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Habitat Creation on the Severn Estuary

Habitat Creation on the Severn Estuary. Lyn Jenkins Flood and Coastal Risk Management South west Regional Habitat Creation Programme. The Agency’s role on the coast. Overview of Flood risk management: Consider our own defences and those of others including private landowners

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Habitat Creation on the Severn Estuary

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  1. Habitat Creation on the Severn Estuary Lyn Jenkins Flood and Coastal Risk Management South west Regional Habitat Creation Programme

  2. The Agency’s role on the coast Overview of Flood risk management: Consider our own defences and those of others including private landowners • Shoreline management plans • FCRM strategies • Build flood schemes on the ground

  3. Making Space for Water Storms and seal level rise = unsustainable sea defences • Cannot defend everywhere • Focus on properties

  4. Severn Estuary SMP and FCRM strategy SMP sets policy: Hold the existing defence line Advance the existing defence line Managed realignment No active intervention The FCRM strategy provides greater detail Schemes built by the Agency and local authorities must meet economic, engineering and environmental needs

  5. DEFRA targets for operating authorities: No net loss of biodiversity Habitat loss and gain balance sheet Create 800 ha of new habitat over 2008 - 2011 • 300 ha of saltmarsh and mudflats

  6. Legal obligations: Habitats Regulations Apply to all Natura 2000 sites: • SPAs for birds, • SACs for habitats Regulation 61: Appropriate Assessment of plans and projects

  7. Habitat Regulations Assessment • Required for SMP, FCRM strategy and individual schemes • Agreed with NE and CCW • Signed off by Sec of State • and WAG • Formal process • IROPI • Compensatory habitat needed

  8. Legal duties - Compensatory habitats • Maintain extent and integrity of international sites • Mitigate effects where possible • Compensate for direct impacts of flood defence work and for coastal squeeze (sea level rise) Direct effects 10’s hectares, indirect effects of coastal squeeze - 1000’s hectares

  9. Severn estuary: FCRM strategy • 140+ kms of flood defences • Coastal squeeze on SPA, SAC and RAMSAR • Legally required to safeguard European sites • Compensate for coastal squeeze losses • Identify managed Realignment sites through FCRM strategy.

  10. Severn estuary: habitat loss Sea level rise – 2600 ha loss over the next 100 years • 2026 – 700ha lost • 2056 – 1300ha • 2106 –2600ha

  11. Severn estuary: habitat loss ¾ mudflat and sandflat (10% of resource) ¼ saltmarsh (40% of resource) Saltmarsh is priority for habitat creation

  12. FCRM strategy: possible realignments Identifying potential sites • Unsustainable defences • Topography • Minimal impact on property and infrastructure • Ecological suitability Approximately 40 potential sites identified so far but few large sites.

  13. Role of the RHCP • Habitat Creation programme in each EA region • Work with Wales and Midlands to identify viable sites • Work out how they can be delivered Current target is 650 ha 2010 -2030

  14. Managed realignment or no active intervention? • Unpopular policies – protect at all costs • Landowners unwilling to accept land loss • Do we walk away or manage the process? • Realising opportunities through purchase • High Level Stewardship

  15. Managed realignment: Incentives • Agri environment schemes up to £700 /Ha for 20 years • Can buy land/property for compensatory habitats • Move freshwater marshes inland • Build resilience • Habitat creation

  16. Steart Peninsula Bridgwater Bay, Somerset • Protected by a shingle ridge • Less than 1 in 10 year standard • Could create up to 500 ha of new habitat • Adjoins Severn estuary SAC and SPA • Strategically important

  17. New approaches: regulated tidal exchange Allows controlled tidal inundation through a sluice gate • R. Exe at Goose moor • Option at Steart • Axe estuary wetlands at Seaton

  18. Delivering habitat creation Not just the Environment Agency – all operating authorities Risk if we cannot find sufficient compensatory habitat then flood defence schemes will be delayed • Strategic approach • Partnership with Local authorities • Links to Local Development frameworks

  19. Habitat creation in practice Work with partners • Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust - Steart • East Devon District Council - Axe estuary • RSPB - Goose Moor • National Trust - Living with a changing coast

  20. Making space for Water Not just birds v people • Allowing the coastline to move • Building natural sea defences – saltmarshes • Increasing resilience • Habitat creation

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