Coastal Case Studies

Wallasea Island Wild Coast RSPB Project

ABPmer’s experts in the field of managed realignment played a lead role in the Environmental Impact Assessment and Planning Application submission work for the RSPB’s Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project. 

This would be the largest wetland scheme of its type in Europe.  The application area covers 677ha within which 133ha of mudflat and 276ha of saltmarsh will be created.  The creation of these new habitats will contribute to relevant Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) targets and will help to offset historical losses of mudflat and marsh. 

By virtue of its scale, this project involved a very detailed scheme design process which was pursued collaboratively between RSPB, ABPmer and Faber Maunsell.  During this process ABPmer’s Modelling and GIS teams played a key role in understanding how the scheme could be created, how it will function, how much imported earth was required and, crucially, what effect it will have on the designated habitats, fisheries interests and sailing/navigation activities in the Crouch and Roach.  The GIS team also created a 3D visualisation of the scheme to describe how it will look and how the water will flow across and through the site.  View short flyaround visualisation of Wallasea Island

Severn Estuary Flood Risk Management Strategy

ABPmer and Atkins have been commissioned by the Environment Agency to produce a flood risk management strategy for the Severn Estuary.   There are a number of components to the project including the delivery of a high level flood risk management strategy which maximises use of existing science, delivered through a cost effective and minimum risk approach.  In addition a plan for habitat creation which responds to climate change and planned flood risk management investment is also required. 

Specialists at ABPmer are providing the coastal geo-morphological components of the strategy and expert advice on the geo-morphological evolution of the estuary. We are also working with Atkins to investigate the habitat creation opportunities across the estuary including site selection, review and stakeholder engagement. 
 
This work is one of many coastal management projects we are undertaking in the Severn Estuary and complements our work on the Severn Coastal Habitat Management Plan (CHaMP) and Severn Estuary Shoreline Management Plan.

Managed Realignment Monitoring

ABPmer’s Environment Team prepared the environmental statement associated with the 2006 Defra managed realignment scheme at Wallasea.  Our in-house Survey Team are undertaking an ecological monitoring programme to verify the predicted impacts and to assess the site's success in terms of delivering the compensation targets. This includes monitoring winter bird counts, benthic sampling, analyses of water flows; mapping of morphological changes and fixed-point photography work.

We have also set up a dedicated web-site and overseen the installation of web cameras on site. It is hoped that the resulting internet presence will be used to inform ongoing stakeholder consultations for Essex Estuary Flood Management Strategies and also for generally conveying the messages and lessons of coastal realignment.  www.abpmer.net/wallasea/

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