Estuaries
Estuaries are a focus for economic development. They also host some of the UK’s most important wildlife and natural habitats. Sustainable management of these areas poses many challenges.
ABPmer works with a wide range of industries, regulators and nature-conservation groups in these areas to cultivate sustainable solutions using a multi-disciplinary systems-based approach to management.
Our client base includes ports, harbours, marinas, flood-defence authorities, property developers, local authorities, the powergeneration industry and pipeline operators.
We also undertake leading research for the Government and its agencies, focused on providing systems-based assessment tools, policy advice and data-management solutions. Click on an image to the right to find out more.
Immingham Outer Harbour
ABPmer led the environmental-assessment studies for this multi-berth ro/ro facility on the Humber Estuary. The project required the design and assessment of the development and its construction, along with two managed realignment schemes to provide compensation under the Habitats Regulations. The project resulted in the production of three environmental-impact assessments, provision of detailed information for three appropriate assessments, a dredge operational management plan for the construction and a detailed 10-year environmental management and monitoring strategy. The ro-ro facility and the managed realignment schemes all became operational in 2006.
Severn CHaMP
A Severn Estuary Coastal Habitat Management Plan (CHaMP) was produced on behalf of the Environment Agency by a consortium involving Jacobs Babtie, ABP Marine Environmental Research, and Royal Haskoning. A CHaMP is intended to provide a high level framework to advise the management decisions that may affect sites designated under the (so called) Habitats and Bird Directives and the Ramsar convention. CHaMPs are considered necessary where such sites are located on, or adjacent to, dynamic coastlines and where other activities by flood and coastal defence may significantly affect the management of the (semi-) natural system. CHaMPs help provide a way of fulfilling the UK government's obligations, to avoid damage and deterioration to Natura 2000 and Ramsar sites. They are non-statutory and set out the best available scientific conclusions to inform the subsequent development of Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs), flood and coastal defence strategies, and planning maintenance and capital works.To meet the requirements of the Habitats Regulations, a number of coastal and estuary flood management strategies have developed Coastal Habitat Management Plans (CHaMPs) to balance habitat gains and losses as a result of flood defence works. ABPmer undertook the numerical modelling, morphological assessment and evaluation of ecological responses for the Severn CHaMP. The project was short listed for an Environment Agency Innovation Award.
Royal Yacht Squadron – Cowes
ABPmer undertook numerical wave modelling to investigate the impacts and provide information to the design of the Royal Yacht Squadron Yacht Haven at Cowes. The development was then environmentally assessed, providing information for appropriateassessment in support of the planning application. The Haven became operational in 2006.
Wallasea
ABPmer supported the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the identification and evaluation of suitable managed realignment sites to provide compensation for habitats lost following port developments in the 1990s. ABPmer subsequently led the environmental design of the scheme through the application of numerical modelling and morphological evaluation techniques and the formal environmental impact assessment and provision of information for an appropriate assessment for the chosen site at Wallasea Island on the Crouch Estuary, Essex. The scheme was completed in 2006, creating 108 ha of new mudflat and saltmarsh habitat. ABPmer continues to manage the long-term monitoring programme to assess the physical and ecological development of the site.