Dawlish Warren: Spit

• Location of Dawlish Warren

  1. South Coast of England, Devon
  2. Sand spit extending 2km north-east across estuary of the River Exe
• Value of Dawlish Warren

  1. Tourism – 480 000 visitors a year
  2. Fishing industry
  3. Leisure
• Physical factors changing Spit

  • Erosion of beach & dunes caused spit to retreat
  • 2013-14 storms caused 5m of sand to be lost from the south faces of dunes
  • Sand transported from South to South West have helped to rebuild some areas
• Human features changing spit

  1. Housing - Bungalows were built on the spit in the 1930s and washed away in the 1940s
  2. Transport - important railway line runs along west of the spit which is protected by rip rap
  3. Flood defenses
  4. 300m long seaway next to revetment
  5. 18 groynes to try to stabilise beach levels
• Threats to Dawlish Warren:

  Tourism and fishing industries make good use

  of spit but put pressure on it, increasing risk

  of erosion & flooding
• 2014 Dawlish Warren Beach Management Scheme

  • Recharging the beach at Dawlish Warren (beach nourishment)
  • Maintaining costal defences at the west end of the spit, near tourist facilities and the village
  • New flood defence near visitor centre
  • Remove gabions to allow sand dunes to follow more natural alignment
• Evaluation of the 2014 Dawlish Warren Beach Management Scheme

  • Critics claim nature reserve puts birds before people but the scheme is intended to protect people, environment and business
  • Expensive but impact of not defending the coat would cost more
  • Farmers lose land for new habitation but they will be financially compensated