Using the Natural Flood Management Opportunity Maps to influence strategy

The Natural Flood Managment modelling study carried out in April 2017, has inspired new funding opportunities and helped evolve catchment planning.

In early 2017, working with JBA Consulting, Lancaster University and United Utilities, The Rivers Trust investigated how extensive NFM in large recently flooded catchments could have reduced flood flows in extreme storms, such as Storm Desmond in December 2015, which caused an estimated £500million of damage.

Working over four river catchments, a series of maps were developed which quantify the potential flood-reducing benefits of NFM. A critical part of the study was to quantify the uncertainty in the predictions so that we understand how much confidence can be placed in NFM. These maps and the associated uncertainty analyses are already being used to inform the planned delivery and evaluation of £3M of NFM investment by rivers trusts and other organisations.

Here is a short video to explain how Rivers Trusts in the North West have been using the maps since they were created.

Read the case study about the NFM Modelling