Hamford Water (2488)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Hamford Water
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.8863, Longitude: 1.2363
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 4
Area of KBA (km2): 22.2302
Protected area coverage (%): 98.17
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large, shallow estuarine basin comprising tidal creeks and islands, sand-dunes and extensive areas of saltmarsh. The IBA is important for wintering waders and wildfowl and breeding terns.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Delineation rationale: First identified in 1989; extended to include Walton Mere in 2007. 2000 area, 2143ha. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale. Additional area added on 1:50,000 maps.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | hunting | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 30 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 30 | |
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 30 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Dams (size unknown) | Only in the future |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Nutrient loads | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Only in the future | |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Ongoing |