Poole and Wareham Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy
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Poole and Wareham Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy Statement of Environmental Particulars Final March 2015 We are the Environment Agency. We protect and improve the environment and make it a better place for people and wildlife. We operate at the place where environmental change has its greatest impact on people’s lives. We reduce the risks to people and properties from flooding; make sure there is enough water for people and wildlife; protect and improve air, land and water quality and apply the environmental standards within which industry can operate. Acting to reduce climate change and helping people and wildlife adapt to its consequences are at the heart of all that we do. We cannot do this alone. We work closely with a wide range of partners including government, business, local authorities, other agencies, civil society groups and the communities we serve. Published by: Environment Agency Further copies of this report are available Horizon house, Deanery Road, from our publications catalogue: Bristol BS1 5AH www.gov.uk/government/publications Email: [email protected] or our National Customer Contact Centre: www.gov.uk/environment-agency T: 03708 506506 Email: [email protected]. © Environment Agency 2014 All rights reserved. This document may be reproduced with prior permission of the Environment Agency. 2 of 10 Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 4 The Environment during the development of the Plan ................................................................. 4 Mitigation and enhancement........................................................................................................ 4 Consultation responses ............................................................................................................... 7 Trans-boundary consultation responses ...................................................................................... 8 Reasons for selecting the adopted plan in light of reasonable alternatives .................................. 8 Environmental monitoring measures during Plan implementation ................................................ 8 3 of 10 Statement of environmental particulars for the Poole and Wareham Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy Introduction This statement of particulars indicates how environmental and consultee considerations were taken into account during the preparation of the plan and how the Environment Agency selected the approach adopted in the final plan. The statement goes on to set out the monitoring procedures that have been set in place to monitor the significant environmental effects of the implementation of the plan/programme. The environment Integration of environmental considerations during the Environmental considerations were integrated throughout the development of development of this plan by following the Environment Agency’s SEA operational instruction. the plan This document ensures the potential significant effects of the plan on the environment are considered throughout its development. Influence of the environmental report The environmental report that was open to public consultation influenced the development of the plan by identifying environmental enhancements and setting out requirements for mitigation, where significant negative effects were identified. Mitigation and Enhancement Environmental Topic Agreed Responsibility for Mitigation/Enhancement implementation activity Population and Human Health Some isolated properties These properties will require Property owners. across the southern side of local resistance or resilience Poole Harbour and at measures to be implemented Studland will be affected by by their private owners. increased flooding and/or Some local raising of roads as Local Authority or erosion in the long term, as may also be required such as Highways Agency policies leading to a more at Arne village, which may ‘natural’ shoreline are become tidally cut-off in delivered. extreme events in the long- term. Changes in coastal processes Care will be taken at project Environment Agency in areas of NAI have the level to implement managed potential to affect fishing realignment schemes that activities and the distribution avoid compromising of commercial fish/shellfish in commercial fishing activity the harbour – these impacts (e.g. access to fishing (which may be positive and grounds) and shellfisheries in negative) remain uncertain the harbour. but would also occur in the We will closely monitor 4 of 10 absence of the Strategy. changes in geomorphology to improve our understanding of However, further such the implications of the changes may occur change. associated with proposed MR sites along the estuarine Before, during and after shoreline at Ridge and in delivery of MR we will monitor Lytchett Bay. Changes in water quality at commercial coastal processes here might (shell)fishery locations affect water quality locally and associated with MR sites and in the wider harbour, with the monitor fisheries potential for changes in productivity/quality adjacent fisheries and associated loss to MR sites. of commercial fishing revenue. Biodiversity Flora and Fauna Continuing to hold the line at Managed realignment will Environment Agency Sandbanks to Hamworthy mitigate the effects of coastal and at Wareham may defences elsewhere in Poole significantly adversely affect Harbour. This will create intertidal habitats for birds compensatory intertidal and other species in the mudflat, saltmarsh and Poole Harbour SPA and grazing marsh. The Strategy Ramsar site as a result of identifies indicative areas and habitat loss due to coastal defence alignments, with squeeze (i.e. hard flood further information on specific defences restricting the sites to be identified as natural development of individual sites are taken intertidal habitats as sea level forward. These MR sites will rises in the future). be taken forward as projects. Defence maintenance and improvements around the eastern side of Poole Harbour may also result in small additional encroachment into the Poole Harbour SPA and Ramsar site. Preferred compensatory We already undertake water Environment Agency plus habitat sites may be quality monitoring within other strategic delivery vulnerable to the formation of Poole Harbour. Additional partners. algal mats if they are in areas sites will be added as with low rates of flushing and required to provide if hyper-eutrophication in the information on water quality harbour is not reduced (in particular nutrients) associated with the selected compensatory habitat sites. This will provide us with an improved understanding of nutrient levels in these areas. If further nutrient reduction actions need to be delivered this will be through Water Framework Directive and Catchment Sensitive Farming 5 of 10 delivery projects. Historic Environment The gabion works proposed Detailed design at the project Environment Agency and/or at Hengistbury Head may level may be able to lessen or appropriate Risk encroach on the boundary of avoid potential impacts. Management Authority. the Scheduled Monument. Scheduled Monument Elsewhere construction work Consent will be required. may affect local intertidal archaeological remains. The managed realignment There may be some delivery project(s) will Environment Agency potentially adverse effects on encompass archaeological archaeological remains and assessment (including, if areas of historic landscape in necessary, field particular in locations investigations) to establish proposed for managed appropriate mitigation related realignment where historically to new defence alignments reclaimed land and shorelines and footprints, (palaeo)- will be lost as will near to archaeological recording, etc. shore archaeological remains. No single body or Some prehistoric burial No specific mitigation organisation is identified at mounds on Arne peninsula identified at this stage. If the moment for managing the will remain at risk of flooding deem that protection or other risks of natural erosion on and coastal erosion through mitigation is desirable against historic sites. A local solution the continuation of No Active natural shoreline evolution, may be appropriate in this Intervention policy. this might be developed instance. Further advice may locally. be available from Historic England. Landscape and Visual Amenity In those areas where the Potential adverse landscape Environment Agency and/or standard of flood protection and visual impacts including appropriate Risk will be maintained loss of vegetation and land Management Authority. (Hengistbury Head to cover will be avoided or offset Sandbanks, eastern Poole through the incorporation of Harbour, Hamworthy, Lytchett project level mitigation Bay, Wareham and Swanage) including: possible use of there is potential for effects suitable material finishes to on landscape character and hard defences; subtle visual amenity. earthworks designs to avoid Consequences could be harshly engineered profiles; greatest in areas within the sensitive alignment and Dorset AONB and along the footprint of the works to avoid Jurassic Coast World valued vegetation. Raised Heritage Site. defences will where required be sympathetically designed to maintain key views including the geological features of the Jurassic 6 of 10 coastline. Access and Recreation In such areas the footpaths or Dorset County Council and