EXETER, England- Looking to strengthen the Seaton seafront against coastal flooding and erosion, East Devon District Council selected CH2M to develop a beach management plan (BMP) for the coastline from Seaton Hole to Axmouth Harbour, England.

CH2M will work alongside East Devon, experts from the Environment Agency and Natural England and various local community groups to identify management practices and solutions to protect the region’s properties and assets from flooding and erosion for the next 20-30 years.

“We’re pleased to be able to appoint CH2M to develop the beach management plan, which will consider the future management of coastal flooding and erosion along Seaton seafront,” Mark Williams, East Devon District Council chief executive and Axmouth Harbour master said. “The study presents a number of challenges as well as opportunities to improve Seaton’s defences and to enhance the seafront. CH2M’s team has an excellent track record of developing BMPs with local communities to address these needs.”

Split into six stages, the project efforts will include:

• Gathering early stakeholder input to raise awareness of the project and capture local knowledge.
• Conducting site visits and collecting data to get familiar with the location and discuss existing coastline issues.
• Establishing baselines to develop a robust knowledge and evidence base of coastal processes, defence condition/performance, socioenvironmental setting and economic justification, as well as uncertainty, to underpin future management decisions.
• Reviewing current management practices against baselines to assess future solutions.
• Identifying future options to manage coastal flood and erosion risks via a clear and transparent process that considers sustainability; performance; buildability, public safety and amenity uses; implications for adjacent coastlines; and future monitoring and modelling needs.
• Developing a BMP document and action plan that sets out management actions, responsibilities and timings, so the plan can be readily used for ongoing coastal resilience for the next five years and beyond.

“We’re looking forward to applying our tried and proven coastal management approach to help East Devon District Council and the local community achieve an actionable management plan to protect and enhance the region they call home,” said CH2M U.K. Coastal Team Leader Dr. Jonathan Rogers.

Producing more than 20 similar plans across southwest England, including Exmouth and Sidmouth, CH2M is a leader in coastal flood and risk management. Around the globe on projects like the Thames Estuary Asset Management 2100 programme in London and the East Side Coastal Resiliency project in New York City, the company’s engineers and planners work to manage risk, protect people and assets, meet regulatory requirements and offer long-term resilience against variability and change.

About CH2M

CH2M leads the professional services industry delivering sustainable solutions benefiting societal, environmental and economic outcomes with the development of infrastructure and industry. In this way, CH2Mers make a positive difference providing consulting, design, engineering and management services for clients needing world-class solutions in environmental; industrial and advanced facilities; transportation; and water markets, from iconic infrastructure to global programmes like the Olympic Games.

Ranked among the World’s Most Ethical Companies and top firms in environmental consulting and programme management, CH2M in 2016 became the first professional services firm honored with the World Environment Center Gold Medal Award for efforts advancing sustainable development. Connect with CH2M at www.ch2m.com; LinkedIn; Twitter; and Facebook.