Coastal lagoon habitat re-creation potential in Hampshire, England

The Solent region in southern England represents one of the highest concentrations of coastal lagoons and saline ponds in the UK. Four lagoon complexes within the region comprise a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), under the European Habitats Directive. The ephemeral nature of coastal lagoons presents a particular management challenge in terms of retaining designated sites in “favourable conservation status”. Consequently, in addition to sensitive management of existing sites, it is important to identify sites for habitat re-creation. A site-specific investigation of Hook Lake in Hampshire is presented. Previously, on the basis of salinity measurements alone, this site was deemed to have progressed naturally through brackish conditions to a freshwater habitat overgrown by reeds Phragmites sp. A more detailed survey, which considered salinity measurements together with an analysis of substratum heterogeneity and invertebrate fauna diversity, suggests that it is still predominantly a freshwater system with an adjacent brackish/saline ditch. Future management, linked to local biodiversity action plan targets, could proactively support the development of this site as a coastal lagoon in order to secure its integration as part of the international conservation designation. However, this is complicated by the need to then recognise and compensate for loss of freshwater habitat, the need to persuade the local community that any change would not compromise coastal defence integrity and ultimately by medium to long-term coastal defence investment decisions.