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The authors are solely responsible for the content of this report. Material included herein does not represent the opinion of the European Community, and the European Community is not responsible for any use that might be made of it.
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The site is immediately adjacent to Donna Nook National Nature Reserve, which is managed by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, and surrounded on its seaward side by the internationally designated Humber Estuary Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special Protected Area (SPA) and Ramsar site. A new flood defence embankment will be built to the rear of the site and the existing embankment will breached, creating intertidal habitats. Shallow wetland scrapes, breeding islands for little tern and natterjack toad breeding pools will also be created.
As with Paull Holme Strays and Alkborough, it is intended as replacement habitat to compensate for both coastal squeeze (on a 1:1 ratio of habitat loss to creation for coastal squeeze) and for direct construction related losses from defence improvement works in the upper estuary (on a 1:3 ratio for habitat loss to creation for direct construction related losses). It is not intended as a flood storage site.
In 2010, East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) refused the Environment Agency (EA) permission to create 130 hectares (321 acres) of new intertidal habitat on the south outer Humber Estuary at Donna Nook, Lincolnshire. Unconvinced by the council's reasons given for its refusal, EA lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate. In the meantime, ELDC invited EA to re-submit their original application.
The resubmitted planning application for this project was approved by ELDC in June 2011. Construction was due to start in April 2012 and Donna Nook is set to provide the compensatory habitat required to allow the EA to continue to improve the flood defences along the southern shore of the outer estuary, including Grimsby and Tetney to Saltfleet.
This new compensatory habitat, which is essential for conserving the Humber's nationally and internationally important wildlife, will be created by managed realignment and involves moving the line of the flood defences inland and breaching the old defences, allowing the sea to flow in and naturally create more habitat.
Through this process, 130 hectares of agricultural land would be transformed into a mosaic of saltmarsh, mudflats, creeks and little islands.
Construction works began on site in May 2012 and are expected to be completed in October 2012 in readiness for a sea wall breach in Summer 2013. Ongoing work is being undertaken to minimise the short-term ecological impacts of the scheme and to ensure that the long-term benefits are realised.
Over the next century, a combination of rising sea levels and improved flood defences on the Humber Estuary will result in the loss of its wildlife-rich intertidal habitats. As these habitats are legally protected by national and international law, the EA is legally obliged to replace these areas by creating new habitat.
Part of the EA's Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy, the Donna Nook managed realignment scheme is one of several projects that are necessary to protect the Humber Estuary and its wildlife.
A managed realignment at Donna Nook would replace valuable intertidal habitat for wildlife that will be lost elsewhere in the outer south estuary. It will benefit thousands of waders and wildfowl including golden plovers, lapwings and redshanks. The habitat could also be used as a valuable nursery for declining commercial fish stocks.
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Donna Nook
Table of content
- 1. Measure description
- 1a. Measure description
- 1b. Status of the measure
- 2. Execution of main effectiveness criteria
- 2a. Degree of synergistic effects and conflicts according to uses
- 3. Additional evaluation criteria in view of EU environmental law
- 3a. Degree of synergistic effects according to Natura 2000 aims
Measure description
Proposed by the Environment Agency, the Donna Nook managed realignment scheme is an integral part of the Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy and will compensate for habitat losses in the Humber estuary as a result of sea level rise. It is located on the south bank of the Humber Estuary and is the third Environment Agency planned managed realignment site on the estuary.The site is immediately adjacent to Donna Nook National Nature Reserve, which is managed by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, and surrounded on its seaward side by the internationally designated Humber Estuary Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special Protected Area (SPA) and Ramsar site. A new flood defence embankment will be built to the rear of the site and the existing embankment will breached, creating intertidal habitats. Shallow wetland scrapes, breeding islands for little tern and natterjack toad breeding pools will also be created.
As with Paull Holme Strays and Alkborough, it is intended as replacement habitat to compensate for both coastal squeeze (on a 1:1 ratio of habitat loss to creation for coastal squeeze) and for direct construction related losses from defence improvement works in the upper estuary (on a 1:3 ratio for habitat loss to creation for direct construction related losses). It is not intended as a flood storage site.
In 2010, East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) refused the Environment Agency (EA) permission to create 130 hectares (321 acres) of new intertidal habitat on the south outer Humber Estuary at Donna Nook, Lincolnshire. Unconvinced by the council's reasons given for its refusal, EA lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate. In the meantime, ELDC invited EA to re-submit their original application.
The resubmitted planning application for this project was approved by ELDC in June 2011. Construction was due to start in April 2012 and Donna Nook is set to provide the compensatory habitat required to allow the EA to continue to improve the flood defences along the southern shore of the outer estuary, including Grimsby and Tetney to Saltfleet.
This new compensatory habitat, which is essential for conserving the Humber's nationally and internationally important wildlife, will be created by managed realignment and involves moving the line of the flood defences inland and breaching the old defences, allowing the sea to flow in and naturally create more habitat.
Through this process, 130 hectares of agricultural land would be transformed into a mosaic of saltmarsh, mudflats, creeks and little islands.
Construction works began on site in May 2012 and are expected to be completed in October 2012 in readiness for a sea wall breach in Summer 2013. Ongoing work is being undertaken to minimise the short-term ecological impacts of the scheme and to ensure that the long-term benefits are realised.
Over the next century, a combination of rising sea levels and improved flood defences on the Humber Estuary will result in the loss of its wildlife-rich intertidal habitats. As these habitats are legally protected by national and international law, the EA is legally obliged to replace these areas by creating new habitat.
Part of the EA's Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy, the Donna Nook managed realignment scheme is one of several projects that are necessary to protect the Humber Estuary and its wildlife.
A managed realignment at Donna Nook would replace valuable intertidal habitat for wildlife that will be lost elsewhere in the outer south estuary. It will benefit thousands of waders and wildfowl including golden plovers, lapwings and redshanks. The habitat could also be used as a valuable nursery for declining commercial fish stocks.