Extract from source document Lower Thames Flood Risk Management Strategy
Summary of comments and responses to consultation (2010)
Lower Thames Strategy Response: Bathymetric surveys of the river bed have been
carried out over the past few years and have provided evidence of the dynamic erosion
and deposition of sediment within the River Thames. These bathymetric surveys have
shown that historical dredging only increases channel capacity temporarily as the River
Thames silts up again and this is before climate change is taken into account. Dredging
does not provide sufficient capacity to reduce flood flows due to the huge volume of water
that occurs during a flood. Due to the difficulties and expense of removing and disposingof contaminated dredged material from the River it has been set aside as an option under this Strategy. Bathymetric surveys and modelling will continue to inform our River management.
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