Soft engineering case study

Question 1

Where?

Answer 1

Wallasea island
South-west England
Coast

Question 2

Strengths

Answer 2

Less maintenance than hard engineering
No opposition from land owners
Creates valuable habitat
Good for conservation efforts
Sustainable

Question 3

Weaknesses

Answer 3

Cost £8million

Question 4

Stakeholders

Answer 4

RSPB
DEFRA
EA
Crossrail
Natural England

Question 5

Opportunities

Answer 5

Ecotourism
Similar plans can be used in future if its successful
Conservation 
Conservation of migratory birds
Reduced effect of climate change

Question 6

Threats

Answer 6

Sea level rise

Question 7

Size

Answer 7

Over 15km of access routes

115 hectares new saltmarsh

Question 8

RSPB

Answer 8

Conservation for migratory birds

Question 9

Crossrail

Answer 9

Provides 7million cubic metres of clean dirt for project

Sustainable removal of dirt from railways

Question 10

Why was this area chosen?

Answer 10

Sufficiently large
Little chance of estuary damage
No adverse effect on local population
Remote
No opposition
Coastal squeeze rather than erosion
Importance of sustainability

Question 11

Economic impacts

Answer 11

Reduced flooding means less impact on fisheries so less income impacts
Loss of farmland means less agriculture income
Increased living potential from multiplier effect

Question 12

Social impacts

Answer 12

Increased recreational opportunities
Improved infrastructure
Improved aesthetics

Question 13

Environmental impacts

Answer 13

Provides habitat for many species ie. avocet
Re-establish lost breeding sites ie. kentish plover
Establish new populations ie. black winged stilts
Creates saltmarshes as carbon sink