Resources

Natural Flood Management

Natural Flood Management Measures: A practical guide for farmers, North West

This guide has been developed to provide simple, clear information on natural flood management measures for landowners and farmers in the North West by organisations in the Catchment Partnership.

User Guide to the Cumbria Strategic NFM investigation

A user guide to the maps produced in the Cumbria Strategic NFM investigation. JBA, Lancaster University, The Rivers Trust, Natural Course.

Runoff Attenuation Features Handbook

A guide for installing runoff attenuation features by Newcastle University and the Environment Agency.

Charter for collaborative action natural flood management, Cumbria

Principles for farmers, communities and organisations working together on natural flood management by Foundation for Common Land – August 2016.

An investigation into the design of large woody debris dams and their effect on channel flow.

Dissertation by Elliot John Batty, University of Brighton, 2017.

NERC Q-NFM project outputs by Lancaster University

Research outputs from the NERC funded ‘Quantifying the likely magnitude of nature-based flood mitigation effects across large catchments (Q-NFM)’ project led by Lancaster University.

Derwent Natural Flood Management Modelling Overview map

A map showing the likely change in runoff volume and lag time with NFM interventions in sub catchments of the Derwent Catchment. Use in conjunction with the user guide. By Lancaster University, JBA and The Rivers Trust.

Strategic investigation of NFM in Cumbria – Technical_Report

This study has investigated Natural Flood Management (NFM) in a tiered approach across the Eden, Kent and Derwent catchments in Cumbria, to help prioritise where different NFM measures are likely to be more effective.

Scottish Environmental Protection Agency  – Natural Flood Management Handbook

A handbook to provide those responsible for delivering natural flood management with the necessary information to achieve its targeted delivery. It highlights the different types of measures that may be adopted, the multiple benefits of these measures, the tools available to assess the benefits and an overview of approaches, funding and monitoring, with case studies.

Institute of Hydrology – Impact of improved land drainage on river flows

The impact of land drainage upon the incidence of flooding downstream has long been a source of controversy. This work has involved assembling a nationwide set of data from both published and unpublished field drainage experiments.

The natural flood management manual by CIRA

The manual provides an overview of natural flood management and a checklist of the steps to deliver it.

Trees and Woodlands

Report on Hydrological Change after tree planting at Tebay

A study by Lancaster University on Hydrological Changes following tree planting on Tebay Common, 2017.

Keeping Rivers Cool: A Guidance Manual Creating riparian shade for climate change adaptation

This Woodland Trust manual is intended to help those seeking to create shade over rivers in order to maintain suitable freshwater habitats for biological communities at risk from the effects of climate change, particularly salmon and brown trout.

Quantified effect of individual trees on soil permeability

A study by Lancaster University quantifying the effect of individual trees on soil permeability from direct UK observational evidence.

Woodland Creation Guide – Woodland Trust

This guide sets out the Woodland Trust’s approach to woodland creation. It describes in detail the phases of the process and the principles that we apply when looking to expand woodland and tree cover on an area of land.

Woodland for Water: Woodland measures for meeting Water Framework Directive objectives

A review collating existing scientific research and policy options to increase understanding of how woodland can improve water quality to help meet WFD objectives. Provides a robust evidence-base for developing woodland and environmental policies. By Forest Research.

Woods and Water bibliography 2014

This bibliography brings together work on the role of trees and woodland in flooding and flood risk management. It includes publications by Forest Research scientists, the Forestry Commission and partners and papers published in journals.

Keeping Rivers Cool Guidance Manual – Environment Agency

A guide for getting ready for climate change by creating riparian shade.

Research and Evidence – Woodland Trust

A directory of research publications by the Woodland Trust.

Water Quality

Sewage fungus – a field and microscopic guide

A guide to identifying sewage fungus by the Environment Agency.

Wildfowl contribution to phosphate loading in Loweswater

A Wildfowl and Wetland Trust report (2014)

Modelling phosphorus fluxes in Loweswater

A ECRC Research Report by University College London (2014) B. Goldsmith, J. Boyle, M. Kernan, H. Yang, S. Turner, H. Bennion, E. Shilland, J. Shilland, P. Smyntek.

Natural England Water Quality Catchment Risk Assessment and Source Apportionment – River Derwent and Bassenthwaite Lake

Natural England Catchment Risk Assessments provide evidence-led water quality catchment risk assessments for identified Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

Hydrogeomorphology and Habitat

River Greta Fluvial Audit – Environment Agency

A detailed geomorphological audit of the Greta catchment upstream of Keswick to inform measures to reduce the risk of future flooding in these communities.

Natural England Coledale and Newlandsrestoration options study

An appraisal of different Natural Flood Management and restoration options for Newlands Beck and Coledale Beck.

Floods and Dredging a reality check by CIWEM

An assessment of the impact of dredging and it’s role in flood risk management.

Private Finance

Conservation Covenants Factsheet by DEFRA

Conservation covenants are private agreements entered into voluntarily, but which become legally binding once agreed. They are made between a landowner and responsible body, such as a conservation charity or public body or for-profit body. They conserve (protect, restore or enhance) the natural or heritage features of the land for the public good.