Cardiff bay barrage case study

Question 1

what is the size and shape of the barrage

Answer 1

• ’s’ shape
• 1.1km long
• 800m long embankment

Question 2

what happened in 1999

Answer 2

the barrage sealed off the sea, creating a 200 hectre lake, no longer influenced by the tide

Question 3

what was the problem with Cardiff bay

Answer 3

• 2nd largest tidal range
• low tide conditions made it inaccessible
• creating a bad smell

Question 4

how much did it cost

Answer 4

9 million

Question 5

how much is it to maintain

Answer 5

12 million a year

Question 6

reasons for the barrage

Answer 6

• wont increase the risk of flooding in Cardiff
• enhance and improve quality of life and community
• create 30,000 jobs
• reduction in pollutants

Question 7

conflicts about the barrage

Answer 7

• is a designated site of scientific interest (SSSI), home to a colony of 6,000 birds, flooding will dissipate them
• Gwent reserve is a new habitat for the birds to compensate for the loss of grounds
• new wildlife reserve means thousand of hectres of farmland had to be flooded with sewage water
• a rise in groundwater of 3m is expected, increasing flood risk