meetings. 31
Other initiative (i)
Build fences to prevent small animals from entering the road.
Build slopes in side ditches for fallen small animals to escape.

32
Prevention fence for small animals Ditch with slopes
Other initiative (ii)
Build perches in the center of the hill-bottom valley for
birds to stop at.

33
Perch
Other initiative (iii)
Build concrete fences to reduce the influence of noise.

34

Concrete fence
Other initiative (iv)
Use lighting less likely to attract insects.
Use light shielding not to leak outside the road.

35

Lighting of Inba Ohashi Bridge

 Other initiative (v) Hold children’s meetings
Third and fourth graders at Narita City Habu
Elementary School (FY2015)
Fourth graders at Inzai City Iniwano Elementary
School (FY2015)
◼ Period: Late June to early July
◼ Program:
Lecture on birds in Lake Inba (by Mr. Hotta and Mr. Asano)
Lake Inba tour (Yakatabune houseboat)
Tour to construction site of North Chiba Road (Lake Inba
bridge)
Lecture
Reed field tour (Ohdake area)

Tour to construction site Lake Inba tour Reed field tour (Ohdake area)
36
End

37