Cardiff bay barrage

Question 1

is the cardiff bay barrage a multi-purpose scheme?

Answer 1

yes

Question 2

what is a coastal barrage?

Answer 2

a hard engineering scheme to prevent coastal flooding

Question 3

what does a coastal barrage do?

Answer 3

it acts as a dam across an estuary and prevents the incursion of seawater

Question 4

background information about the barrage?

Answer 4

S shaped tidal dam 1.1km long
the barrage consists of an 800 metre long embankment constructed from sand and rock and a 300m concrete section containing locks, sluices fish passes and a control building

Question 5

what do the sluice gates do?

Answer 5

dissipate wave energy

Question 6

what are the measurements of the sluices?

Answer 6

3 of the sluices are 140m long and 10.5 metres wide

2 of the sluices are 40 metres long and 8 metres wide

Question 7

what are the reasons for the barrage?

Answer 7

• the barrage will protect the city from tidal flooding
• the barrage will enhance and imporve both quality of life of the community marine and leisure facility while helping to attract new industry to the area
• will create 30,000 jobs
• reduction in the amount of pollutants

Question 8

what are negative impacts of the barrage?

Answer 8

• the flooding of the bay will displace some birds
• in order to create the new wildlife reserve 1000 of hectares of farmland had to be flooded with sewage water
• a rise in groundwater levels can increase risk of flooding and cause damage to property
• the barrage would cause a problem for migratory fish

Question 9

in summary those who opposed the barrage included:

Answer 9

RSPB
fisheries group
farmers
friends of the earth
local residents

Question 10

in summary those who supported the barrage were:

Answer 10

local businesses
local government
central government
unemployed