Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Strategic Overview of Land Use
Management in the Context
of Catchment Flood Risk
Management Planning
ENDA O'CONNELL, JOHN EWEN AND GREG O'DONNELL
Strategic Approach to Flood Risk
Management Under Changing and Uncertain
Conditions
response options for managing risks including
changes to land use planning in flood-prone areas,
urban drainage management, rural land manage-
ment and coastal management. Stakeholders are
engaged at all levels of risk management, with
the aim of achieving a better balance between the
three pillars of sustainable development (econom-
ic, social and environmental) in all risk manage-
ment activities (Defra 2004).
To support this integrated approach toflood risk
management, it is evident that a corresponding
integrated approach to catchment planning is
needed that can support the implementation of
the MSW strategy over the next 20 years and
beyond. Heretofore, catchment modelling has
been technical and compartmentalized, has as-
sumed that the past climate is representative of
the future, and has not quantified the different
sources of uncertainty in the modelling and deci-
sion-making process; nor has it considered the full
socioeconomic context. The integrated modelling
framework must therefore encompass the follow-
ing (Wheater et al. 2007):
.
quantitative scenario modelling of the drivers
and pressures that impact upon flood risk, includ-
ing global climate and socioeconomic change;
.
whole catchment and shoreline modelling of
flood and erosion risks under uncertain future
climatic and socioeconomic conditions, andunder
a wide range of response options;
It is widely recognized that, to cope with the
impacts on flooding of climate variability and
change, holistic approaches tomanaging flood risk
are needed, as are new integrated research frame-
works that can support these newapproaches. The
Office of Science and Technology (OST) Future
Flooding project (Evans et al. 2004a, 2004b, 2008)
developed the thinking for a holistic approach to
managing flood risk, which was taken on board in
formulating the government's strategy for manag-
ing flood and coastal erosion risk in England -
'Making Space forWater (MSW)' (Defra 2004). This
MSW approach is risk-driven and requires that
adaptability to climate change is an integral part
of all flood and coastal erosion management deci-
sions. A whole-catchment approach is being
adopted that is consistent with, and contributes
to, the implementation of the Water Framework
Directive (2000/60/EC). The MSW strategy re-
quires the consideration of a broad portfolio of
