Using Monitoring Data to Make a Difference: Cornwall Dune Management 6 th October 2009 Anne-Marie Moon, Dr Nigel Pontee, Dr Jonathan Rogers & Robert Webbon (Halcrow) Martin Clemo (Cornwall Council)

Using Monitoring Data to Make a Difference: Cornwall Dune Management Background Monitoring Data Sand Dune Inventory Detailed Studies Sand Dune Management Guide Pilot Dune Management Plans Future Applications of Monitoring Data Conclusion

Background Cornwall comprises 15% of UK coastal dune complexes The dunes are an important natural resource for their: Coast defence function Tourism value Habitat value Pressures on dunes in Cornwall principally arise from: Natural processes e.g. sea level rise, wave action Tourism e.g. high visitor numbers, trampling, development Combination of pressures means that dune management is required

Background Main elements of Strategy Sand Dune Inventory Sand Dune Management Guide 2 Pilot Dune Management Plans

Monitoring Data South West Regional Coastal Monitoring Programme LiDAR Data Topographic Profile Survey Data Topographic Baseline Survey Data Hydrographic Survey Data Ortho-rectified Photography Non Ortho-rectified Photography Use of existing data minimises duplication of survey work and can provide a longer data set

Sand Dune Inventory Identification of dune sites

25 Dune Sites

Sand Dune Inventory Identification of dune sites Dune Area

Sand Dune Inventory Identification of dune sites Dune Area Backshore Characteristics Key Morphological Features

Perranporth

Dune Inventory Identification of Dune Sites Dune Area Backshore Characteristics Key Morphological Features Site Specific Issues

Harvey’s Towans Hayle Estuary

Detailed Studies To provide more detailed investigation into coastal processes and impacts affecting the study sites, and to aid the development of the Sand Dune Management guidance Sediment Budget Analysis Sand Dune Management Manual

Sediment Budget Monitoring data enabled assessment of contemporary changes in beach and dunes Monitoring data applied alongside other available information including historical mapping and literature reviews “Accounting of the rate of sediment supply from all sources (credits) and the rate of sediment loss to all sinks (debits) from an area of coastline to obtain the net sediment supply/ loss” Dune and beach management issues frequently related to the sediment budget

Aerial Photograph Analysis Environment Agency 2000 SWRCMP 2006/2007 Assessed changes in dune front and stream position

Fistral Beach Profile Locations

Profile Data Analysis Cross Sectional Area calculation using Halcrow’s SANDS database Assessment of Profile Form

Fistral Beach – Profile Analysis

Sand Dune Management Guide Combines information from the Dune Inventory and Detailed Studies Overview of national and internationally implemented sand dune management techniques with references for detailed information Discussion of potential management techniques for the 9 detailed study sites

Pilot Dune Management Plans Two Pilot Dune Management Plans (DPMs) Fistral Beach Harvey’s Towans Pilot DMP’s contain Dune Action Plan Action Indicators and Responses Emergency Indicators and Responses Recommendations for future monitoring

Future Applications of Monitoring Data Current analysis based on data since 2006 and provided information on recent short term changes Longer data set will provide more information to enable identification of long term trends Continued monitoring to enable adaptive management Continued monitoring to identify when action and emergency conditions are reached Repeat LiDAR surveys to monitor features further into the dune system Repeat bathymetric data to provide information on sediment transfer further offshore

Conclusion Within the project monitoring data was able to make a difference through: Identification of 25 dune sites Identification of dune characteristics Identification of key pressures and impacts at each site Contribution to understanding the sediment budget Contribution to Sand Dune Management Guide Contribution to Pilot Dune Management Plans

Thank you Using Monitoring Data to Make a Difference: Cornwall Dune Management