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ABPmer
Quayside Suite
Medina Chambers
Town Quay
Southampton
SO14 2AQ
1995
Beneficial use of dredged sediment
United Kingdom
Blackwater Estuary (Essex)
0.8783
51.7315
Economic Need/Enhacement
Habitat Enhancement
At Pewit Island sand/shingle was placed using material from Harwich which was 'rainbowed' onto the site via the Sospan Trailing suction hopper dredger. This eased the rapid erosion and provided a very successful nesting site for little tern (60 pairs in year 1).
This pumped Harwich shingle was after year 1 backed with a brushwood fence to ease migration of that material onto the salting. The shingle washed against it, raised itself to HAT and stabilised (the same method was used on the shingle recharge on Cob Marsh and Old Hall Point).
In 1992 and 1995, a total of 2,529m³ and 2,646m³ respectively of dredged sediment was pumped on site. No retaining devices were used as the sediment is allowed to dissipate. The sediment is generally placed on the western point of the island.
The more regular silt sediment recharge work is done by pumping marina dredgings through a pipe from Bradwell.
The silts are pumped onto the top of the salting and formed a stable marsh out of what was an eroding system.
This work is ongoing.
ABPmer
Quayside Suite
Medina Chambers
Town Quay
Southampton
SO14 2AQ