Case study for soft engineering - Wallasea Island

Question 1

Where is Wallasea located? (Wallasea coasts)

Answer 1

Essex

Question 2

What were the issues with the past? (Wallasea coasts)

Answer 2

• Lack of maintenance to the Northshore wall
• 2004 only protection (sea wall) collapsed
• high risk of flooding

Question 3

What are some of the risks to the area? (Wallasea coasts)

Answer 3

• Sea level rise has eroded marshlands and wetlands
• 2,700 properties exist in that area
• 9,500 hectares of land under threat

Question 4

What management strategy was chosen? (Wallasea coasts)

Answer 4

Realignment

Question 5

Why was this strategy chosen? (Wallasea coasts)

Answer 5

• attraction of wildlife
• reducing the damage to surrounding area
• no adverse effect
• no opposition

Question 6

What was stage 1 of this process? (Wallasea coasts)

Answer 6

• build fresh water dyke
• retain wall built
• develop new beach

Question 7

What was stage 2 of this process? (Wallasea coasts)

Answer 7

• 700,000 tonnes of mud pumped

- only clean materials used

Question 8

What was stage 3 of this process? (Wallasea coasts)

Answer 8

• final landscaping

- Wetland covered

Question 9

How much was the final cost of the project? (Wallasea coasts)

Answer 9

£8 million