Description • Monitoring • Effectiveness of the scheme • Further information

Goosemoor, Devon

Description

Goosemoor is a six hectare grass field site on the edge of the Exe Estuary in Devon and is owned and managed by the RSPB. Although designated as part of the Exe estuary SSSI/SPA the site has no catchment contributing to the water balance and is therefore difficult to manage optimally as a freshwater wet grassland habitat. Bird usage within the area has also been low. It was felt by the RSPB to be typical of sites where RTE can be considered, with inland infrastructure vulnerable to flooding, ecologically poor habitat and where intertidal recreation would represent an enhancement.

The primary objectives of the Goosmoor RTE site were:

To build an understanding of the potential uses of RTE in the UK, where Managed Realignment is not feasible;

• To demonstrate the flood defence/management benefits of RTE as a cost-effective source of compensatory habitat;
• To improve the biodiversity of a potentially important area; and
• To develop the project in partnership with the Environment Agency, Defra, English Nature, and other coastal decision makers.

Internal creek network at Goosemoor (AJ Bellamy)

Following the relevant permissions work commenced on the site to make it more suitable for tidal inundation. Work included:

• Excavation of existing drains and ditches to create the new creek system
• Reprofiling of ground levels to create the intertidal habitat areas
• Creation of a secondary bank along the foot of the railway embankment
• Installation of a 1.0m internal diameter pipe through the sea wall with a Self Regulating Tidegate (SRT) on the seaward side, and a sluice in the inland side, to retain on-site water
• Excavation of a channel to link the River Clyst with the SRT and pipe

Following completion of the engineering works the site was officially opened on 17 th December 2004.

Self regulating tidegate imported from the USA (AJ Bellamy)

Monitoring

An extensive monitoring programme has been established involving the following:

Parameter	Method	Frequency
Water levels	Automated data logger	Weekly
Accretion rates	Measure depth of accretion at 40 random points	Annually (Aug)
Conductivity	Conductivity meter	Weekly
Vegetation	1x1m quadrats at 40 random points	Annually (Aug)
Habitats	Map extent of main habitats/NVC communities	Annually (Aug
Bird usage (throughout year)	Regular counts	6 high tides per mth 6 low tides per mth
Bird usage (tidal cycle)	Count at 10 min intervals from high to low tide	6 through winter
Benthic Invertebrates	Record densities, species and size classes in benthic core samples from 40 random quadrats	Annually (Nov)

Effectiveness of the scheme

As the scheme was only completed in December 2004 no results as yet are available. However winter bird counts were carried out between January and March 2005 with Lapwing, Wigeon and Curlew numerically dominant. More comprehensive results on water levels, bird usage and overall site development will be available later in 2005.

Further information

Jane Brookhouse
RSPB Area Reserves Manager (Somerset, Wiltshire and Devon)
RSPB West Sedgemoor Office,
Red Hill
Curry Rivel
Langport
Somerset
TA10 0PH