Cornwall Council is the 'Coastal Protection Authority'. This gives us responsibilities under the Coast Protection Act (1949).
As Risk Management Authorities:
- The Environment Agency manages flood risks from the sea and
- Cornwall Council manages coastal erosion.
The Environment Agency plays a strategic overview role.
The Shoreline Management Plan (SMP)
The main policy document for the future management of the coast is the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP).
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Coastal Advisory Group (CISCAG) manages the SMP's:
- implementation
- governance
- further development
CISCAG reports to the South West Coast Group.
The South West Coast Group represents coastal management authorities. The region includes organisations from Dorset, around Cornwall's coast and up to Somerset. They then report to the South West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee ((SWRFCC). They report to Central Government through DEFRA.
Making Space for Sand
Making Space for Sand is a coastal resilience innovation project. The project looks at how we can use sand dunes as a natural defence against flooding and coastal erosion. Dunes will also play a part in protecting us from predicted future sea level rise and storms due to climate change.
The project is one of 25 projects funded by Defra as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programme (FCRIP). This Environment Agency manages this programme. The programme aims to drive innovation in flood and coastal resilience and adaptation to a changing climate.
The aims of the Making Space for Sand project are to:
- increase understanding of problems associated with sea level rise and coastal erosion
- increase understanding of the impact this will have on coastal communities
- encourage a more sustainable use and development of the coastal fringe
- allow for a more natural, ecosystem approach to coastal management.
40 locations along the Cornish coastline have been identified to benefit from the project. All sites will undergo basic assessment, but outputs will be more significant at locations where data will be of a wider value.
The project, with the support of partners, will undertake a range of activities, including:
- Information gathering, comparing past and present beach and dune conditions
- Data modelling to evaluate changes and envisage how our coastline might look in the future
- Ecological assessments about the condition and biodiversity of the dunes
- Coast Snap, a community science project. Coast Snap gathers photographic evidence of how our beaches are changing
- Community engagement to facilitate adaptation and resilience plans and improved dune management
- Identifying interventions which will help build community resilience
For more detail about the project's aims, objectives, activities and how to get involved please visit the Making Space for Sand Website.
