tees

• The River Tees has a range of major erosional and depositional landforms along its course
• The River Tees is located in north-east England
• The River Tees is 137 km long and runs from its source at Cross Fell in the Pennine Hills to the North Sea
• The mouth of the River Tees is between Hartlepool and Redcar, near Middlesbrough
• Upper course


  • Narrow V-shaped valley and interlocking spurs
  • Fast-flowing rapids where the river flows over resistant whinstone
  • High Force waterfall (21 m) where less resistant limestone became exposed
• Middle course


  • Lateral erosion on the outside bends of the river
  • Deposition of material on the inside bends
  • Formation of meanders, bluffs and alluvial banks
  • Larger loops forming a flat and wide floodplain
• Lower course


  • Yarm situated on the inside of a large meander
  • Repeated flooding leading to formation of levees (raised banks)
  • Near the estuary, the river slows and deposits material, forming mudflats and salt marshes
• The River Tees is a major UK river that is at high risk of flooding
• The area of Teesside is an important hub for industry, and Teesport is now one of the busiest ports in the UK
• Why flood management schemes are needed

  • Steep V-shaped valleys in the upper course made of impermeable rock, increasing run-off and causing river levels to rise quickly
  • Almost 23,500 people at risk of flooding around the Tees area, with Lower Tees, Yarm and Stockton particularly at risk from tidal floods
• Flood management strategies


  1. Flood gates

  2. Gabions

  3. Flood warnings

  4. Flood plain zoning

  5. Tees Barrage

  6. Cow Green Reservoir
• The Tees Barrage, originally constructed in 1995, is now permanently kept at a high level to reduce the risk of flooding at high tide or during a storm surge
• The Cow Green Reservoir, which was built in the 1970s to provide water to local industries, also helps with flood control
• Future plans include a new embankment to the north of the RSPB Salthome Nature Reserve, improving flood defences and creating 30 hectares of natural habitat for wildlife
• Some people consider hard engineering strategies, such as the Tees Barrage, unsightly


  Despite huge investment in flood defences, flooding continues to disrupt the area
• Flood management is costly

  The Tees Barrage cost £54 million to construct, and the vast number of flood defences around Teesside are expensive to maintain
• Many people opposed the construction of the Cow Green Reservoir


  They believed its construction would damage natural and man-made habitats
• There are 28 environmentally designated sites in the Teesside area at risk from flooding which require protection