Protecting the Exe Estuary
7. Protecting the Exe Estuary
The Exe Estuary is an important resource which supports a variety of human uses, and an impressive array of wildlife. In order to protect the Estuary it is necessary to balance the various competing demands, and to be prepared to deal with events which may pose a threat to the resource. Good preparation may take the form of preventative measures, consistent monitoring and / or rapid response to harmful events.
Image 7a: Groynes at Exmouth Source: EEMP
7.1 Contingency Planning
There are various risks to the Exe Estuary and its environment. Local authorities and organisations have LGHQWL¿HGWKHPDLQULVNVDQGKDYHSURGXFHGDQXPEHU of different contingency plans in an attempt to mitigate these risks. Some of these plans are required by law whilst others have been prepared in response to a VSHFL¿FWKUHDW
Image 7b: Boom deployment at the mouth of the Exe Source: EEMP
Risks of Pollution on the Exe
7KH(QJOLVK&KDQQHOLVWKHEXVLHVWVKLSSLQJODQHLQWKHZRUOGZLWKDWKLUGRIWKHZRUOG¶VVKLSSLQJSDVVLQJDORQJ it each year. Despite the fact that most of this shipping passes incident free, there is always the risk of vessels having an incident and pollution affecting the Exe Estuary.
,Q-DQXDU\WKHFRQWDLQHUYHVVHO06&1DSROLZDVEHDFKHGRIIWKH(DVW'HYRQVHFWLRQRIWKH:RUOG Heritage coast, between Sidmouth and Branscombe. During the rescue and grounding the vessel lost over 100 containers, heavy fuel oil and diesel into the sea. The operation to remove fuel oils and containers took several weeks. The area was monitored by aerial surveillance and counter pollution measures were rapidly taken to protect environmentally sensitive sites by deploying booms. The Environmental Agency monitored the quality of water samples taken from beaches around the site of the incident, including Exmouth. The concentrations of chemical substances detected were well below harmful levels.
State of the Exe Estuary 2014 | 139 Protecting the Exe Estuary
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Contingency Flood Plan
&RPPXQLWLHVRQWKH([H(VWXDU\WKDWDUHLGHQWL¿HGDVKDYLQJPRUHWKDQSURSHUWLHVDWVLJQL¿FDQWULVNRI ÀXYLDO ULYHU ÀRRGLQJDQGRUPRUHWKDQSURSHUWLHVDWVLJQL¿FDQWULVNRIÀDVKÀRRGLQJDUHDOVRFRYHUHGE\WKH 'HYRQ&RUQZDOODQG,VOHVRI6FLOO\/RFDO5HVLOLHQFH)RUXP0XOWL$JHQF\)ORRG3ODQ$GGLWLRQDOO\WKHVH DQGDOOFRPPXQLWLHVYXOQHUDEOHWRÀRRGLQJIURPDQ\VRXUFHDUHHQFRXUDJHGWRGHYHORSVHOIKHOS&RPPXQLW\ Emergency/Flood Plans with support from the Environment Agency’s Flood Resilience team and Local Authorities. There is also a range of advice at www.gov.uk on:
,GHQWLI\LQJLI\RXUSURSHUW\LVDWULVNRIÀRRGLQJ 6LJQLQJXSWRÀRRGZDUQLQJV 3UHSDULQJIRUDÀRRG Individual property level protection 0DNLQJDSHUVRQDOFRPPXQLW\RUEXVLQHVVÀRRGSODQ :KDWWRNHHSLQDÀRRGNLW $FWLRQVWRWDNHWRUHGXFHGDPDJHIURPÀRRGLQJ &OHDULQJXSUHFRYHULQJDIWHUDÀRRG
Contingency Pollution Plans
7KH0DULWLPHDQG&RDVWJXDUG$JHQF\ 0&$ DUHLQWKHSURFHVVRIXSGDWLQJWKH1DWLRQDO&RQWLQJHQF\ Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations which should be available from the end of 2014. The plan provides a practical framework to inform those dealing with marine pollution incidents. It sets out information requirements, advice on dealing with the media, information on waste management, enforcement and prosecution, monitoring and international co-operation arrangements.
'HYRQ&RXQW\&RXQFLODOVRXSGDWHGLWV&RDVWDO3ROOXWLRQ3ODQLQ%RRPLQJSODQVKDYHEHHQSUHSDUHG for 14 individual sites in Devon, including 12 estuaries in the county. This plan integrates with the National &RQWLQJHQF\3ODQZKLFKLWVHOILVOLQNHGZLWKLQWHUQDWLRQDODJUHHPHQWV$PRQJWKHVHLVWKH³0DQFKHSODQ´ ZKLFKGHDOVZLWKFRXQWHUSROOXWLRQLQWKH(QJOLVK&KDQQHO7HLJQEULGJH'LVWULFW&RXQFLO(DVW'HYRQ'LVWULFW &RXQFLODQG([HWHU&LW\&RXQFLODOOKDYHSODQVLQSODFHLIWKHUHLVDQLQFLGHQW7KH'LVWULFW&RXQFLOV¶SODQV OLQNLQWRWKH'HYRQ&RXQW\&RXQFLO3ODQDQGWKH1DWLRQDO&RQWLQJHQF\3ODQ7KHFRQWLQJHQF\SODQVRIWKH organisations involved must be compatible and linked.
Other types of emergency which may occur in and around the Exe Estuary are covered by the different responding agencies’ Emergency Response Plans and the Joint Emergency Response Protocol.
140 | State of the Exe Estuary 2014 Protecting the Exe Estuary
Oil Spill Response
,QWKHHYHQWRIDSROOXWLRQLQFLGHQWIURPVKLSSLQJWKH¿UVWUHSRUWZRXOGFRPHIURPD+0&RDVWJXDUG VWDWLRQ7KH\ZLOOLQIRUPWKH0&$'XW\&RXQWHU3ROOXWLRQDQG6DOYDJH2I¿FHU '&362 DQGDOVRLQFHUWDLQ FLUFXPVWDQFHVWKH0DULWLPH5HVFXH&RRUGLQDWLRQ&HQWUH 05&& LIWKH\EHOLHYHWKHUHLVDWKUHDWRISROOXWLRQ 7KH'&36205&&WKHQDFWLYDWHWKHDSSURSULDWHOHYHORIUHVSRQVH,QWKHHYHQWRIDPDMRULQFLGHQWWKUHH PDMRUFRQWUROFHQWUHVPD\EHVHWXSQHDUWRWKHLQFLGHQW
$6DOYDJH&RQWURO8QLW±/HGE\WKH6HFUHWDU\RI6WDWH¶VUHSUHVHQWDWLYHIRUPDULQH6DOYDJHDQG Intervention, who oversees and approves any salvage operation and can intervene if appropriate. $0DULQH5HVSRQVH&HQWUH±/HGE\WKH0&$WRFRRUGLQDWHDOODWVHDFRXQWHUSROOXWLRQDQGFOHDQXS operations. $6KRUHOLQH5HVSRQVH&HQWUH±/HGE\WKH/RFDO$XWKRULW\ZLWKWHFKQLFDOVXSSRUWIURPWKH0&$7KLV centre co-ordinates the shoreline clean-up operations.
Not all of these control centres will need to be set up in every incident and this will be dictated by the scale and type of incident.
An Environment Group may also be set up at the early stages of an incident. This group provides environmental and public health advice to the incident control centres. The Environment Group is made up of representatives of the relevant statutory nature conservation body, environmental regulator, Government ¿VKHULHVGHSDUWPHQWDQGWKHORFDOKHDOWKDXWKRULW\
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Tier One: A small operational spill employing local resources during any clean-up. This would be managed by the harbour authority, district or city council depending on the location.
Tier Two: A medium sized spill, requiring regional assistance and resources.
Tier Three: A large spill, requiring national assistance and resources.
9DULRXVRWKHURUJDQLVDWLRQVDOVRKDYHDUHVSRQVLELOLW\WRUHVSRQGWRSROOXWLRQLQWKH8.
0DULWLPHDQG&RDVWJXDUG$JHQF\WDNHVWKHOHDGLQUHVSRQGLQJWRSROOXWLRQIURPVKLSSLQJDWVHD 3RUWV+DUERXUV2LOIDFLOLWLHVDQGRIIVKRUHLQVWDOODWLRQVKDYHUHVSRQVLELOLW\IRUFOHDQXSLQWKHLUMXULVGLFWLRQV SRUWVWRWLHURIIVKRUHLQVWDOODWLRQVWRWLHU Environment Agency takes the lead in responding to pollution from land based sources and would be likely to deploy the booms to protect the Exe Estuary Local Authorities have accepted the non-statutory responsibility for shoreline clean-up
State of the Exe Estuary 2014 | 141 Protecting the Exe Estuary
7.2 Flood and Coastal Risk Management
Image 7c: Groynes in Dawlish Warren Image 7d: Sea defence work at Exmouth in 2006 Source: EEMP Source: EEMP
7KLVLQYROYHVPDQDJLQJWKHFRDVWWRUHGXFHWKHULVNRIHURVLRQDQGWLGDOÀRRGLQJ7KHDLPLVWRUHGXFHWKHULVNV RIÀRRGLQJDQGHURVLRQWRSHRSOHSURSHUW\LQIUDVWUXFWXUHDQGWKHQDWXUDOHQYLURQPHQW6HDOHYHOVDUHSUHGLFWHG WRULVHE\EHWZHHQPQDQGPPE\DQGXSWRQHDUO\PPE\FRPSDUHGWR OHYHOV:LWK other climate change impacts, including increasing frequency and severity of storms, coastal management ZLOOEHFRPHLQFUHDVLQJO\FKDOOHQJLQJDQGFRVWO\6SHQGLQJSXEOLFPRQH\RQWLGDOÀRRGGHIHQFHVUHTXLUHVD partnership approach between organisations and needs to be prioritised to protect the maximum number of people and property around the Estuary.
)ORRGULVNFRPELQHVWKHFKDQFH RUSUREDELOLW\ RIDSDUWLFXODUÀRRGKDSSHQLQJDQGWKHLPSDFWLWZRXOGKDYH 7KH(QYLURQPHQW$JHQF\XVHVDSUREDELOLW\EDVHGPRGHORIÀRRGULVNWRLQIRUPLWVPDQDJHPHQWRIÀRRGHYHQWV 7KHÀRRGPDS )LJXUHD VKRZVWKHWZRPDLQOHYHOVRIÀRRGULVN WKH\HDUÀRRG DÀRRGZLWKDFKDQFH RIRFFXUULQJLQDQ\JLYHQ\HDU DQGWKHPRUHVHYHUH\HDUÀRRG DÀRRGZLWKDFKDQFHRIRFFXUULQJLQ DQ\JLYHQ\HDU +LJKHUVHDOHYHOVOHDGWRKLJKHUULVNVRIFRDVWDOÀRRGLQJDQGHURVLRQSDUWLFXODUO\LIFRPELQHG ZLWKVWRUPLHUFRQGLWLRQVWRFUHDWHKXJHZDYHVDVKDSSHQVLQWLGDOVXUJHV7LGDOÀRRGULVNLVDOVRLQFUHDVLQJ ZLWKFOLPDWHFKDQJHFRDVWDOÀRRGLQJWKDWKDVRQO\DLQ DQQXDOFKDQFHRIKDSSHQLQJQRZZLOOKDYH DLQ FKDQFHRIKDSSHQLQJE\
+LVWRULFDOO\ÀRRGGHIHQFHVFKHPHVVXFKDVWKRVHSURWHFWLQJ([HWHUDQGRWKHUVLWHVDURXQGWKH(VWXDU\ZHUH EXLOWDIWHUVHULRXVÀRRGHYHQWV$SUREOHPZLWKWKLVUHDFWLYHDSSURDFKLVWKDWLWGRHVQRWDOZD\VGHIHQGSODFHV ZLWKWKHJUHDWHVWQHHG3HUKDSVPRUHLPSRUWDQWO\LWRQO\SURYLGHGGHIHQFHDIWHUVHULRXVÀRRGLQJKDGRFFXUUHG With the forecast effects of climate change, the aim now is to manage these risks before they cause problems and in those places with the greatest need.
142 | State of the Exe Estuary 2014 Protecting the Exe Estuary
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7KHPDLQDXWKRULWLHVIRUPDQDJLQJÀRRGDQGFRDVWDOULVNVLQDQGDURXQGWKH([H(VWXDU\DUHWKH(QYLURQPHQW $JHQF\'HYRQ&RXQW\&RXQFLO(DVW'HYRQ'LVWULFW&RXQFLO([HWHU&LW\&RXQFLODQG7HLJQEULGJH'LVWULFW &RXQFLO6RXWK:HVW:DWHUDQG1HWZRUN5DLODOVRKDYHDUROH
&HQWUDO*RYHUQPHQWKDVUHFHQWO\VWUHQJWKHQHGLWVSURYLVLRQVIRUPDQDJLQJWKHVHULVNVDQGSDUWLFXODUO\ wants a more strategic approach, with authorities working closely together to access partnership funding. 7KH(QYLURQPHQW$JHQF\SURYLGHVDVWUDWHJLFRYHUYLHZIRUDOOÀRRGULVNPDQDJHPHQWLVVXHVDQGLVWKHUHIRUH UHVSRQVLEOHIRUGHYHORSLQJORQJWHUPSODQVDVZHOODVRYHUVHHLQJWKHEXLOGLQJDQGRSHUDWLQJÀRRGGHIHQFHV ,WLVDOVRUHVSRQVLEOHIRULVVXLQJÀRRGZDUQLQJVDQGHQVXULQJSXEOLFDZDUHQHVVRIÀRRGULVN'HYRQ&RXQW\ &RXQFLOLVWKH/HDG/RFDO)ORRG$XWKRULW\ //)$ DQGKDVDUROHLQFRRUGLQDWLQJDFWLYLW\DFURVVLWVDUHD
Shoreline Management Plans
6KRUHOLQH0DQDJHPHQW3ODQV 603V DUHQRQVWDWXWRU\GRFXPHQWVZKLFKGH¿QHVWUDWHJLFFRDVWDOGHIHQFH policies over a large area and into the long term, for example over the next 100 years. The Exe Estuary is included in the South Devon and Dorset SMP, which was completed in June 2011. This covers an area IURP'XUOVWRQ+HDG 6ZDQDJH WR5DPH+HDG 3O\PRXWK 7KH603LVLQWHQGHGWRGHOLYHUDZLGHUDQJLQJ assessment of risks, opportunities, limits and areas of uncertainty, and it is considered as part of land use planning.
State of the Exe Estuary 2014 | 143 Protecting the Exe Estuary
Blackhorse Woodbury
Sowton Kenniford Cross
Clyst St Mary Clyst St George
Ebford
Lympstone Exton Barracks
Exeter Topsham
r
Exminster
Shillingford Abbot Key Exe Estuary Management Boundary Inland water Railways, roads, tracks and paths Inter Tidal Zone Buildings Tidal Water Location of settlement Land
Figure 7a: Areas at risk of flooding near the Exe Estuary Source: DCC 2014 and OS 2014 background mapping. EA 2014 data
144 | State of the Exe Estuary 2014 Protecting the Exe Estuary
Marley Hayes
Littleham i
Exmouth
Lympstone Sowden
Powderham
Starcross
Cockwood Eastdon Kenton Dawlish Warren
Dawlish
012340.5 Kilometers
Areas at risk of flooding
Zone 2 (1000 years flood) Zone 3 (100 years flood)
This map is reproduced from the Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. 100019783. 2014
State of the Exe Estuary 2014 | 145 Protecting the Exe Estuary
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A public consultation on the draft strategy was undertaken in early 2013 to gather views on the proposals for QHZLPSURYHGDQGFKDQJHGÀRRGGHIHQFHVDURXQGWKH([H(VWXDU\DQGDGMDFHQWFRDVWOLQH7KH6WUDWHJ\ IROORZVRQIURPWKHKLJKOHYHO603DQGLGHQWL¿HVDSSURSULDWHVFKHPHVDURXQGWKHFRDVWWRSXWWKHSROLFLHVLQWR SUDFWLFH,WSURSRVHVDQDSSURDFKIRUHDFKFRPPXQLW\WRPDQDJHWKHULVNRIWLGDOÀRRGLQJZKLOVWWDNLQJLQWR account social, economic and environmental considerations.
In most areas the Strategy proposals are the same as those within the SMP, for example, providing improved WLGDOÀRRGGHIHQFHVIRU([PRXWK+RZHYHULQRWKHUDUHDVGHWDLOHGWHFKQLFDOZRUNKDVLGHQWL¿HGWKDWDFKDQJH of approach is needed. An example of this is at Dawlish Warren sand spit, where the latest proposal is to bring in sand to recharge the beach, remove gabion baskets and improve groynes as part of work to manage the spit increasingly in line with natural processes in the future. This will allow the spit to act as a natural wave barrier to coastal communities in the Estuary for longer, should improve the quality of the beach and help to improve the quality of the sand dunes, which are an internationally important wildlife habitat.
Image 7e: Boat survey at Dawlish Warren Source: Maersk Maritime Technology
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2SWLRQVIRU&RDVWDO0DQDJHPHQW
7KH([H(VWXDU\6WUDWHJ\LGHQWL¿HVZKDWQHHGVWREHGRQHIRUHDFK(VWXDU\FRPPXLW\LQWKHVKRUWPHGLXP DQGORQJWHUPVLQRUGHUWRUHGXFHWLGDOÀRRGULVN,WWDNHVLQWRDFFRXQWSUHGLFWHGVHDOHYHOULVHEXWGRHVQRW LGHQWLI\IXQGLQJ,WDOVRLGHQWL¿HVWKHFRVWWREHQH¿WUDWLRRISURYLGLQJQHZRULPSURYHGFRDVWDOGHIHQFHVDQG takes into account impacts on and the requirements of the natural environment.
+DUGHQJLQHHULQJRSWLRQVLQFOXGHEXLOGLQJVWUXFWXUHVVXFKDVEUHDNZDWHUVURFNDUPRXU ERXOGHUV UHYHWPHQWV URFN¿OOHGEDVNHWV JDELRQV DQGVHDZDOOV7KHVHDUHGHVLJQHGWRUHGXFHZDYHHQHUJ\ZKLOVWJUR\QHV ZRRGHQ EDUULHUV RQWKHEHDFKDUHGHVLJQHGWRWUDSVHGLPHQWRQWKHVKRUHDQGVWRSLWZDVKLQJDZD\2WKHURSWLRQV VXFKDVÀRRGHPEDQNPHQWVDORQJHVWXDULHVDQGULYHUVDUHGHVLJQHGDVSK\VLFDOEDUULHUVDQGUHTXLUHUHJXODU maintenance.
6RIWRSWLRQVLQYROYHZRUNLQJZLWKQDWXUHDQGFDQLQFOXGHEULQJLQJVDQGRQWREHDFKHV EHDFKUHFKDUJH breaching banks to allow the creation of saltmarshes which act as a buffer, or planting marram grass to stabilise sand dunes. The choice of coastal management options for different sections of the coastline is LQÀXHQFHGE\ODQGXVHHFRQRPLFDQGVRFLDOFRQVLGHUDWLRQVDQGVFLHQWL¿FXQGHUVWDQGLQJ
One coastal management approach is called Managed Realignment, although this can also be referred to as ‘habitat creation’. It involves setting back the line of actively maintained defence and creating new area of LQWHUWLGDOKDELWDW HJVDOWPDUVKRUPXGÀDW RQWKHODQGEHWZHHQWKHROGDQGQHZGHIHQFHV'HSHQGLQJRQ the situation and the requirements of the scheme the original front defence may be retained until it degrades naturally, or may be either wholly or partially removed. Managed realignment is not a do-nothing option but requires active management. This may be suggested as a response to coastal squeeze, where existing habitats are being drowned out by rising sea levels and are unable to move inland because of the presence of structures such as seawalls.
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State of the Exe Estuary 2014 | 147 Protecting the Exe Estuary
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Shillingford Abbot Key Natural coastal defences Railways, roads, tracks and paths Inland water Natural channel Buildings Inter Tidal Zone Sea defence (sand dune) Location of settlement Tidal Water Land Exe Estuary Management Boundary
Figure 7b: Flood and coastal defences situated on the Exe Estuary Source: DCC 2014 and OS 2014 background mapping. EA 2014 and N( 2014 data
148 | State of the Exe Estuary 2014 Protecting the Exe Estuary
Marley Hayes
Littleham
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"
"
"
"""
" " "" Exmouth " " " " ""
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" "" " Sowden " " " """ "
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" Powderham
Starcross
Cockwood Eastdon Kenton Dawlish Warren
Dawlish
012340.5 Kilometers BAP Priority habitats contributing to flood defence Man made coastal defences
Reedbeds " Location of flood defence structure Maintained channel Coastal sand dunes Coastal protection Raised coastal defence Coastal and floodplain grazing marsh Culverted channel Raised defence Flood defence structure Sea defence
This map is reproduced from the Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. 100019783. 2014
State of the Exe Estuary 2014 | 149 Protecting the Exe Estuary
Sediment Dynamics
There are complex coastal processes present within the Exe Estuary. The sediment dynamics are determined E\DFRPELQDWLRQRIIUHVKZDWHUÀRZVWLGDOÀRZVLQWRDQGRXWRIWKH(VWXDU\DQGZDYHDFWLRQ'DZOLVK Warren is closely associated with a series of sandbanks, of which Pole Sand, seaward of the spit, and Bull Hill %DQNODQGZDUGRIWKHVSLWDUHWKHPRVWVLJQL¿FDQW7KHVHIHDWXUHVFRPELQHWRSURYLGHERWKWKH(VWXDU\DQG WKH([PRXWKIURQWDJHZLWKVLJQL¿FDQWSURWHFWLRQIURPZDYHDWWDFNFRDVWDOVXUJHVDQGRWKHUFRDVWLQGXFHG processes.
It is believed that there is a circular movement of sediment in the mouth of the Exe, with limited input of VHGLPHQWIURPHLWKHUDGMDFHQWOHQJWKVRIFRDVWRUIURPRIIVKRUH7KLVLVPDLQO\GXHWRWKHSUHVHQFHRIWKH railway to the west which prevents the sea from eroding the cliffs and providing fresh supplies of sediment via the process of longshore drift. The usual circulation pattern is interrupted during storm events when large quantities of sediment can be removed from Pole Sands, Dawlish Warren and the Exmouth frontage and deposited in the channels. This shows the dynamic nature of the coastline and results in ever changing each level.
Historically the spit at Dawlish Warren has undergone periods of accretion and depletion, with movement of :DUUHQ3RLQWDOVRRFFXUULQJ7KHUHLVDVLJQL¿FDQWH[FKDQJHRIVHGLPHQWEHWZHHQWKHVSLWDQGWKHVDQGEDQNV JRYHUQHGODUJHO\E\WKHWLGHVDWWKH(VWXDU\PRXWKDQGUHVXOWLQJLQÀXFWXDWLRQVRIDOOWKHVHIHDWXUHV7RWKH east of the Estuary, the beach at Exmouth also contributes to the complex sediment transport system. The EHDFKHVDQGGXQHVDUHVHQVLWLYHWRVWRUPDQGWLGDOLQÀXHQFHVDQGEHDFKOHYHOVDW([PRXWKDQG'DZOLVK :DUUHQKDYHGURSSHGVLJQL¿FDQWO\RYHUWKHODVW\HDUV7KHUHLVDQLQWHUUHODWLRQVKLSEHWZHHQWKHPRYHPHQW of sediment at Exmouth and Dawlish which means that whatever happens at one site will affect the situation at the other. For example, there is a long-term trend of retreat along the Dawlish Warren seafront dunes, with HYHU\VWRUPGDPDJLQJWKHGXQHV±XSWRPZDVORVWIURPWKHIDFHRIWKHVDQGGXQHVKHUHIROORZLQJWKHZLQWHU VWRUPV,QFRQWUDVWWKHOHYHORI3ROH6DQGLVLQFUHDVLQJ 3RVIRUG'XYLYLHU
Lympstone
$VSDUWRIWKHÀRRGGHIHQFHVFKHPHDW/\PSVWRQHWKH(QYLURQPHQW$JHQF\PDGHLPSURYHPHQWVWRWKH coastal defences in the village, including a new seawall and reinforcements to the stone groyne on the EHDFKDWWKHIDUHQGRI4XD\/DQH0HPEHUVRIWKHFRPPXQLW\QRZYROXQWHHUDVÀRRGZDUGHQVWRFORVH ÀRRGJDWHVRQKLJKWLGHVDVQHHGHGWRSURWHFWKRPHVLQWKHYLOODJH7KHÀRRGZDUGHQVUHFRUGHGWKH highest tide ever seen at Lympstone in early 2014.
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Image 7g: Flood gate at Lympstone Source: EA Image 7h: Erosion at Lympstone K Source: EEMP
150 | State of the Exe Estuary 2014 Protecting the Exe Estuary
Exmouth
Since the early 1980s sediment in the Exmouth approach channel has been steadily accreting. By the mid-1980s accretion was such an issue that it FDXVHGQDYLJDWLRQDOGLI¿FXOWLHVZKLFK OHGWRWKHJURXQGLQJRIDYHVVHOLQ Following the grounding, 40,000m3 of material was dredged from the channel, with further dredging work taking place LQ 7KHODVWVOXGJHIHUU\RSHUDWLRQ was in 1998 and the need for an open accessible commercial channel has now been reduced. However, a serviceable navigation channel is still very important IRU¿VKHULHVOLIHERDWVDQGUHFUHDWLRQDO Image 7i: 6WRUPDWVHDIURQWLQ([PRXWK ERDWV([HWHU&LW\&RXQFLOVXUYH\VWKH Source: David Weatherly area to assess the channel depth every six months.
There are extensive rock revetments, sea walls and groynes protecting Exmouth, and the beach and offshore sandbanks act as a soft defence structure. However, there has been a general reduction in beach levels on the Esplanade and Beach Gardens frontage over the past 15 years and this winter saw the devastation of the town’s sand dunes. It has been observed that beach movements are quite volatile, DQGWKDWOHYHOVFDQFKDQJHE\EHWZHHQPRYHUWKHSHULRGRIRUWLGHV 5R\DO+DVNRQLQJ
7KH([H(VWXDU\)ORRGDQG&RDVWDO(URVLRQ5LVN0DQDJHPHQW6WUDWHJ\VXJJHVWVDQXPEHURIORFDOLVHG LPSURYHPHQWVWRWLGDOÀRRGGHIHQFHVDW([PRXWKEHIRUHDQGDGGLWLRQDOUDLVLQJRIVHDZDOOVDV QHHGHGWRNHHSSDFHZLWKVHDOHYHOULVHXSWR7KLVSURMHFWZLOOKHOSWRUHGXFHRYHUWRSSLQJRIWKH sea wall by high tides and storm waves.
State of the Exe Estuary 2014 | 151 Protecting the Exe Estuary
Dawlish Warren
'HYRQ&RXQW\&RXQFLO(DVW'HYRQDQG7HLJQEULGJH'LVWULFW&RXQFLOV1DWXUDO(QJODQGWKH(QYLURQPHQW Agency and Network Rail are all partners in the development of the Exe Estuary Strategy, which considers future options for tidal defences around the Estuary. Following on from this, Teignbridge, East Devon and the Environment Agency are working together on the Dawlish Warren & Exmouth Beach 0DQDJHPHQW6FKHPH2YHU PLOOLRQRIFHQWUDOJRYHUQPHQWIXQGLQJKDVEHHQDSSURYHGWRSURJUHVV this scheme, which will help to protect many Estuary communities into the future. The intention is to recharge the beach at Dawlish Warren with sand in order to lengthen the life of the sand spit as a VKHOWHUWRWKHLQQHU(VWXDU\7KLVZLOOUHVXOWLQRWKHUEHQH¿WVVXFKDVDEHWWHUEHDFKDQGLPSURYHGTXDOLW\ of the internationally important sand dunes. Other works, as part of the scheme, involve the construction RIDÀRRGEDUULHUDFURVVWKH:DUUHQZKLFKZLOOFXWRIIDSRWHQWLDOÀRRGURXWHWR'DZOLVK:DUUHQYLOODJH and the main railway line.
Dawlish Warren sand spit has historically shown periods of accretion and depletion. In the 1930s there ZDVDWKULYLQJFRPPXQLW\RIVXPPHUKRPHVDWWKHIDUHQG\HWE\ DVHULHVRIVWRUPVPHDQWWKDW WKLVDUHDZDVDOOXQGHUZDWHU VHHWKHLPDJHVMDQGN 7KHHDVWHUQµKRRN¶HQGLVQRZJURZLQJLQVL]H DFFUHWLQJ ZKLOVWWKHVHDZDUGIDFLQJEHDFKLVORVLQJVDQG HURGLQJ
7KHZHVWHUQHQGRIWKHVSLWLVSURWHFWHGE\DFRQFUHWHVHDZDOODQGERXOGHUV URFNDUPRXU $EDFNERQH RIURFN¿OOHGEDVNHWV JDELRQV ZDVLQVWDOOHGXQGHUQHDWKWKHGXQHVLQWKH VDQG VWRWU\ to stabilise the position of the spit, with a system of groynes on the beach to stop sand movement. Many of the gabions are now exposed by storms and the groynes are in various states of disrepair. The presence of the railway line to the west means that there is no new supply of sediment to replace that lost from the beach by the natural process of longshore drift, which explains why the beach is steepening and becoming less sandy. Figure 7c illustrates the dramatic changes in morphology that Dawlish Warren has seen over the last century. The increasing frequency and intensity of storms predicted as a result of climate change means that maintaining the current position of the sand spit LVXQOLNHO\WREHSRVVLEOH0RGHOOLQJVKRZVWKDWWKHIDUHQGRIWKHVSLWLVOLNHO\WRÀDWWHQLQ\HDUV time, by which time there will need to be improved defences in place in the inner Estuary to protect communities such as Starcross and Topsham.
152 | State of the Exe Estuary 2014 Protecting the Exe Estuary
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,PDJHM Dawlish Warren in the 1930s - with a thriving community living in summer houses Source: EA
O Image 7k: Dawlish Warren circa 1949 – the ‘hook’ end is no longer attached due to storms Source: EA
Image 7l: Dawlish Warren 1990s aerial view 6RXUFH 7HLJQEULGJH'LVWULFW&RXQFLO
Image 7m: Dawlish Warren May 2013 aerial view Source: EA
State of the Exe Estuary 2014 | 153 Protecting the Exe Estuary
Bull Hill Cockwood Bank i
Eastdon
Pole Sand
Dawlish Warren
00.510.25 Kilometers Key Land above Mean High Water Railways, roads, tracks and paths Inland water 2014 extent Buildings Inter Tidal Zone 1953-1969 extent* Location of settlement Tidal Water 1930 extent* Exe Estuary Land 1905 extent* Management Boundary * Approximate boundary digitised from Figure 7c:The changing coastline of Dawlish Warren 1905 -2014. OS historical mapping Source: DCC 2014 and OS 2014 background mapping. © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. OS 2014 and LM 2014 data 100019783. 2014
154 | State of the Exe Estuary 2014 Protecting the Exe Estuary
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1809 The old 1 inch Map of 1809 shows Warren Island, later incorporated into the Dawlish Warren Spit
1817 Five acres of the Warren were washed away in a single storm
1844 Dawlish Warren covered 300 acres
A storm ripped through the Warren and closed an oyster farm
1899 7KH¿UVWEXQJDORZLVEXLOWRQ'DZOLVK:DUUHQ
1905 The “Warren Halt” railway platforms were built by the Great Western Railway
1911 ‘The Gale’ washes away several homes
1917 400 metre rock armoured revetment was constructed to protect the railway line
1937 A series of storms and high tides removed bungalows on the Warren
1939/1940 Winter storms destroy more homes
1949 to 1959 Protection of the Warren by British Rail: brushwood fences were erected, trees planted and barriers made of railway sleepers
1959 'DZOLVK8UEDQ'LVWULFW&RXQFLOLQVWDOOHG¿YHWLPEHUJUR\QHV
The last home is removed from the Warren in a south-easterly gale
DQG Severe storms breached the Warren and dune heights were lowered
1970s 300m long concrete sea wall was built to the east of the railway rock revetment, a prom- enade was provided on the top of the wall; at the end of the sea wall 300m of gabions, ZLUHFDJHV¿OOHGZLWKURFNVZHUHLQVWDOOHGWRDEVRUEZDYHHQHUJ\
1989 and 1990 Storms damaged the revetments and emergency work was carried out by Teignbridge 'LVWULFW&RXQFLO
1992 The National Rivers Authority began work to reconstruct the rock armoured revetment; landward of the timber piles, a 300m line of steel sheet piles were sunk to offer further stability; 35,000 tonnes of Norwegian granite boulder were imported
2014 A series of severe storms combined with high tides and winds damaged the groynes and JDELRQV'XQHVZHUHGUDPDWLFDOO\HURGHGORVLQJ¿YHPHWUHVRIVDQGLQVRPHSRLQWV
6RXUFH 1DWLRQDO5LYHUV$XWKRULW\ %DUEHU DQG(QYLURQPHQW$JHQF\
7KH/LYLQJZLWKD&KDQJLQJ&RDVW /L&&R SURMHFWKDVJDWKHUHGPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQRQKRZWKH([H(VWXDU\ FRDVWOLQHKDVFKDQJHGWKURXJKWKHDJHV The following photos highlight the destructive power of a single storm event in early 2014 as they illustrate how the gabions were exposed and a considerable amount of sediment was lost from Dawlish Warren beach. During this time the railway line at Dawlish was also breached. State of the Exe Estuary 2014 | 155 Protecting the Exe Estuary Image 7n: Rock gabions exposure (2014) Image 7o: Severe beach erosion (2014) Source: EA Source: EA *RRVHPRRU5HJXODWHG7LGDO([FKDQJH3URMHFW 0DQDJHGUHDOLJQPHQWLVWKHVHWWLQJEDFNRIKDUGVHDGHIHQFHVWRDOORZWLGDOÀRRGLQJRISUHYLRXVO\GHIHQGHG ODQG$QH[DPSOHRIPDQDJHGUHDOLJQPHQWRQWKH([H(VWXDU\XVLQJ5HJXODWHG7LGDO([FKDQJH 57( FDQEH VHHQDW*RRVHPRRU DQDUHDRIWKH([H(VWXDU\RZQHGE\WKH5R\DO6RFLHW\IRU3URWHFWLRQRI%LUGV +HUHLQ VL[KHFWDUHVRILQWHUWLGDOKDELWDW LQFOXGLQJPXGÀDW KD VDOWPDUVKFRPPXQLWLHV KD DQGVDOLQH ODJRRQ ZHUHFUHDWHGHIIHFWLYHO\UHWXUQLQJWKHSDVWXUHWRLWVRULJLQDOSUHGUDLQHGVWDWHRILQWHUWLGDOFRDVWDOPDUVK 7KHSURMHFWZDVFDUULHGRXWLQSDUWQHUVKLSZLWKDQGZLWKIXQGLQJIURP'()5$WKH(QYLURQPHQW$JHQF\DQG 1DWXUDO(QJODQG7KHPDLQDLPVZHUHWRSURYLGHELRGLYHUVLW\EHQH¿WVDQGWRGHPRQVWUDWHWKHSRWHQWLDOXVHV of this novel approach. The RTE area at Goosemoor has been used by a much greater variety and number of ELUGVIRUIHHGLQJDQGURRVWLQJWKDQSULRUWRWKHSURMHFW 7.3 Spatial Planning Spatial planning encompasses a very wide range of issues and is guided and informed by a range of documents. Government legislation has increasingly placed an emphasis on sustainable development LQFOXGLQJFOLPDWHFKDQJH LQFUHDVHGQHLJKERXUKRRGLQYROYHPHQWDQGTXDOLW\RXWFRPHV/RFDOSODQVPXVWEH SRVLWLYHO\SUHSDUHGMXVWL¿HGHIIHFWLYHDQGFRQVLVWHQWZLWKQDWLRQDOSROLF\LQDFFRUGDQFHZLWKVHFWLRQRIWKH 3ODQQLQJDQG&RPSXOVRU\3XUFKDVH$FW DVDPHQGHG DQGWKH1DWLRQDO3ODQQLQJ3ROLF\)UDPHZRUN The Exe Estuary covers four Local Planning Authority areas, each with their own local planning policy. Both Exeter and Teignbridge have relatively new plans setting out planning policy for their areas. Teignbridge 'LVWULFW&RXQFLO¶V/RFDO3ODQZDVDGRSWHGLQ0D\ZKLOH([HWHU&LW\&RXQFLO¶V&RUH6WUDWHJ\ZDVDGRSWHG LQ)HEUXDU\(DVW'HYRQ'LVWULFW&RXQFLOLVLQWKHSURFHVVRISURGXFLQJDQHZ/RFDO3ODQZKLFKLVZHOO DGYDQFHGDQGLWLVHQYLVDJHGWKDWWKHQHZSODQZLOOEHDGRSWHGODWHULQ'HYRQ&RXQW\&RXQFLOSURYLGHV SODQQLQJSROLF\DFURVVWKHZKROHFRXQW\ H[FOXGLQJWKH1DWLRQDO3DUNVDQG8QLWDU\$XWKRULW\DUHDV IRU PLQHUDOVDQGZDVWHPDWWHUVZLWKDQDGRSWHG0LQHUDOV/RFDO3ODQ DQG:DVWH/RFDO3ODQ ,WLVLQ the process of writing new versions of these documents, anticipating adoption of a new Devon Waste Plan later in 2014. Habitats Regulations Assessments are undertaken on emerging policies to ensure that there will not be adverse effects on the internationally and European designated sites on the Exe Estuary. Where planning policy is LGHQWL¿HGDVDGYHUVHO\DIIHFWLQJWKHLQWHJULW\RIWKH([H(VWXDU\ HJWKURXJKDGGLWLRQDOKRXVLQJ ¿QDQFLDO contributions will be sought from new development towards management and other schemes to protect the DUHD0HDVXUHVLGHQWL¿HGWRDYRLGDGYHUVHHIIHFWVDUHPRVWFRPPRQO\GHWDLOHGLQWKH,QIUDVWUXFWXUH'HOLYHU\ Plan supporting the local plan. _6WDWHRIWKH([H(VWXDU\