Lucy Harding - 9-Jul-2007
- The Environment Agency has completed it’s
first phase of works to the outfall on Monktonmead
Brook, Ryde, which they hope will continue
to protect people and property from flooding.
The outfall on the Monktonmead Brook that
flows onto Ryde sands was built in 2001.
Since its construction the level of Ryde
sands has increased significantly. This
has resulted in sand being deposited within
the outfall, potentially reducing the amount
of water flowing through it..
After reviewing several options to reduce
the amount of sand building up within and
around the mouth of the outfall, the Environment
Agency has installed a timber groyne at
a ninety degree angle to the outfall. It
is hoped that the additional turbulence
from the increased wave action created by
this groyne will help to reduce sand levels
in and around the outfall.
This is a new solution to try to reduce
sand build up. During this trial, the Environment
Agency will be closely monitoring the sand
levels over the next twelve months to measure
the success of the work.
The recent heavy rainfall meant that Environment
Agency Operations Delivery staff were forced
to stop work on the second phase of the
project, which will now take place after
the summer holiday period in September.
This next phase will involve low level flapped
boards being installed to the end of the
outfall to help reduce sand being washed
into it, whilst continuing to allow the
existing build up of sand to be washed out.
Steve Hale, Environment Agency Operations
Delivery Specialist Team Member, said:
“As with any work of this nature you expect
to deal with tidal and river flows but we
could have never predicted that we would
be faced with such dramatic weather. The
exceptional rainfall produced river flows
that we could not deal with and we have
had to postpone the second half of our work
to avoid spoiling anyone’s visit to Ryde
sands.
“Due to the hard work from the whole team
we managed to complete the first phase of
the work which we hope will successfully
reduce the flood risk to the properties
located upstream of the outfall. We are
delighted to help prevent flooding to the
local community.”
