Working with natural processes to help manage flood risk natural flood management Dr. Heather Forbes. Scottish Environment Protection Agency

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1 Working with natural processes to help manage flood risk natural flood management Dr. Heather Forbes Senior Policy Officer Programme Scottish Environment Protection Agency

2 Scotland s flood risk 56% 21% 23% Properties at flood risk 108, ,000 Residential properties at flood risk 79, ,000 Non-residential properties at flood risk 29,000 42,000 Annual Average Damages 252m TBC

3 Scotland s flood risk

4 FRM Act: new vision in Scotland A risk-based, sustainable and plan-led approach Underpinned by close partnership working Integration of a wide suite of measures

5 FRM Act: new vision in Scotland Recognition that we need to manage land and water throughout the catchment - that activities in one part of the catchment can influence flooding elsewhere This catchment wide approach based on measures that work with natural features and processes to manage the sources and pathways of flood waters - NFM

6 Natural flood management Reduce rate or amount of runoff and/or improve the ability of rivers and floodplains to manage flood water. Reduce flood peak and/or delay flood peak

7 Natural flood management Known local hydrological effects although still lacking empirical data on direct benefits to flood risk Current evidence suggests benefits to more frequent flooding (e.g. 1 in 5 year events) Can be useful where hard defences cannot be justified, e.g. Belford, Pickering, Eddleston When delivered together with more traditional methods, can provide some level of resilience Can simultaneously deliver many other targets

8 Eddleston Water Project

9 Eddleston Water: new planform

10 Eddleston Water: multiple measures

11 Delivering NFM under the FRM Act - FRM Planning framework Local partnerships Partnership working between local authorities, Scottish Water and SEPA Maps and Assessments Identify main sources of flood risk and their impacts Develop information about catchments and coasts Flood Risk Management Strategies Main hazards and impacts Catchment information Objectives for reducing risk Best combination of actions to achieve objectives Produced by SEPA, within local partnerships National and local advisory groups Consultation with wider stakeholders Local Flood Risk Management Plans Action delivery what, when, who Funding arrangements Actions for surface water management Covers each six year period Produced by lead local authority, within local partnerships

12 Delivering NFM under the FRM Act The Flood Risk Management Act (Scotland) 2009 Section 20: Requires SEPA, by December 2013, to assess the contribution that alteration (including enhancement) and restoration of natural features and characteristics of any river basin or coastal area could make to the management of flood risk'

13 Opportunities for runoff reduction Identifies areas of moderate to high potential for runoff reduction and therefore target areas for land use change, (e.g. planting, upland drain blocking, etc.) Based on JBA/EA method (land cover, soil class, slope class, rainfall class) Tweed Forum Tweed Forum Woodland Trust Northern Ecological Services

14 ISP Opportunities for floodplain storage Identifies where there are opportunities to increase floodplain storage through floodplain restoration or planting Assessment is based on: n max n S Slope of river reach Current roughness Maximum potential roughness existing 2 (All photos: Tweed Forum)

15 NFM actions 42 prioritised schemes 10 with NFM element In addition 4 NFM only works (not prioritised)

16 FRM Studies 69 flood protection studies include NFM In addition, 23 NFM only studies

17 But in the shorter term.. Need to consider current opportunities: e.g. drainage, species choice, structural diversity, cultivation, etc. Linked to continued research and guidance..

18 Delivering NFM - the challenges Evidence gaps Perception of concept Inability to quantify benefit Who delivers and inexperience in delivery Incentivising land managers to give up land Long term management

19 Developing assessment tools Filling the evidence gaps Developing guidance DELIVERING NATURAL FLOOD MANAGEMENT Payments mechanisms Achieving multiple benefits Working with land managers & partners

20 Integrating delivery

21 Natural Flood Management Handbook To provide those responsible for delivery with the necessary information to achieve its targeted delivery. Based on work undertaken by SEPA and partners in recent years to inform delivery of NFM Aims to be balanced i.e. to acknowledge potential benefits as well as risks and unknowns Not a technical design manual but provides details of where to get such information

22 NFM Handbook

23 LA delivery plans (implementation detail timetable, funding and co-ordination) to be published in June 2016 by lead local authorities Delivery cycle1: - 56 schemes and 4 NFM works flood protection studies (67 with NFM) - 19 NFM studies Next steps Can we identify opportunities to deliver within the Forest Estate?

24 Thank you