The Beneficial Use of Dredged Sediment (BUDS) in the Blackwater Estuary Project seeks to protect coastal communities in West Mersea, Tollesbury and Salcott from flooding whilst delivering wider benefits for biodiversity and society through Natural Flood Management.The project, funded through the Environment Agency's Natural Flood Management Programme, seeks to build on and extend beach recharge delivered by the Mersea Harbour Protection Trust (MHPT) in 2022 and by the EA in the 1990's.
The project will involve the delivery of approximately 85,000 cubic metres of sediment on the foreshore of Old Hall Point, Cobmarsh Island and Tollesbury Wick to create approximately 6.7 Ha of vegetated shingle beach habitat. The sediment will be dredged from Harwich Haven approach channels and port berths as part of routine maintenance dredging and brought to the receptor sites. The sand and shingle beaches or ridges protect existing saltmarsh islands and promontories that act as barriers to larger waves entering the sheltered creeks and channels of West Mersea and Tollesbury. The beach recharge will directly protect coastal flood defences surrounding 406 Ha of floodplain grazing marsh reserves of RSPB Old Hall Marshes and Essex Wildlife Trust's Tollesbury Wick Reserve. |
Cobmarsh Island, Packing Shed Island and West Mersea. Photo by Jim Pullen
|
It's estimated that approximately 289 properties benefit from the presence of 25km of coastal flood defences in West Mersea, Tollesbury and Salcott-cum-Virley. The reduction in wave energy in the channels and creeks of West Mersea and Tollesbury will also help to protect boat moorings and oyster beds from erosion.
From an ecological perspective, the project will create and replenish valuable habitat for beach nesting birds such as little tern, ringed plover and oystercatcher. Nesting sites for these species are particularly susceptible to human disturbance, predation and flooding during the highest of tides. The sand and shingle barriers will contribute to the protection of approximately 240 Ha of saltmarsh in this part of the estuary. Healthy saltmarsh is a highly productive ecosystem that supports a rich community of salt tolerant plants and flowers whilst providing numerous benefits including nursery habitat for commercially important fish species, carbon sequestration and wave attenuation.
From an ecological perspective, the project will create and replenish valuable habitat for beach nesting birds such as little tern, ringed plover and oystercatcher. Nesting sites for these species are particularly susceptible to human disturbance, predation and flooding during the highest of tides. The sand and shingle barriers will contribute to the protection of approximately 240 Ha of saltmarsh in this part of the estuary. Healthy saltmarsh is a highly productive ecosystem that supports a rich community of salt tolerant plants and flowers whilst providing numerous benefits including nursery habitat for commercially important fish species, carbon sequestration and wave attenuation.
