Research on Rural Resource Management and the Rural Research on Rural Resource Management and the Rural Economy: Economy:

Addressing the Local and Regional DimensionAddressing the Local and Regional DimensionRoyal Society of Edinburgh, Wednesday 16th May 2007Royal Society of Edinburgh, Wednesday 16th May 2007

Better Floodplain Management

Joe Morris,

Cranfield University

supported by colleagues from Cranfield and the Open Universities

Research Team Cranfield University: Joe Morris, Tim Hess, Peter Leeds-Harrison, Paul Trawick, Quentin Dawson, Helena Posthumus, Open University: David Gowing, Jim Rouquette, Andy Blowers, River Restoration Centre: Jenny MantEnvironmental Solutions: Graham Tucker

Schedule Schedule

Sustainable Sustainable Development, natural Development, natural capital and ecosystem capital and ecosystem services services

Floodplains – suitable Floodplains – suitable case for treatment case for treatment

Implications for PolicyImplications for Policy Conclusions and Conclusions and

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Objectives:

social, economic, environmental

Resources and limits:naturalphysical financialhuman social

Development options:

policies programmes projects

Governance, Scale

Natural Capital:

land water

air biosystems

Ecosystem Functions:

production regulation

carrier habitat

Information

Ecosystem Uses,

goods and services:

Eg: Agriculture, Industry, Nature

conservation, Tourism,

Recreation

Ecosystem Values: meeting

stakeholder purposes and preferences:

social.

economic, environmental

Stakeholders

Property rights

Indicators

Hydrological, ecological, physical, chemical… Social and economic

Ecosystem Functions, Uses and Values

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

Policy Challenge?Policy Challenge?

Public policy: ‘SD’ - is it possible? Public policy: ‘SD’ - is it possible? What’s the link between natural What’s the link between natural

capital, ecosystems functions and capital, ecosystems functions and well-being?well-being?

What ‘understandings’ are required What ‘understandings’ are required from physical, natural and social from physical, natural and social sciences?sciences?

Will a better understanding lead to Will a better understanding lead to action and outcomes? action and outcomes?

What policies and other actions are What policies and other actions are needed to do this and deliver SD? needed to do this and deliver SD?

What’s the role of Governance?What’s the role of Governance?

The Case of Flood Plains: The Case of Flood Plains: Flood Plains: level tracts of land liable Flood Plains: level tracts of land liable

to inundation by river water to inundation by river water Regional and local Regional and local

significancesignificance Changing priorities and Changing priorities and

concerns ?concerns ? Reappraisal of land and Reappraisal of land and

water managementwater management ? ? Policy realignment and Policy realignment and

integration ? integration ?

RELU Project: Integrated land and water RELU Project: Integrated land and water management in flood plains management in flood plains

Research Questions :Research Questions : is it possible to achieve multiple is it possible to achieve multiple

objectives in ways which are objectives in ways which are appealing to major stakeholders, appealing to major stakeholders, especially farmers? especially farmers?

what data bases and appraisal what data bases and appraisal methods are needed to support methods are needed to support decision making?decision making?

what are the best ways of achieving what are the best ways of achieving the widespread adoption of the widespread adoption of integrated management solutions?integrated management solutions?

Approach Approach

historical analysis of historical analysis of the dynamics of change the dynamics of change on selected on selected Agricultural Flood Agricultural Flood Defence Schemes Defence Schemes implemented during implemented during period 1960-1980.period 1960-1980.

40 year historical 40 year historical perspective in order to perspective in order to look forwardlook forward

building on integrationbuilding on integration

Conceptual Framework Conceptual Framework

A Case Example: Beckingham Marshes

History:

• prior WWII: grassland & marsh, willow production

• 1960-70: improved drainage, pumps, emergency flood storage

• 1970-2000: arable production

• 2005: RSPB plan re-conversion to grassland for lapwings, increase water table levels

Hydrological Component

Classification of floodplain by degree of hydraulic controlClassification of floodplain by degree of hydraulic control

OutflowOutflow

InflowInflow

Uncontrolled Uncontrolled inflowinflow

Fixed controlled Fixed controlled inflowinflow

Variable Variable controlled inflowcontrolled inflow

Uncontrolled Uncontrolled gravity returngravity return

Fixed controlled Fixed controlled gravity returngravity return

Controlled return Controlled return (sluices / pumps)(sluices / pumps)

Beckingham Beckingham MarshesMarshes

Hydrological component

Dupuit-Forcheimer based model of the interaction between soil Dupuit-Forcheimer based model of the interaction between soil typology, climate water management regime and the water table:typology, climate water management regime and the water table:

Land Management Component - AgricultureLand Management Component - Agriculture

Water regimes: Water regimes: FloodingFlooding WaterloggingWaterlogging

Frequency

Seasonality

Duration

Depth

Standards of Agricultural Drainage

Low HighRelative profitability of farming systems???

Beckingham Marshes

Wetness of soils Land use

GIS for mapping natural capital and ecosystems functions uses and values

Ecological component

• Scale Scale • International – Ramsar Convention, Habitats Directive International – Ramsar Convention, Habitats Directive • National – BAP priorities, SSSIsNational – BAP priorities, SSSIs• Regional / County – County BAPs, SINCsRegional / County – County BAPs, SINCs• Local / Parish – species-rich hedgerowsLocal / Parish – species-rich hedgerows

• Significance of the population \ habitatSignificance of the population \ habitat• ThreatThreat

Ecological component

Modelling the effects of water regimes on biodiversityModelling the effects of water regimes on biodiversity

MG13: Inundation grassland → inundation pasture habitat

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Month

Wat

er ta

ble

heig

ht a

roun

d po

int o

f hig

hest

ele

vatio

n (m

)

Ground level

Water table depth below ground level, m

Months, jan - dec

Stakeholder analysis

Stakeholder interests in Beckingham Marshes

FunctionFunction UseUse StakeholdersStakeholders

ProductionProduction Agricultural Agricultural productionproduction

Farmers, DefraFarmers, Defra

RegulationRegulation Flood water Flood water storage, drainage,storage, drainage,

carbon cycling?carbon cycling?

EA-FRM, IDB, EA-FRM, IDB, farmers, local farmers, local industry, RSPBindustry, RSPB

HabitatHabitat Maintenance and Maintenance and enhancement of enhancement of bio-diversitybio-diversity

RSPB, EA-CONS, RSPB, EA-CONS, OnTrent, Notts WT, OnTrent, Notts WT, local residentslocal residents

CarrierCarrier Transport and Transport and settlementssettlements

Local residents, local Local residents, local industry, farmers, industry, farmers, local authoritylocal authority

InformationInformation Amenity, Amenity, landscape, landscape, recreation, historyrecreation, history

RSPB, local RSPB, local residents, local residents, local authority, authority,

Values (outcomes)Values (outcomes)Economic gains from crop Economic gains from crop & livestock production& livestock production

Avoided damage due to Avoided damage due to flooding, tradeable servicesflooding, tradeable services

Contribution to BAP targetsContribution to BAP targets

Location for housing, Location for housing, roads, local industry: roads, local industry: Property and service Property and service values, costs of values, costs of alternativesalternatives

Enjoyment of the Enjoyment of the countryside and related countryside and related benefits: willingness to paybenefits: willingness to pay

Beckingham Marshes:

Stakeholder analysis: water level management

Integration : Land use and habitat matrix

Land use and habitat classification by flood and soil water regimes

Winter flooding onlyWinter flooding only Flooding at any time of yearFlooding at any time of year

DrainageDrainage::

RapidRapid Moderate Moderate SlowSlow RapidRapid ModerateModerate SlowSlow

Short Short duration duration floodingflooding

Arable, Arable, pasture, pasture,

hay hay meadow, meadow, woodlandwoodland

Pasture, Pasture, hay hay

meadow, meadow, woodlandwoodland

Pasture, Pasture, woodlandwoodland

Hay Hay meadow, meadow, pasture, pasture,

woodlandwoodland

Woodlan, Woodlan, pasturepasture

Swamp, Swamp, pasture, pasture,

woodlandwoodland

Medium Medium duration duration floodingflooding

Hay Hay meadow, meadow, pasture, pasture,

woodlandwoodland

Pasture, Pasture, woodlandwoodland

Pasture, Pasture, swamp, swamp,

woodlandwoodland

Pasture, Pasture, woodlandwoodland

Pasture, Pasture, woodland, woodland,

swampswamp

Swamp, Swamp, pasturepasture

Long Long duration duration floodingflooding

Pasture, Pasture, woodlandwoodland

Pasture, Pasture, woodlandwoodland

Swamp, Swamp, pasture, pasture,

woodlandwoodland

Swamp, Swamp, woodlandwoodland

SwampSwamp SwampSwamp

Modelling land and water scenarios*: Modelling land and water scenarios*: BeckinghamBeckingham

:

Scenarios

Dominant land use >Arable

farmingFlood

storageWetlands

Water management regime >Rapid

drainage, low flood frequency

Rapid drainage, high flood frequency

Slow drainage, high

flood frequency

Function Use      

ProductionAgricultural production H M L

Bio-fuel crops H L M

Regulation Flood water storage M H L

Habitat Biodiversity target L M H

CarrierRoad network/industry H M L

InformationRecreation L L H

Education L L H

*Based on monetary values

Outcomes of RELU Flood Plain ProjectOutcomes of RELU Flood Plain Project

Demonstrate the Demonstrate the feasibility and benefit of feasibility and benefit of an integrated approach an integrated approach

Contribute to guidance Contribute to guidance on design and appraisal on design and appraisal of land and water of land and water management options in management options in floodplainsfloodplains

Identify scope for Identify scope for joined up policy and joined up policy and actionaction

Research Based Policy : informing choicesResearch Based Policy : informing choices

Develop understanding Develop understanding amongst stakeholders amongst stakeholders of ecosystem services of ecosystem services and limitsand limits

Derive preferences and Derive preferences and values for ecosystem values for ecosystem services using a range services using a range of methods of methods

Use ‘what if’ Use ‘what if’ interactions supported interactions supported by ‘modelling’ by ‘modelling’

Develop for different Develop for different scales of governance scales of governance

Key elements:

Knowledge exchange

Multi-criteria, limits/thresholds

Collective choice

Low

High

High

Low

Expert based modelling

Anecdotal elitism

Participatorydiscussion

Participatory modelling

Participation

Un

derstan

din

g

General Conclusions – drawn from the General Conclusions – drawn from the floodplain floodplain

Policies for SD must be set within an ecosystems framework of capital, functions, uses and values

Multiple ‘sciences’ are needed to understand the trade- offs, synergies and limits involved

Diverse collaborations and long term commitment are needed

Scale, temporal and spatial, is critical Need a practical framework for a spatially

differentiated ecosystems based approach to joined- up policy management and development planning

Need regional and local ‘experiments’ to show it can make a difference

Credits Credits Research Team Research Team

Cranfield University: Joe Morris, Tim Hess, Peter Leeds-Harrison, Paul Cranfield University: Joe Morris, Tim Hess, Peter Leeds-Harrison, Paul Trawick, Quentin Dawson, Helena Posthumus, Trawick, Quentin Dawson, Helena Posthumus,

Open University: David Gowing, Jim Rouquette, Andy Blowers, Open University: David Gowing, Jim Rouquette, Andy Blowers,

River Restoration Centre: Jenny MantRiver Restoration Centre: Jenny Mant

Environmental Solutions: Graham TuckerEnvironmental Solutions: Graham Tucker

Thanks to: Thanks to:

various participating stakeholders, especially farmersvarious participating stakeholders, especially farmers

RELU Programme TeamRELU Programme Team

UK Research Councils, and Defra and SEERADUK Research Councils, and Defra and SEERAD

Reference materialReference material

Contact email: j.morris@cranfield.ac.uk Project website: http://www.silsoe.cranfield.ac.uk/iwe/expertise/relu.htm: Selected references: Defra (2004) Making Space for Water. Developing a new government strategy for flood and

coastal erosion risk management in England. London: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005). Reports on http://www.maweb.org/en/index.aspx Morris, J, Bannister, N., Hess, T.M., Gowing, D. J.G., Leeds-Harrison, P. B., Vivash, R.,

Wade, M. (2004) Integrated Washlands for Flood Defence and Biodiversity, Report to English Nature and Defra. English Nature Research Report Series No. 598. Peterborough: English Nature

Penning-Rowsell E, Johnson C, Tunstall S, Tapsell S, Morris J, Chatterton J, and Green C, (2006) The Benefits of Flood and Coastal Risk Management. (i) A Manual of Techniques , (ii) . A Handbook. Produced for Defra and Environment Agency. Enfield: Flood Hazard Research Centre, Middlesex University.

Thorne, C., Evans, E. and Penning-Rowsell, E . (eds) (2006). Future Flooding and Coastal Erosion Risks. London: Thomas Telford