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Coastal Management. Coasts. Contents. Living at the coast Uses of the coast Managing the coast Sustainable management. Icons:. Flash activity (these activities are not editable). Web addresses. Printable activity. Teacher’s notes included in the Notes Page. Extension activity.
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Coastal Management Coasts
Contents • Living at the coast • Uses of the coast • Managing the coast • Sustainable management Icons: Flash activity (these activities are not editable) Web addresses Printable activity Teacher’s notes included in the Notes Page Extension activity
Living at the coast Key questions: Living at the coast By the end of this chapter you should have considered these key themes and questions: • How many people live at the coast? • Why do people live at the coast? • Why do people live in Bournemouth?
Living at the coast About 10% of earth’s inhabited environment is located in the world’s coastal zone – a relatively low percentage. However, 60% of the global population live within 60km of the coast. Two thirds of the world’s largest cities are located on coasts and these are developing at a faster rate than those inland. Urbanizationis the movement of people and their activities to urban areas. What do you think the process of people moving to, and developing, the coast is called? Coastalization
Coastalization in Bournemouth Bournemouth is located in Dorset in south-west England. Its population has grown to over 163,000 (2007) and it has the highest population density of anywhere in the south-west. Its birth rate is lower than its death rate so its population growth is due to inward migration. What attracts people to Bournemouth? • pleasant climate • high environmental quality • accessibility – two hours from London by train • industry and employment • numerous amenities.
Uses of the coast Key questions: Uses of the coast By the end of this chapter you should have considered these key themes and questions: • What is the coast used for? • What sort of conflicts can arise at the coast? • How has tourism caused conflict on the Jurassic Coast? • How has industry caused conflict in Southampton?
Uses of the coast The coast is used for many different things, including: • industry • settlement • recreation • tourism • fishing • conservation • energy.
Tourist troubles Tourism is big business. It is Dorset’s biggest employer (over 30% of the population work in related employment) and is vital to the economy. Studland Beach is visited by 1.5 million people each year who come to walk, sunbathe, swim and play. On a summer bank holiday 35,000 people can flock there, causing congestion. What are the impacts? • congestion • litter • trampling of habitats • conflict between beach users • noise.
Coastal conflict: industry The sheltered, deepwater channels of the Test and Itchen estuary form one of the UK’s best natural harbours in Southampton. It is an ideal location for industry; notable examples include Fawley oil refinery and Southampton docks. What else is in competition for the land? • Urban development: Hythe and Fawley are examples of new growth squeezed into the area. • Sewage disposal: This is linked to new housing and development. • Sailing and recreation: Space is needed for boat yards and mooring.
Managing the coast Key questions: Managing the coast By the end of this chapter you should have considered these key themes and questions: • Why are coastlines managed? • What types of coastal defence are there? • What are hard and soft engineering and what are their advantages and disadvantages? • How does geology affect erosion? • What management strategies have been employed at Swanage and Holderness?
Managing the coast Coasts are managed to protect against flooding and to protect against coastal erosion. The loss of coastal land through erosion is a significant problem. Why does it matter? • erosion can increase the flood risk • damage to or loss of man-made features and amenities (socio-economic impact) • loss of natural scenery and landforms. Can you think of any examples of areas of the UK that are very vulnerable to coastal erosion?
Strategies on Swanage Beach Swanage Beach in Dorset employs a variety of hard engineering strategies. Why is it important to manage the beach at Swanage? • clay vale – easily eroded cliffs • tourist resource vital to local economy • settlement, agriculture and communication routes to protect • aesthetic value. What strategies can you identify in the images and are there any problems with them?
Holderness at risk The Holderness coastline in Yorkshire, from Flamborough Head to Spurn Point, has the fastest eroding coastline in Europe. On average, 2m are lost each year, but a single storm in 1967 caused a 10m retreat in Barmston. Since Roman times, 4km of the coast has been lost, taking with it 29 villages. What is under threat? Skipsea, Hornsea and Withernsea coastal resorts; other villages and individual properties; coastal roads; the gas pipeline terminal at Easington; valuable and fertile arable farmland; the Spurn Head coastguard and lifeboat station.
How has geology influenced erosion? Most of the Yorkshire coast near Holderness is boulder clay, a mix of fine clays, sand and boulders. It is sometimes called glacial till, as it was deposited after the last Ice Age. Boulder clay has little resistance to weathering and erosion; both marine and sub-aerial processes. The shallow sloping cliffs are prone to slumping when wet.
Soft engineering at Holderness Beach nourishmenthas been adopted at Hornsea and Mappleton. The sediment is dredged and pumped from off-shore to replace that lost through longshore drift. Coastal zoningidentifies areas where protection costs would exceed possible benefits, and planning permission is refused for development in these areas. Zoning works in conjunction with managed retreatalong stretches of the shore. Residents are encouraged to relocate to protected areas and are given financial help to move from the shore.
Sustainable management Key questions: Sustainable management By the end of this chapter you should have considered these key themes and questions: • What is integrated coastal management? • What are Shoreline Management Plans and how are they put into action? • What is cost-benefit analysis? • How has Freiston Shore been managed? • What has happened in Happisburgh?
Integrated coastal management In the past, coastal management has been the job of local councils. There is now a move towards integrated coastal managementwhich recognises the eleven sediment cellsaround the coast of England and Wales as the basis for Shoreline Management Plans(SMPs). Each cell is broken into smaller sub-cells and SMPs devise plans that apply to the whole stretch of coast within a cell, rather than the previous isolated approach. Why do you think this approach is beneficial?
Shoreline Management Plans Shoreline Management Plans involve detailed consultation with local interest groups, so that solutions can be found which are tailored to that particular sub-cell and community needs. SMPs consider four options. Do you know what they are? • Do nothing: Existing defences are allowed to collapse. • Hold the line: Use hard engineering to maintain the coastline. • Advance the line: bring the coastline forward by building out to sea. • Retreat the line: Allow the coast to erode back to a certain line. Managed retreat at Freiston Shore
Cost-benefit analysis Cost-benefit analysisis evaluating the social and economic costs of a plan against the social and economic benefits. What costs and benefits would be considered for a sea wall proposal? Costs: • design • materials • transport • construction • maintenance. Benefits: • value of land and features saved • savings in relocating people • savings in employment and tourism preservation. Why is cost-benefit analysis difficult in reality?
Unhappy in Happisburgh A policy of no active intervention at Happisburgh, north Norfolk has been adopted after the revetments built in 1958 were broken up in a storm in 1990. As much as 5–8m a year is lost to the sea here due to easily eroded, low, sand and clay cliffs. However, it has not been considered economically viable or environmentally desirable to maintain hard engineering. This decision has been highly controversial, and the local community has set up a pressure group called the Coastal Concern Action Group (CCAG).
