Estuary detail

Below is an interactive map and a table of parameters derived through various sources – Nature Conservancy Council (Davidson et al, 1991), EMPHASYS (2000c), Dyer (2002) in Futurecoast, Townend (2005), ABPmer (2024) and ABPmer (2025). The data is indicative of recently determined bulk properties suitable for broadscale intercomparison of estuaries.

Alternatively take a look in the viewer.

Estuaries Database Viewer View in Estuaries Database Viewer
Estuary ID 41 
JNCC ID 123 
Name of estuary Cuckmere Estuary 
Alternative name  
Grid reference TV515985  
WFD water body ID GB540704104800 
WFD water body name Cuckmere 
MAGIC URL link MAGIC link 1 
Latitude 50.76694106 
Longitude 0.15091833 
JNCC classification Coastal Plain  
Updated classification Spit Enclosed   read more on estuary classification..
Tidal classification Macrotidal  
Spring tidal range (m) 6  
Mean High Water Springs (mODN) 3.28 
Mean Low Water Springs (mODN) -2.72 
Mean Tide Level (mODN) 0.13 
Mean river flow (m3/s) 1.6 
Low river flow (m3/s)  
High river flow (m3/s)  
Name of furthest downstream flow gauge Sherman Bridge  
DEFRA Hydrology Gauge Data Explorer URL link DEFRA Hydrology Gauge link    
Area of basin (Ha) 46.5  
Intertidal area (Ha) 20  
Shoreline length (km) 16.7  
Channel length (km) 8.4  
Mouth width (m) 10  
Valley width (m) 10  
Volume at mean tide level (m3) 437000  
Surface area at mean tide level (m2) 222000  
CSA at mean tide level (m2)  
Volume at low water (m3) 31800  
Surface area at low water (m2) 72000  
CSA at low water (m2)  
Volume at high water (m3) 1120000 
Surface area at high water (m2) 222000 
CSA at high water (m2) 98 
Volume of tidal prism (m3) 1090000 
Dronkers' gamma (nondim) 42.99 
Storage volume over intertidal (m3) 661000 
Channel volume to MTL (m3) 464000 
Ratio of storage volume to channel volume (nondim) 1.42 
Hydraulic depth at MTL (m) 2 
DEFRA Catchment Data Explorer URL link DEFRA Catchment link   
Estuary template download link  

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Last Modified on: 20 June 2025
Printed from the Estuary Guide on 01/11/2026 02:35:17