A nine month project of work starts in Exmouth today, to stop pollution from a landfill site getting into the Exe estuary.
Concrete blocks protecting the foreshore of the river Exe around the Imperial Recreation Ground are to be replaced, and public access to the site will have to be restricted for safety reasons.
The work's needed because the existing blocks are disintegrating, and could allow unpleasant substances from the landfill to leak out.
The district council says the work will be carried out in phases to minimise the inconvenience to the public, and the disturbance to waterbirds and other wildlife.