Coasts: Blackwater Estuary (sustainable coastal management) Flashcards
location
Abbot’s Hall estate,Essex, UK on the Blackwater Estuary
key facts
stakeholders: The Essex Wildlife Trust, The West Mersea Fishermen, The RSPB
all concerns resolved
stakeholders
The Essex Wildlife Trust (EWT):
purchased the Abott’s Hall Farm estate and converted it to salt marsh and grasslands
The West Mersea Fishermen:
concerned the plans would change the local water environments causing sediment to kill oysters and water level changes to remove oyster habitats
The RSPB:
concerned about increased erosion and flooding on their site opposite the farm, which would change bird habitats
ALL CONCERNS RESOLVED
sustainability
sustainable sea defence for the future because the 49 hectares of additional mudflats and salt marshes absorb incoming high seas and storm surge without any local damage, and also reduce the volume of water travelling up the Essex estuaries and creeks, which could flood settlements
managed (strategic) realignment
A 4000 hectare managed realignment scheme by creating five breaches in the sea wall in 2002. This was the largest coastal realignment project in Europe.
the EWT purchased the land for £645,000 in 2000
positive economic impacts
the Abbotts Hall Farm owners received the market price for their threatened farm
the very high costs of a ‘hold the line’ policy were avoided and flood risk was reduced
additional income streams for ecotourism and wildlife watching were created
positive environmental impacts
water quality in the estuary improved because of expansion of reed beds that filter and clean the water
important bird and fish nurseries were enhanced
mudflats and salt marsh create new intertidal habitats
cost-benefit analysis
the soil quality and land value were low making it not worth maintaining the embankments or building them higher
