Costal Erosion -
Ecological Solutions

Case Study: Ecological Solutions for Costal Erosion
According to Curneen and Gill, evapotranspiration rates in the UK can be between 576 to 929 litres per m2, per year. ( Willow-based evapotranspiration systems for on-site wastewater effluent in areas of low permeability subsoils S. Curneen, L.W. Gill Ecological Engineering Volume 92, July 2016, Pages 199-209 )

Each square meter ( m2 ) will evaporate between 600 and 900 litres per year.

With 600 to 900L per m2 / year, a 1000m2 system will evaporate between 600 Litres and 900 tons (m3)  per year. It is not a surprise that these systems works really well.

The concept of evaporation lends itself to helping with the coastal erosion of glacial moraines into the sea.

Proposed Coastal Erosion Plan for Essex 2024
Ground water makes the glacial moraine soils to flow to the sea, where the tides sweep the eroded soils away. This can be exacerbated by the sea levels rising, and the land at the coast still sinking from the effects of the last ice age.

This was the cause of falling cliffs in the Isle of Wight.

Housing in this part of the village, was expected to fall over the cliff within 5 to 10 years. Erosion rates were worrying. It was decided all the down pipes, run-off from footpaths and the road would flow to a collection point. The waste waters were then treated through reedbeds, where the outflows also did flow to the same collection point. A concrete ring collects and allows waters to rise sufficiently for a pump to pump the waters to a stream. The stream then flowed over the cliff, but almost 3 miles away.

This work was completed in 1999. Here we are 26 years later ( 2025 ), and the movement has halted. So long as humans don’t forget what was done, and why, then the houses should remain safe for many more years than expected.

Should humans forget and allow the waters to return to flow into the ground, with energy, then the process of houses falling over the cliff would return.

While the proposal suggests a willow monoculture, it is also proposed that the area of willow be also planted up with a range off lowering trees, bushes and flowers. Flowering plants local to the site would be added to the species used. In many places, buddleia, dog rose and even fuchsia would add to the range of flowering plants used. The willow cops would also be a good site for native bluebells. In this way the area would become a natural habitat for birds, bees, butterflies, hedgehogs and people.

The planting of a natural woodland would develop the soil matrix, where bacteria and fungi create the mycelium needed for a living woodland system. The roots would alter the hydrology. The plants would create a natural woodland for nature, and the natural woodland would change the albedo of the area.

In giving nature a hand, the ecological cycles would be re-introduced to form lasting habitats.