Blackwater Estuary? Flashcards
Where is the Blackwater Estuary?
County of Essex south-east England.
Historically what has been done in the Blackwater area?
The land has been reclaimed for agricultural purposes, using sea walls.
What phenomenon affected the salt marsh due to the presence of sea walls?
‘Coastal Squeeze’. Salt marshes natural migration in the land is stopped by a physical barrier.
How much of the old salt marsh has been lost due to the process of coastal squeeze?
40%
Why could the historical management of the area be considered unsustainable?
Due to the high cost of ‘hold the line’ strategies (i.e seawalls). Also, coastal squeeze removes valuable natural habitat as well as a natural coastal defense.
What is the present rate of sea level rise in the area?
6mm per year.
What was considered the most sustainable option?
Managed realignment (managed retreat).
In what year was the new ‘Managed realignment’ strategy adopted?
2002.
Where were the sea walls broken through?
Tollesbury Farm and Abbots Hall Farm.
How much money did the new strategy save?
£500,000
Due to the flooding of low value land behind the sea wall, how much new salt marsh and mud flat were created?
81 hecters.
What other benefit does this strategy have?
can act as a store of flood water in the case of extream flood events like the one in 1953.
What are some of the social challenges to the new scheme?
Farmers angry at the loss of land. This could impact on their livelihood.
What are the environmental issues of the new strategy?
Will take over 400 years for the area to reach maximum biodiversity. Saline water could contaminate freshwater stores. How far inland could these new salt marshes migrate?
In total how much of the sea wall was breached?
3.5km
