Post a comment on the text below

Text box: Natural flood defenses

Probably the most visible signs of flood risk management are flood defenses. Typical hard defenses include embankments, walls, weirs, sluices and pumping stations.  Typical use of natural processes could involve using washlands, mudflats and saltmarshes to provide space for floodwater and prevent flooding from occurring elsewhere.  At the same time, this can benefit wildlife by providing areas of habitat and are often used in combination with hard defenses to provide areas for recreation and tourism. Upland areas could be managed by restoring peat bogs or blocking artificial drainage channels.  Re-planting forests in floodplains will help to slow the flow of water run-off and help it filter through the soil. In urban areas green roofs, permeable paving, surface water storage areas can be used to reduce flood risk. By working with natural processes alongside traditional hard defences a more sustainable approach to flood risk can be achieved.

Source: Environment Agency

You cannot post comments to this consultation because you are not authenticated. Please log in.