Posted on July 24, 2017
Looking to strengthen the Seaton seafront against coastal flooding and erosion, East Devon District Council selected CH2M to develop a beach management plan (BMP) for the coastline from Seaton Hole to Axmouth Harbour, England.
CH2M will work alongside East Devon, experts from the Environment Agency and Natural England and various local community groups to identify management practices and solutions to protect the region’s properties and assets from flooding and erosion for the next 20-30 years.
“We’re pleased to be able to appoint CH2M to develop the beach management plan, which will consider the future management of coastal flooding and erosion along Seaton seafront,” Mark Williams, East Devon District Council chief executive and Axmouth Harbour master said. “The study presents a number of challenges as well as opportunities to improve Seaton’s defences and to enhance the seafront. CH2M’s team has an excellent track record of developing BMPs with local communities to address these needs.”
Split into six stages, the project efforts will include:
- Gathering early stakeholder input to raise awareness of the project and capture local knowledge.
- Conducting site visits and collecting data to get familiar with the location and discuss existing coastline issues.
- Establishing baselines to develop a robust knowledge and evidence base of coastal processes, defence condition/performance, socioenvironmental setting and economic justification, as well as uncertainty, to underpin future management decisions.
- Reviewing current management practices against baselines to assess future solutions.
- Identifying future options to manage coastal flood and erosion risks via a clear and transparent process that considers sustainability; performance; buildability, public safety and amenity uses; implications for adjacent coastlines; and future monitoring and modelling needs.
- Developing a BMP document and action plan that sets out management actions, responsibilities and timings, so the plan can be readily used for ongoing coastal resilience for the next five years and beyond.
“We’re looking forward to applying our tried and proven coastal management approach to help East Devon District Council and the local community achieve an actionable management plan to protect and enhance the region they call home,” said CH2M U.K. Coastal Team Leader Dr. Jonathan Rogers.
Source: ch2m
