GLOSSARY

We have been asked a number of times what is meant by the term "Estuarise"!  This term was invented by the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Unit as short hand for "to participate in the management of an Estuary".  It is intended to cover all those who have statutory responsibilities for decisions taken in relation to preparing an overarching management plan for the Alde and Ore Estuary and those in the local community who wish to have a say in the future of the Estuary. 

We reproduce below an Environment Agency guide (with permission and thanks) to terms which frequently arise in discussions about flood management strategy.

Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPS)
A strategy for conserving and enhancing wild species and wildlife habitats in the UK.
 
 
Brushwood polders
Low wooden stakes are driven into intertidal area and interwoven with brushwood in an attempt to create areas of shelter against waves or strong currents to encourage silt to settle.
 
 
Coastal Habitat Management Plans (CHaMPS)
Ensure compliance of future SMPs and Coastal Defence Strategies with the Habitats and Birds Directives.
 
 
Climate change
Ultraviolet radiation passes through the Earths atmosphere and warms the planet's surface before being reflected back into space as infrared radiation. Gases such as carbon dioxide and methane are called Greenhouse gases, which trap some of the heat from radiation in the atmosphere. The concentration of these gases has increased dramatically as a result of human activity therefore trapping more heat and thus causing global temperatures to increase and climates to change.
 
 
Coastal squeeze
A proces whereby areas of saltmarsh or mudflat become trapped between the seawall and the rising sea levels and erode away
 
 
Compensatory habitat
EU legalisation states that to offset losses of natural habitat as a result of coastal squeeze new habitat shall be created.
 
 
Coastal protection
Those measures taken under the Coastal Protection Act 1949 to protect against coastal erosion and undertaken largely by the Local Authorities and private landowners.
 
 
Compulsory purchase order
A piece of land required for development is purchased regardless of consent from the landowner in accordance with statutory procedures. Landowners affected by CPOs will receive compensation reflecting the loss they have sustained as a direct result.
 
 
Culvert
A covered channel, pipe or drain which carries a watercourse beneath a building, a structure or an embankment or which is below ground level.
 
 
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
The UK government department responsible for flood defence policy, the environment and animal welfare and regulation of the food industry.
 
 
Environmental
Of, relating to, or associated with the environment. Or relating to or being concerned with the ecological impact of altering the environment.
 
 
Environmental Impact
Impacts on human beings, ecosystems and man-made capital resulting from changes in environmental quality.
 
 
Eutrophication
The enrichment of water by nutrients, especially nitrogen and/or phosphorous, which cause accelerated growth of algae and high plant life. Eutrophication can lead to changes in the ecological balance of the water body and deterioration in water quality.
 
 
Flood defence
The Water Resources Act (1991) gives the Environment Agency general supervision over all matters related to Flood Defence. The Agency has the main responsibly for the prevention of flooding of lowland under the Land Drainage Act (1991). The Agency's powers are permissive thus it does not have to maintain flood defences if it is deemed no longer necessary.
 
 
Flood defence condition
The condition of defences defending low lying areas adjacent to the coast or a river against flooding.
 
 
Flood defence structures
These include sluices, weirs, barriers, locks, outfall culverts and pumping stations.
 
 
Foreshore recharge
Area of beach between mean low and mean high water mark where material is placed in front of existing seawalls and defence.
 
 
Groynes
Fixed structures extending out from the seawall used to control erosion or promote deposition.
 
 
Habitat
The living place of a plant or animal or a community of plants and animals OR terrestrial or aquatic areas distinguished by geographic, living and non-living features, whether entirely natural or semi-natural (The EC habitats directive).
 
 
EU habitats directive
To provide for conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora in Europe.
 
 
Hold the line
Retaining the existing flood defence line by carrying out maintenance and repairs as necessary.
 
 
hydrographic
Relating to the science of hydrography which is the scientific description and analysis of the physical conditions, boundaries, flow, and related characteristics of the earth's surface waters.
 
 
Hydrology
The science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation of water.
 
 
Hydronamic modelling
Allows water movements, speeds and directions to be simulated on a computer to give a representation of how the estuary processes work and predicts how future processes (as a result of sea level rise or changes to flood defences) might behave.
 
 
Intertidal zone
The range of depths between highest and lowest extent of the tides.
 
 
Invertebrates
Any organism that does not have a skull, vertebral column and well developed brain. Examples of such an animal would be the rag worm Nereis diversicolor. Commonly found in large numbers buried in the mud and sands of our coasts and estuaries.
 
 
Isotactic adjustment
Vertical changes of the land brought about by geological processes that have occurred locally.
 
 
LIDAR
Is an acronym for LIght Detection And Ranging. This is a technique which can be used to measure the distance, speed, rotation, chemical composition and concentration of a remote target where the target can be a clearly defined object, such as a vehicle, or a diffuse object such as a smoke plume or clouds. The Agency uses an aeroplane to fly over the LIDAR target.
 
 
Local Flood Defence Committee (LFDC)
LFDCs have delegated powers from Regional Flood Defence Committees to discharge the Agency's flood defence and land drainage functions in the region.
 
 
Limited intervention
Maintenance and repair of flood defences only if categorised for health and safety reasons.
 
 
Managed realignment
Breaching of a seawall at a designated site to allow the tide to inundate the site over each tidal cycle.
 
 
Protected habitats
Habitats protected against damaging impacts (usually human influenced) by various international, European and national legislation. For example important wetlands protected under the Ramsar Convention.
 
 
Ramsar treaty
Provides the framework for the conservation of wetlands and their resources.
 
 
Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
The Habitats Directive lists important species and habitats that if present in a Member State should be considered for designation within a Special Area of Conservation.
 
 
Saltmarsh
An intertidal habitat comprising salt tolerant vegetation. Frequency and duration of tidal inundation determines which plants and animal species are present. Saltmarshes are bisected by meandering creek systems, which allow tidal waters to drain in and out. The creeks slow down tidal energy and the marsh plants slow down wave energy.
 
 
Sea level rise
The rise and fall of sea levels throughout time in response to global climate and local tectonic changes.
 
 
Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs)
A national initiative for the future planning of the coastline taking a holistic approach to include all coastal authorities. The document brings together information pertaining to coastal issues such as flooding, erosion, coastal process and human and environmental needs.
 
 
Special Protection Area (SPA)
An area identified and protected under the EU Birds Directive as being internationally important for breeding, over-wintering and migrating birds.
 
 
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
The Wildlife and Countryside Act bestows a duty on the Government to designate land as an SSSI if the land is important in scientific terms due to it's flora or fauna or geological features. SSSIs are now afforded greater protection under the Countryside Rights of Way Act (CROW) 2000.
 
 
Strategy
A long term plan, known as a flood defence management strategy, is developed and sets out the policy and objectives for flood defence taking into account a broad range of local interests and issues.