Lincshore campaign to reduce flood risk draws to successful close for 2015
A major annual scheme to replenish Lincolnshire beaches has once again drawn to a successful close, reducing flood risk to thousands of homes and businesses along the coast.
![The EA's beach renourishment programme to reduce flood risk has been completed for 2015](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/image_data/file/40007/s300_Pumping109_resized_for_web.jpg)
The EA's beach renourishment programme to reduce flood risk has been completed for 2015
The Environment Agency’s flagship Lincshore scheme sees sand dredged from the sea bed and pumped onto the beach, replacing levels lost to the sea during the winter.
This reduces the risk of waves reaching and overtopping the main sea defences, prevents rapid deterioration of these, and protects against erosion.
This year, over 500,000 cubic metres of sand were replaced during the 11-week-long campaign. Work started at Mablethorpe on 20 April and proceeded down the coast to finish at Huttoft in June. The dredgers used were the Ham 316 supported by the Dravo Costa Dorada.
Kevin Abbott, Flood and Coastal Risk Advisor with the Environment Agency, said:
This multi-million pound project enables us to improve flood protection for tens of thousands of homes, as well as commercial and industrial properties and important environmental sites. It also benefits tourism on the coast, as otherwise there would be very little sand on our beaches.
As always, we’d like to thank people living and working along the coast for their patience while we completed this year’s Lincshore scheme.
Lincshore first began in 1994 and covers beaches from Mablethorpe to Skegness. The scheme maintains protection against a one in 200 chance in any given year or tidal flooding for 30,000 properties and 35,000 hectares of land.
Although the Environment Agency works to reduce the risk of coastal flooding, people living and working in coastal communities should take steps to ensure they know what to do in an emergency – such as signing up for free flood warnings.
You can register with Floodline Warnings Direct – the EA’s free flood warning service – by calling 0345 988 1188 or visiting our Flood Warnings sign-up page.