Case study:Lower Otter Restoration Project: Difference between revisions
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For more information on the PACCo initiative, visit: www.pacco-interreg.com | For more information on the PACCo initiative, visit: www.pacco-interreg.com | ||
|Monitoring surveys and results=The Lower Otter Restoration Project is returning the Lower Otter Valley and Otter Estuary to a more natural state and function by harnessing nature-based solutions. Without pre-emptive adaptation, the valley would not be sustainable in the face of climate change, the effects of which are already being felt. These impacts are further exacerbated by man-made modifications for commercial and agricultural purposes that have been implemented over the last 200 years. | |||
The main components of LORP are the reconnection of the River Otter and the reintroduction of wetland habitat. This habitat acts as a natural filter for pollutants, traps carbon, and increases biodiversity by providing important feeding and breeding grounds for a variety of species of wading birds, fish and invertebrates. | |||
By strategically breaching embankments, including a final 70-meter breach, and creating a new network of natural channels, the tide will flow back into its historic floodplain, providing a multitude of benefits, including the above. | |||
Through these natural solutions, LORP demonstrates that it is possible to adapt to the challenges of climate change, reverse significant habitat and biodiversity loss, and improve degraded systems by working alongside nature, rather than against it. | |||
The project is not only improving the ecological health of the Otter Valley and Estuary, but also providing important socio-economic benefits for local communities, such as improved flood resilience and infrastructure, and enhanced wellbeing, health, and recreational activities. | |||
This makes LORP a shining example of how natural processes can be harnessed to provide multiple benefits to wildlife, the environment, and people. By working with nature, the project is helping to create a more resilient, sustainable, and brighter future for the Otter Valley, its estuary, and surrounding communities. | |||
|Project title=Lower Otter Restoration Project | |Project title=Lower Otter Restoration Project | ||
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{{Project background | |||
|Reach length directly affected=18000 | |||
|Project started=2021-01-01 | |||
|Works completed=2023-10-01 | |||
|Total1 cost=3000 | |||
|Funding sources=Environment Agency, European Regional Development Fund | |||
|Supplementary funding information=a managed realignment scheme delivered by the EA with a budget input of approx. £30 million | |||
£8.5 million of co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg V A France (Channel) England programme (2021 to 2023) | |||
}} | |||
{{Case study status | {{Case study status | ||
Revision as of 13:12, 16 September 2024
Project overview
| Status | Complete |
|---|---|
| Project web site | http://www.lowerotterrestorationproject.co.uk |
| Themes | Estuary, Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity |
| Country | England |
| Main contact forename | Lydia |
| Main contact surname | Burgess Gamble |
| Main contact user ID | |
| Contact organisation | Environment Agency |
| Contact organisation web site | http://clintondevon.com |
| Partner organisations | Clinton Devon Estates |
| Parent multi-site project | |
| This is a parent project encompassing the following projects |
No |
Project summary
The Lower Otter Restoration Project (LORP) in Budleigh Salterton, East Devon, is a flagship intertidal habitat restoration, climate adaptation, and infrastructure improvement project delivered by the Environment Agency in partnership with the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust and Clinton Devon Estates.
LORP has been majority funded by the UK government, with £8.5 million of co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg V A France (Channel) England programme (2021 to 2023). It is the English arm of a cross-border initiative called ‘Promoting Adaptation to Changing Coasts’ (PACCo) and is delivering pre-emptive climate change adaptation in the Otter Valley by working with nature to provide benefits for people and the environment.
As part of the initiative, work is also going ahead on a similar project (Basse Saâne 2050) in the Saâne Valley in Normandy, France. Left unchanged, both valleys’ landscapes would not be sustainable in the face of climate change after centuries of human modification.
The aim of LORP is to demonstrate that it is possible to collaborate with stakeholders in estuarine regions and work with nature, rather than against it, to improve the resilience of coastal communities and their environments.
It is achieving this by increasing flood resilience through greatly improved infrastructure, reversing biodiversity loss (record-breaking levels of wading birds have already been seen regularly in the area since wetland development began), undoing the negative impacts of man-made modifications and restoring significant habitat loss, increasing carbon capture, and building awareness of climate adaptation and nature-based solutions through a range of educational resources and visits. LORP’s unique approach and methodology has also been shared through the publication of the PACCo Guide – a comprehensive framework for nature-based adaptation and management.
The project began in spring 2021 and was completed in early autumn 2023. The works include a 70-meter breach in embankments to reconnect the Otter Estuary to its historic floodplain; restoring 55ha of wetland habitat; the construction of a 30-meter span flood-resilient, raised road and road bridge, as well as a new footbridge over the location of the future breach to ensure continuity of the South West Coast Path; the relocation of Budleigh Salterton Cricket Club away from the floodplain; raising and improving public footpaths, and creating wildlife viewing areas.
To find out more about the Lower Otter Restoration Project, visit: www.lowerotterrestorationproject.co.uk
For more information on the PACCo initiative, visit: www.pacco-interreg.com
Monitoring surveys and results
The Lower Otter Restoration Project is returning the Lower Otter Valley and Otter Estuary to a more natural state and function by harnessing nature-based solutions. Without pre-emptive adaptation, the valley would not be sustainable in the face of climate change, the effects of which are already being felt. These impacts are further exacerbated by man-made modifications for commercial and agricultural purposes that have been implemented over the last 200 years.
The main components of LORP are the reconnection of the River Otter and the reintroduction of wetland habitat. This habitat acts as a natural filter for pollutants, traps carbon, and increases biodiversity by providing important feeding and breeding grounds for a variety of species of wading birds, fish and invertebrates. By strategically breaching embankments, including a final 70-meter breach, and creating a new network of natural channels, the tide will flow back into its historic floodplain, providing a multitude of benefits, including the above.
Through these natural solutions, LORP demonstrates that it is possible to adapt to the challenges of climate change, reverse significant habitat and biodiversity loss, and improve degraded systems by working alongside nature, rather than against it.
The project is not only improving the ecological health of the Otter Valley and Estuary, but also providing important socio-economic benefits for local communities, such as improved flood resilience and infrastructure, and enhanced wellbeing, health, and recreational activities.
This makes LORP a shining example of how natural processes can be harnessed to provide multiple benefits to wildlife, the environment, and people. By working with nature, the project is helping to create a more resilient, sustainable, and brighter future for the Otter Valley, its estuary, and surrounding communities.
Lessons learnt
Project background
| Reach length directly affected (m) | 1800018,000 m <br />18 km <br />1,800,000 cm <br /> |
|---|---|
| Project started | 2021-01-01 |
| Works started | |
| Works completed | 2023-10-01 |
| Project completed | |
| Total cost category | |
| Total cost (k€) | 30003,000 k€ <br />3,000,000 € <br /> |
| Benefit to cost ratio | |
| Funding sources | Environment Agency, European Regional Development Fund |
Cost for project phases
| Phase | cost category | cost exact (k€) | Lead organisation | Contact forename | Contact surname |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation and design | |||||
| Stakeholder engagement and communication | |||||
| Works and works supervision | |||||
| Post-project management and maintenance | |||||
| Monitoring |
Supplementary funding information
a managed realignment scheme delivered by the EA with a budget input of approx. £30 million £8.5 million of co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg V A France (Channel) England programme (2021 to 2023)
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Image gallery
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Catchment and subcatchment
Site
Reasons for river restoration
Measures
MonitoringHydromorphological quality elements
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Physico-chemical quality elements
Any other monitoring, e.g. social, economic
Monitoring documents
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Additional links and references
Supplementary InformationEdit Supplementary Information
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