Ecological Effects of Re-Building Beaches in Wales

Beach re-building - also known as beach nourishment, is the process of adding sediment to a beach to make it higher and wider. In an era of sea level rise, beaches are under serious threat - many are already adversely affected by manmade defences that have reduced the natural sediment supply. Beaches are a key natural, social and economic resource for Wales - they play a vital role in sustaining coastal tourism and underpin important nature conservation and landscape sites and acts as 'natural' coastal defences, dissipating wave energy, helping to protect both natural and manmade structures. During 2009/2010 a Steering Group comprising The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), The Crown Estate, British Marine Aggregates Producers Association (BMAPA), Welsh Government, and the Environment Agency Wales (EAW) commissioned a Pilot Study to begin investigating the issues relating to the use of aggregates (sand, shingle, gravel, etc.) for beach nourishment in Wales, specifically in relation to the potential requirements for the quantity of material that may be needed to maintain Welsh beaches at current and future risk. The study is, in essence, a short data and literature review to establish the current level of knowledge regarding the ecological impacts (both positive and negative) of beach nourishment on the intertidal ecology of Welsh beaches. The potential impacts of more 'traditional' hard engineering and the use beach control structures are relatively well understood by coastal engineers, while the potential impacts of beach nourishment are less well known by those responsible for all aspects of beach management. The aim of the study is to look at the ecological effects (including potential benefits or adverse effects) of re-building beaches. This considers the most appropriate places for beach re-building, the methods used (including timing of works) and the suitability of different types of material.

Identifier: NRW_DS114892

Alternative Title

Effeithiau ecolegol ailadeiladu traethau yng Nghymru

Metadata Language: English

Lineage: Ten case study beaches were chosen to represent a range of issues around the coast of Wales and to include sandy beaches, sand and shingle beaches, high and low tourist areas and different flood and erosion risks. Using Phase 1 Intertidal maps provided by former Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) an area on each of the 10 study beaches was identified where beach nourishement might take place. The areas were reviewed by CCW experts and amendements made. Additional species and habitats that were considered important were also included in the data study. A literature study was carried out on beach nourishment projects as well as post nourishement studies to look at the sensitivity of the study areas to beach nourishment. The search was focused using the habitats as identified in each of the study beaches and the potential impact on these. This is a follow up to the 2009/10 beach nourishement pilot study and the Phase 2 project report that looked at the practicalities of rebuilding beaches.

Dataset Reference Date (Publication): 2012-03-31

Temporal Extent

Begin date: 2009-01-01

End date: 2012-03-31

Topic category

Geoscientific information

Owner

Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales

http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en

Originator

Atkins Ltd

Atkins Ltd, Longcross Court, 47 Newport Road, CARDIFF, CF24 0AD

http://www.atkinsglobal.com/locations/europe/uk/wales

Extent

Geographic Extent: Wales (WLS)

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword: benthic boundary layer

Format Type and Description

Geographic Information System ()

Specification

[A] Study area boundaries are held as MapInfo tab file. [B] Literature Review and report held as word doc and pdf.

Data quality

Quality Scope: Dataset

Conformity: Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services
Explanation
Degree: false

Lineage: Ten case study beaches were chosen to represent a range of issues around the coast of Wales and to include sandy beaches, sand and shingle beaches, high and low tourist areas and different flood and erosion risks. Using Phase 1 Intertidal maps provided by former Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) an area on each of the 10 study beaches was identified where beach nourishement might take place. The areas were reviewed by CCW experts and amendements made. Additional species and habitats that were considered important were also included in the data study. A literature study was carried out on beach nourishment projects as well as post nourishement studies to look at the sensitivity of the study areas to beach nourishment. The search was focused using the habitats as identified in each of the study beaches and the potential impact on these. This is a follow up to the 2009/10 beach nourishement pilot study and the Phase 2 project report that looked at the practicalities of rebuilding beaches.

Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2008-06-01

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme

Keywords

NRW Thesaurus

beach management
beach nourishment
Talacre
Abergele
Traeth Crugan
Morfa Dyffryn
Broadwater
Tenby Beach
Port Eynon
Swansea Bay
Aberavon
Porthcawl

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2023-12-31

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords

Keywords

SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary

Coastal geomorphology

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Revision): 2021-01-06

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml

Code: British National Grid (EPSG::27700)

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

NRW Related Title: Ecological effects of re-building beaches on intertidal habitats in Wales

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Restriction type: Other restrictions

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Limitations: no limitations

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Other constraints: The following data is considered OS derived data and is therefore jointly owned by NRW and the Ordnance Survey. NRW may release, publish or disseminate this data freely; providing recipients are made aware of use restrictions (See general use restrictions).

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Use constraints type: Other restrictions

Other constraints: ©CNC/NRW and © Crown copyright (2012). All rights reserved. Natural Resources Wales, AC0000849444. Third parties seeking to re-use this data require a Licence issued by NRW. It allows re-use, reproduction and dissemination in any format or medium but only for non-commercial purposes, according to the terms and conditions of the Licence. Those seeking commercial re-use require a commercial licence available from the OS.

Metadata

File Identifier: 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313134383932 XML

Metadata Language: English

Resource type: Dataset

Metadata Date: 2024-12-09T12:42:13.838Z

Metadata Standard Name: NRW

Metadata Standard Version: 1.0

pointOfContact

Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales

http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en

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Ecological Effects of Re-Building Beaches in Wales

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