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The Blackwater Estuary contains approximately 650 Ha of coastal floodplain including the towns and villages of West Mersea, Tollesbury and Salcott. Coastal communities, as well as surrounding and agricultural land and habitats, are increasingly at risk of flooding due to climate change induced sea level rise and increased storminess.
The Estuary is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Protection Area (SPA) for breeding populations of little tern and ringed plover as well as internationally important assemblages of overwintering wildfowl including dark-bellied brent geese and black-tailed godwit. The estuary also forms part of the Blackwater, Crouch, Roach and Colne estuaries Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) to provide protection for native oyster beds. Proposal The proposed project involves the Beneficial Use of Dredged Sediment (BUDS) to deliver beach recharge in the Blackwater Estuary. Sand and gravel will be dredged from Harwich Haven approach channels and port berths as part of routine maintenance dredging and transported to the receptor sites at Cobmarsh Island, Old Hall Point and Tollesbury Wick where they will be deposited. The project builds on beach recharge delivered by the Environment Agency in the 1990's and more recently by the Mersea Harbour Protection Trust in 2022 for flood risk and coastal management. More information on the MHPT project can be found below: Save Mersea Harbour | The Mersea Harbour Protection Trust |
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Project Objectives
- To protect coastal communities in Tollesbury, West Mersea and Salcott-cum-Virley from sea level rise and increasingly stormy weather occuring as a result of climate change.
- To protect the long-term viability and character of the harbours for maritime commercial and leisure activities and the character of West Mersea and Tollesbury.
- To improve the quality and extent of beach nesting bird habitat and to protect existing coastal saltmarsh and coastal floodplain grazing marsh within the estuary from erosion and inundation.
- To better understand the benefits of Natural Flood Management through BUDS through monitoring using novel and innovative techniques.
Project Timeline
Project development (April 2024 - September 2024): The project partners worked together to develop a Full Business Case to submit to the Environment Agency for consideration and to undertake baseline monitoring of the proposed receptor sites.
Licensing and engagement (October 2024 - January 2026): The project was accepted onto the delivery phase of the EA NFM programme following approval of the Full Business Case to the EA. Between October 2024 and January 2026, the project team will be working with contractors to obtain the necessary licences to deliver the works including a full marine licence from the Marine Management Organisation.
Delivery Phase (January 2026 - March 2027): Once all relevant licences and permits are secured, it is hoped that the sediment will be delivered to the receptor sites between early 2026 and early 2027, outside of the beach nesting bird season during the summer.
Project development (April 2024 - September 2024): The project partners worked together to develop a Full Business Case to submit to the Environment Agency for consideration and to undertake baseline monitoring of the proposed receptor sites.
Licensing and engagement (October 2024 - January 2026): The project was accepted onto the delivery phase of the EA NFM programme following approval of the Full Business Case to the EA. Between October 2024 and January 2026, the project team will be working with contractors to obtain the necessary licences to deliver the works including a full marine licence from the Marine Management Organisation.
Delivery Phase (January 2026 - March 2027): Once all relevant licences and permits are secured, it is hoped that the sediment will be delivered to the receptor sites between early 2026 and early 2027, outside of the beach nesting bird season during the summer.
