Record of Historical Flood Events
Musselburgh has experienced significant flood events from the River Esk in its recent past. Thankfully the town has not had a major flood event in over 70 years, however due to climate change the probability of such an event is increased.
The largest flood event in Musselburgh’s recorded history was in August 1948 when it experienced a 0.5% AEP Flood Event from the River Esk.
The project team have used the Scheme’s Hydraulic Model A to generate a map of that historic event against an OS Map of the town from that time, which is provided for your reference.
Musselburgh is at risk of more than one type of flood and has a history of flooding from each type.
Fluvial Flood Risk:
Musselburgh’s development is intricately linked to the river waters of the River Esk that flow through the town, and which helped power industrial mills that employed many in the town in: the production of paper; the manufacture of fishing nets; and wire cables for bridge structures.
Unfortunately, this proximity of the town to the river means it faces a high risk of flooding from the river. Flooding has traditionally been the result of the River Esk swelling beyond its capacity, with water spilling over man-made structures on to its natural floodplain and which is now the town’s urban / built environment. The risk is increased by debris from upstream becoming trapped against the town’s many bridges. This flood risk will be made worse due to the impact of climate change, as future storms are expected to generate more rain, more often, in the catchment which will swell the river to greater heights that had been the historical norm. The future will also see a greater risk from the sea backing-up the river either increasing the height of a river flood or delivering a river flood when the river itself has low flows.
Starting with the most recent, some of the most notable fluvial flood events were:
Coastal Flood Risk:
Situated at the mouth of the River Esk on the Forth Estuary, Musselburgh’s history is intricately linked to sea. Its current name is derived from a mussel bank of exceptional quality once found near the river’s mouth.
The town has not had a major flood event from the sea coming over its coast along Fisherrow Links in recent history. The town is now protected from such an event along Musselburgh / Levenhall Links by the Scottish Power Seawall.
This flood risk will be made much worse due to the impact of climate change, as sea levels are projected to rise. The current UKCP18 projections indicate a rise of around 1.2m in 100 years.
The town’s coastal flood risk does present a regular issue from seawater levels in vicinity of the Electric Bridge on the River Esk – at a very high tide the sea backs up the river and can result in seawater spilling out of the river into the surrounding area. This risk is periodically compounded by the coincidence of a sea surge in the North Sea. On such occasions the water can inundate a much larger area. In response to this risk East Lothian Council deploys lines of ‘de-mountable’ flood barriers in advance of such an event to stop these waters flooding adjacent property.
SEPA installed a Sea-Level Gauge at the mouth of the Esk in late 2006. Local sea-level data is therefore only available since that date.
Starting with the most recent, some of the most notable coastal flood events were:
Pluvial & Groundwater & Secondary Flood Risk:
The project team are currently ongoing in developing a full understanding of the pluvial, groundwater and secondary flood risks to Musselburgh. They are however much lesser risks than those from the river and the sea. The following known risks are highlighted:
- It is understood that there is a pluvial flood risk at Loretto’s main buildings / Millhill area;
- It is understood that there is a groundwater flood risk at Windsor Park off Pinkie Road;
- It is understood that there is a flood risk from the Musselburgh Mill Lade through the town and in particular in the Shorthope Street area;
- It is understood that there is a flood risk from the Pinkie Burn – this being modelled by a separate fluvial model and the outcome will be published in due course; and
- It is understood that the Scheme itself may increase the risk of all of these types of flooding through placing new defences along the watercourses – the project team will address all of this though the design and ensure that it does not result in any increased risk.