The flood barriers at Bewdley are an example of an engineering solution to flooding. However in the longer term, solutions that work with natural processes are often the best solution to managing flood risk.
Rivers can be re-connected with their floodplains in rural areas so that during flood events, water is stored on the floodplain. This could create opportunities for new habitats. It may be necessary to remove or set-back embankments and manage flows of floodwater with control structures. There are some disadvantages to this approach:
- construction of flood storage facilities could result in the loss of productive agricultural land, and agricultural land might be at risk if floodwater was stored for longer periods
- changes in the water table (due to changes in flood frequency and duration) could adversely affect water usage on farmland
- the control structures could cause changes to flows and channel geomorphology, which may affect aquatic ecology, for example, fish passage could be impeded and spawning conditions may be altered
The Environment Agency's environmental appraisal shows that changing rural land management in the Severn catchment would be the most environmentally acceptable type of response to reducing flood risk.
It is thought that changes to land management could:
- lead to reduced water levels and flows, benefiting people, property and cultural heritage currently at risk
- cause minimal impact on existing habitat, landscape and cultural heritage
- provide opportunities for improving soil and water quality
Download Opportunities and Constraints in the Severn Catchment for further information.
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