ABPmer and Capita Symonds with URS have been contracted by the
Environment Agency to record the sediment properties in the
intertidal zone of the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary
coastlines.
The study, which will consider the coastline
between Sharpness and Porlock Bay, is being undertaken to
understand the variation in the bed characteristics in front of
coastal defences in order to assist with their future
management.
Capita Symonds’ Flood Risk Management team
will project manage the scheme which will see ABPmer’s in-house
survey team take surface and sub-surface sediment samples at 1km
spacing near Mean High Water and across the intertidal area. The
collected sediments will then be characterised through particle
size analysis and the results will be subsequently available via
the EA SANDS database.
Peter Whitehead, ABPmer Project Director said,
“We are delighted to be undertaking this study for the Environment
Agency. ABPmer has a long established survey team that has
undertaken a number of similar field sampling studies with follow
up laboratory analysis, data presentation and interpretation.
The fieldwork is expected to take around no
more than six weeks and comprises a number of phases to take
account of tidal conditions relative to daylight hours. The
programme has been worked out with flexibility in mind to take
account the potential for inclement weather. The final report is
due at the end of March 2012.”