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About SES
The Suffolk Estuaries are very important in terms of the human and natural environments they support. As well as the bustling towns and homes that enjoy the benefits of the views of the Heritage Coast and the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the Estuaries are the ‘international airports’ of the bird world providing shelter, nesting sites and food for thousands of waders and wildfowl. The Suffolk estuaries support an abundance of wildlife, and much of the estuaries are designated as being of international importance because of their nature conservation interest. Furthermore, the estuaries are important for tourism and recreation with activities such as sailing, walking and fishing contributing significantly to the local economy.



Why are the Suffolk Estuarine Strategies needed?
The flood defences within the Suffolk estuaries have been built and maintained over many years in order to protect farmland and communities against flooding from the sea.

Certain sections of the flood defences are coming to the end of their current life, with some needing to be replaced over the next few years. Additionally, the threat of future global warming and rising sea levels may increase the risk of flooding if flood defences are not improved. Concerns over the potential damage to businesses, homes, farms, recreation, tourism and important wildlife habitats adjacent to the estuaries prompted the Environment Agency to commission the development of the Suffolk Estuarine Flood Management Strategies.

  

What is a Flood Management Strategy?
The Government encourages operating bodies such as the Environment Agency to consider flood defences in an integrated and sustainable way by looking at the whole of each estuary rather than individual sections. A long term plan, known as a flood management strategy for each estuary, is developed which sets out the policy and objectives for flood defence taking into account a broad range of local interests and issues. Within this framework we can make decisions about providing the most appropriate flood defences and this approach allows us to manage the whole flood defence system more effectively.


Waldringfield

Approach to the Suffolk Estuarine Strategies
The Suffolk Estuarine Flood Management Strategies will be developed over the next two years on a river-by-river basis starting with the Blyth followed by the Alde-Ore Estuary and ending with the Deben Estuary.

Flood management strategies are also currently being developed for the Essex estuaries and the Stour and Orwell estuaries, but do not form part of this present study.


Martello tower on the Alde Ore