Managing Flood Risk on the Severn Estuary
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Managing flood and coastal erosion risk for the Exe Estuary Draft Strategy Consultation Document January 2013 1 We are the Environment Agency. It’s our job to look after your environment and make it a better place _ f or you, and for future generations. Your environment is the air you breathe, the water you drink and the ground you walk on. Working with business, Government and society as a whole, we are making your environment cleaner and healthier. The Environment Agency. Out there, making your environment a better place. 2 Locations covered by the Strategy Holcombe to Sandy Bay Clyst St Mary Page 18 Topsham, Countess Wear and Exminster Marshes East and West Banks of the River Page 19 Clyst Pages 16 and 17 Courtlands to Exton including Lympstone Powderham Banks and Page 15 the Kenn Valley Page 20 Exmouth Page 14 Starcross and Cockwood Page 21 Sandy Bay Page 12 Dawlish Warren Page 22 The Maer, Exmouth Page 13 Dawlish Warren to Holcombe Page 23 For Glossary of Terms see pages 25 and 26 3 Introduction Our Strategy needs to be We are keen to hear your views This consultation document sustainable into the future and and in this document we: summarises our draft Strategy so will consider as far as 100 • explain how the Strategy builds and recommendations to years ahead. on existing policies; manage flood and coastal • explain the current level of erosion risks for the whole of the Partners in the Strategy include flood risk and coastal erosion Exe Estuary, from Exmouth and Devon County Council, East and the effects of climate Dawlish to Exeter, including Devon District Council, change; adjacent coastline. Teignbridge District Council, • make recommendations for Exeter City Council, Natural managing these risks; We cannot eliminate these risks England and Network Rail. • provide links to further but we can reduce their impact information and ways to by working with others and by comment. preparing for them. 4 Why is the Exe Estuary special? Over 150,000 people live close to the Exe Estuary. Many more visit, attracted to the traditional seaside resorts and to the significant natural features which provide interest all year round. Much of the estuary has a very high level of environmental protection under European and UK wildlife law because of its international importance. Communities and businesses have developed along the coastline and many now rely upon defences to reduce the risk of flooding and erosion to property and to agricultural land from the sea. The estuary is bounded on both sides by railway lines including the mainline connecting London to Exeter and Penzance. We need to consider all these interests and ensure that we protect what is most valued. The coastline will change, as it has in the past, but we have the opportunity to influence how this happens. 5 Flood risk and climate change Flood risk 700mm higher by 2100 and, although Increasing risks for people Flood risk combines the chance (or we do not have to protect against this Higher sea levels lead to higher risks probability) of a particular flood yet, we should prepare for it. of flooding and erosion, particularly if happening and the impact it would combined with stormier conditions. have. We assess how important risk Coastal flooding that has only a 1 in is to people, property and the 100 (1%) annual chance now will environment. We protect homes and have a 1 in 10 (10%) chance by important infrastructure to a higher 2050. standard than for agricultural land. Protecting against erosion is very expensive and might not be Climate change sustainable in the long term. The climate is changing and we expect sea level to continue to rise at Increasing risks for wildlife an increasing rate. Our best estimate Inter-tidal areas such as saltmarsh is that by the end of this century the and sandbanks, which can now be sea will be rising by 10mm each year. seen at low tide, will be under water Such increases may seem small but for more of the time. This will affect they will have a significant effect on wildlife including birds in the estuary, the risk of flooding and on erosion of which are of international importance. the coastline. We cannot stop sea level rise but we can try and compensate for the loss By 2060 we expect sea levels to be at of habitat caused by our built flood least 230mm higher, and probably defences, by creating new areas of over 400mm higher, than they were suitable habitat as part of this in 1990. Sea levels could be over Strategy. 6 How flood and coastal erosion risks can be managed The aim of this Strategy is to identify how we can best This Strategy is based on the Shoreline Management Plan manage flood and coastal erosion risks in the Exe Estuary (SMP), which sets jointly agreed broad, coastal over the next century. The Government is committed to management policies for the whole South Devon Coast. managing these risks where it is sustainable and cost For each area at risk within the Exe Estuary we have tested effective to do so. the agreed policy. We have looked at the costs and benefits of each option and when we need to take action. We can reduce the risk of flooding and coastal erosion by: • maintaining, improving and constructing new coastal Throughout this process we have worked in partnership defence schemes; with a range of organisations and individuals, to share • providing flood warning systems; ideas, test our findings and inform our recommendations. • working with local authority planners to restrict development in flood risk areas; • encouraging the use of flood resilience measures for existing properties in flood risk areas. As sea levels continue to rise there may come a time when the cost of these measures will outweigh the value of what is at risk. Alternative actions to adapt to the impacts of flood risk will then need to be considered. In this Strategy we are concentrating on tidal flood risk but properties may also be at risk of flooding from drainage systems, rivers, or a combination of factors. 7 How impacts on the environment can be managed Special areas Coastal squeeze The Exe Estuary is of international Built defences, such as sea walls, can then again be shaped by wind, wave importance for nature conservation cause a reduction in the area of and tide, as they were in the past. and is designated as a Special saltmarsh and mudflat as the sea Protection Area. Dawlish Warren level rises. This is because these sand spit is a Special Area of habitats are prevented from moving Conservation. Together these further up the shore by the presence designations form part of what is of the defence. This process is called known as the European Natura 2000 ‘coastal squeeze’. In the Exe network of sites. Estuary, this effect will cause loss of internationally important habitat, which is protected by European and UK law. This loss of habitat must be avoided or compensated by the creation of habitat elsewhere. Future management of the coastline Environmental report will need to protect the natural We have considered potential environment and be cost-effective. impacts on people, habitats, species, This may mean that certain areas, cultural heritage and the landscape. such as Dawlish Warren sand spit, These are described in a separate are allowed to evolve naturally with Environmental Report which supports minimal intervention, rather than this Strategy. constantly trying to battle the powerful forces of nature. These areas will 8 How will coastal works be paid for? Our draft Strategy recommendations If the local preference is to rely only on Consequences will only be implemented if sufficient central government funding, then it If funding cannot be found, and funding can be found. Our Strategy has to be noted that this could involve projects that have been identified does not propose detailed schemes a long wait. within the Strategy cannot be nor does it guarantee that funding is delivered, the standard of existing available. We have to prioritise where defences will worsen over time and money is spent in order to get the the tidal flood risks to that community maximum benefit for communities. will increase. If that happens then We recognise that availability of future generations will have to find money is likely to limit the ability to even more money to continue their deliver works on the ground. protection or develop new plans to cope with the consequence of living Recent changes to central with greater risk. government funding mean that more schemes will receive some funding, whilst fewer are likely to attract full funding. Funding partnerships can use local Contributions contributions to unlock national Where proposed works will not attract funding and increase priority, so that full central funding they can only go projects go ahead sooner. These ahead if costs are reduced (perhaps can come through Local Authorities, by accepting a lower standard of developers or from the Regional protection) or if a local contribution is Flood and Coastal Committee provided, or a combination of these. (RFCC) local levy. 9 Let us know your views How you can find out more How you can comment The following pages show specific See the Exe Estuary Strategy Once you have read through our sections of the Estuary, as they are webpages at proposals you can send us YOUR now and how they might look in the www.environment- views in several different ways: future if there were no flood defences agency.gov.uk/exe/estuary in place. For each community around The webpages include Fact Use the automated e -consultation the estuary this document Sheets and Questions and at recommends works that are needed Answers (Q&A) that may be consult.environment- by 2030 and also in the longer term, helpful.