Case study: Medmerry

Question 1

why was management needed in Medmerry?

Answer 1

-it was considered to be the area of South East England most at risk of flooding due to climate change
-a shingle ridge was the only protection from the sea
-from 1990s beach reprofiling took place every winter which was becoming unsustainable
-if the past management strategies where breached then 348 properties would be flooded

Question 2

what strategies where used?

Answer 2

-coastal realignment

Question 3

how was the coastal realignment carried out?

Answer 3

-building a clay embankment to create the future intertidal limit and protect everything behind it
-behind the embankment a channel was built to collect the drained water
-building outfall structures into the embankment to allow water to drain into the intertidal area
-rock amour placed between the sea and embankment
-110m breach made in the shingle beach to allow sea to flood new intertidal area