This presentation was given as part of the EPA-funded Catchment Science and Management Course focusing on Integrated Catchment Management, held in June 2015. This course was delivered by RPS Consultants. If you have any queries or comments, or wish to use the material in this presentation, please contact catchments@epa.ie It is increasingly being recognised internationally that integrated catchment management (ICM) is a useful organising framework for tackling the ongoing challenge of balancing sustainable use and development of our natural resource, against achieving environmental goals. The basic principles of ICM (Williams, 2012) are to: • Take a holistic and integrated approach to the management of land, biodiversity, water and community resources at the water catchment scale; • Involve communities in planning and managing their landscapes; and • Find a balance between resource use and resource conservation ICM is now well established in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. In Europe the ICM approach has been proposed as being required to achieve effective water and catchment management, and is the approach being promoted by DEFRA for the UK, where it is called the “Catchment Based Approach” (CaBA). The principles and methodologies behind ICM sit well within the context of the Water Framework Directive with its aims and objectives for good water quality, sustainable development and public participation in water resource management. In Ireland it is proposed that the ICM approach will underlie the work and philosophy in developing and implementing future River Basin Management Plans.

1. Floods Directive
& Hydromorphology Measures

2. • Overview of CFRAM Studies
• Background and explanation of flood maps
• Next steps – setting objectives & optioneering
• Challenges / opportunities linking Floods Directive & WFD
• Win Win Measures
Overview of Presentation

3. CFRAM Projects
(Catchment Flood Risk Assessment & Management)
 Implementation of the EU Floods Directive & SI 122 of 2010
 Previous pilot projects to inform methodologies
(Lee, Dodder, Fingal – East Meath: 2005-2011)
Based on Ireland’s River Basin Districts
International aspect – liaison with Rivers Agency
Projects commenced in 2011/12 with Flood Risk Management
Plans to be completed in 2016

4. CFRAM - Roles & Responsibilities
• OPW
• Competent Authority
• ‘CFRAM’ Funding and Management
• Reporting, Coordination, Consultation
• Public Bodies, local and regional authorities
• CFRAM Study Project Partners
• Progression of minor works and schemes
• Appropriate planning and development with respect to flood risk
• Maintenance where appropriate
• Support – Consultants

5. Preliminary Flood Risk
Assessment identified 300
urban areas in Ireland as
AFAs
39 AFAs in the North
Western – Neagh Bann
CFRAM Study
Area for Further Assessment
(AFA)

6. Mapping and Assessing Flood Risk
• Assessment of flood risk requires consideration of probability and consequence of
flooding
• Source – Pathway – Receptor model of flooding
• 'Flood receptors' are people, places, objects or activities that would suffer harm or
damage in the event of a flood

7. Preliminary
Flood Risk
Assessment
Flood hazard
& risk maps
Flood Risk
Management
Objectives Options
Development
Draft
FRMPs
Final
FRMPs
Where is the
problem? What is the
problem?
What do we
need to
achieve?
What is the
solution?
Who implements the
solution and when?
We are here
Current Status

8. • The Area of Further Assessment (AFA) is delineated based on Cavan Town
Limits and Development Zones;
• High Priority Watercourses (HPWs) located within the AFA extent are
modelled in detail so that channel and floodplain flow are simulated;
• Medium Priority Watercourses (MPW), located outside the AFA extent, are
modelled to inform the AFA.
Cavan AFA

9. Cavan AFA
Ballyhaise

10. Surveys
• River Sections, Structures & Defences
• Floodplain Surveys
• Defence Asset Condition Surveys
• Property Surveys

11. Cavan – River Cross Section Surveys
HPWs within the AFA
Cross Section Spacing
50 – 100m
MPW outside the AFA
Cross Section Spacing
500m

12. Cavan - Cross Section & LiDAR Surveys

13. Hydrological analysis
• Historical events
• Catchment boundaries
• Analysis of rainfall data
• Hydrometric data review
• Gauging station rating review
• Estimation of design flood
parameters
• Joint probability analysis
• Sensitivity analysis
• Future changes

14. Hydraulic Analysis
• Computer models predict how and
where flooding is likely to occur
• Information in the models includes:
– Physical characteristics (eg elevation
and shape) generated from surveys;
– Data from the hydrological studies;
– Downstream water level (in this case
Upper Lough Erne).

15. 15
Flood Mapping
10%, 1%, 0.1% AEP
(Annual Excedence Probability)

16. 16
Flood Mapping

17. 17
Public Consultation
 Public Consultation Days:
 Mapping on display
 Complete questionnaire
 Study website www.cfram.ie
 Mapping available for viewing
 Download and complete questionnaire
 Send comments via website
 SI Consultation
 Online mapping tool
 Download and complete questionnaire

18. CRITERIA OBJECTIVE SUB-OBJECTIVE
1 Technical a Ensure flood risk management options are
operationally robust
i) Ensure flood risk management options are operationally
robust
b Minimise health and safety risks associated
with the construction, operation and
maintenance of flood risk management
options
i) Minimise health and safety risks associated with the
construction, operation and maintenance of flood risk
management options
c Ensure flood risk management options are
adaptable to future flood risk, and the
potential impacts of climate change
i) Ensure flood risk management options are adaptable to
future flood risk, and the potential impacts of climate change
Setting Technical Objectives

19. CRITERIA OBJECTIVE SUB-OBJECTIVE
2 Economic a Minimise economic risk i) Minimise economic risk
b Minimise risk to transport infrastructure i) Minimise risk to transport infrastructure
c Minimise risk to utility infrastructure i) Minimise risk to utility infrastructure
d Manage Risk to Agricultural Land i) Manage Risk to Agricultural Land
Setting Economic Objectives

20. CRITERIA OBJECTIVE SUB-OBJECTIVE
3 Social a Minimise risk to human health and life i) Minimise risk to human health and life of residents
ii) Minimise risk to high vulnerability properties
b Minimise risk to community i) Minimise risk to social infrastructure and amenity
ii) Minimise risk to local employment
Setting Social Objectives

21. CRITERIA OBJECTIVE SUB-OBJECTIVE
4 Environmental a Support the objectives of the WFD i) Provide no impediment to the achievement of water body
objectives and, if possible, contribute to the achievement of
water body objectives.
b Support the objectives of the Habitats
Directive
i) Avoid detrimental effects to, and where possible enhance,
Natura 2000 network, protected species and their key habitats,
recognising relevant landscape features and stepping stones.
c Avoid damage to, and where possible
enhance, the flora and fauna of the
catchment
i) Avoid damage to or loss of, and where possible enhance, nature
conservation sites and protected species or other know species
of conservation concern.
d Protect, and where possible enhance,
fisheries resource within the catchment
i) Maintain existing, and where possible create new, fisheries
habitat including the maintenance or improvement of conditions
that allow upstream migration for fish species.
e Protect, and where possible enhance,
landscape character and visual amenity
within the river corridor
i) Protect, and where possible enhance, visual amenity, landscape
protection zones and views into / from designated scenic areas
within the river corridor.
f Avoid damage to or loss of features,
institutions and collections of cultural
heritage importance and their setting
i) Avoid damage to or loss of features, institutions and collections
of architectural value and their setting.
ii) Avoid damage to or loss of features, institutions and collections
of archaeological value and their setting.
Setting Environmental Objectives

22. 22
Flood risk management options
 Applicable measures are shortlisted
 Screening selects measures on technical, economic,
social and environmental grounds
 Detailed multi-criteria analysis is applied to
measures/combinations of measures (options)
 Environmental assessments are undertaken to
support the mca
 Preferred options are consulted on and placed in
flood risk management plans

23. 23
Flood risk management options

24. 24
Flood risk management options

25. Linking Floods Directive to Water Framework Directive
The challenge / opportunity
Linkage between River Basin Management Programmes (RBMPs) and Flood Risk
Management (FRM) activities
 Survey data – use for assessment of physical modifications (inc Article 4(7)
exemptions for new modifications)
 Hydromorphology assessment – silt management
 Hydrology & hydraulics – storm simulation info for more quantitative CSO
assessment

26. Linking Floods Directive to Water Framework Directive
The challenge / opportunity (cont’d)
 Optioneering – natural flood risk management measures, climate change,
adaptability, river continuity
 SEA & AA processes
 Consultation processes
 Aligning timeframe for key deliverables
The CFRAM Studies have reached the stage where the challenge / opportunity
is now upon us!

27. Linking Floods Directive to Water Framework Directive
Win – Win Measures Example:
Lodge Burn, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
1% AEP Flood Alleviation Scheme
DARD Rivers Agency
• Flood alleviation scheme to provide protection to town centre and residential
areas of Coleraine. Works included construction of new culverts, refurbishment
of existing culverts.
• Lodge Burn has a history of channel modifications including drainage works,
mills and culverting.

28. Linking Floods Directive to Water Framework Directive
Win – Win Measures
Lodge Burn, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
1% AEP Flood Alleviation Scheme
• Was historically an important spawning and rearing
tributary for salmonids – near the River Bann Estuary
and Atlantic Ocean.
• Bad Ecological Status 2009 – WFD – major cause was
a culvert with a concrete bed and steep apron which
obstructed fish passage and sediment transport

29. Linking Floods Directive to Water Framework Directive
Win – Win Measures
Lodge Burn, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
1% AEP Flood Alleviation Scheme
• An opportunity to improve Ecological Status as part
of the Scheme was recognised.
• Work was within a very confined urban space but a
cascade fish pass was constructed with lowering and
installation of a natural culvert bed.
Source www.rrc.co.uk

30. Linking Floods Directive to Water Framework Directive
Win – Win Measures
Lodge Burn, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
• Improved fish passage and aesthetics;
• Adult brown trout were observed upstream of
the culvert post works;
• Flooding did cause damage to cascades shortly
after completion which had to be rectified;
• Important lesson learned – enhancement
features must perform in low flow and withstand
flood events so as not to increase flood risk.

31. Linking Floods Directive to Water Framework Directive
Win – Win Measures
Lodge Burn, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
• Improved fish passage and aesthetics
• Adult brown trout were observed upstream of
the culvert post works
• Flooding did cause damage to cascades shortly
after completion which had to be rectified
• Important lesson learned – enhancement
features must perform in low flow and withstand
flood events so as not to increase flood risk

32. Linking Floods Directive to Water Framework Directive
Natural Flood Management Measures (NFM)
Working with Natural Processes to Reduce Flood Risk –R & D framework Science Report: Defra and Environment
Agency, 2014
NFM Measure Potential FRM Benefit
Land and Soil Management (Tree planting,
reduced stocking, cover crops, contour
ploughing, soil retention, track management,
fencing)
Hold back or slow surface flows to reduce
flood peaks
Reduce excessive sediment inputs
Bog drain blocking or field drain blocking Slows flow by increasing storage in bogs or
pasture
Woody debris Slows flow within channel, local effects
Land use change e.g. Arable to pasture Reduce run-off and sediment
Floodplain woodlands Slows overland flows, increase filtration and
rain interception

33. Linking Floods Directive to Water Framework Directive
Natural Flood Management Measures (NFM)
Working with Natural Processes to Reduce Flood Risk –R & D framework Science Report: Defra and Environment
Agency, 2014
NFM Measure Potential FRM Benefit
SuDS Local flood storage, slows run-off and
sediment reaching rivers
Flood storage areas (online or offline) Hold water back – engineered or natural
features
Two stage channels Increase channel capacity to move water in
high flows but keep normal flow channel
Urban flood corridors Make space for water in e.g. Park areas with
room to convey and store water
Floodplain reconnection – remove set bank
or lower embankments
Increase water stored on floodplain to
reduce downstream flow

34. Linking Floods Directive to Water Framework Directive
Natural Flood Management Measures (NFM)
Working with Natural Processes to Reduce Flood Risk –R & D framework Science Report: Defra and Environment
Agency, 2014
NFM Measure Potential FRM Benefit
Remove or re-engineer redundant in-stream
structures
Reduces risk of blockage and constraints to
flow which can raise water levels
Re-meander straightened channels Re-link floodplains and slows flow by
reducing river slope and increasing length

35. Natural Flood Management Measures (NFM)
Linking Floods Directive to Water Framework Directive
Historic planting, felling and drainage practices
increased flood risk
Design new plantings to slow the flow
Upland Woodlands

36. Natural Flood Management Measures (NFM)
Linking Floods Directive to Water Framework Directive
Block bare upland drains
that create rapid flow
pathways
Slow pathways, reduce
Drainage Density and
therefore Peak Flows
Uplands

37. Natural Flood Management Measures (NFM)
Linking Floods Directive to Water Framework Directive
Used to slow the flow and enhance flood storage
Generates woody debris – creates habitats
Catches sediment
Floodplain and
Riparian
Woodlands

38. Natural Flood Management Measures (NFM)
Linking Floods Directive to Water Framework Directive
Temporarily store water on the floodplain / non
floodplain, lower bank tops to promote spilling and
drain post flood
Creating
Storage

39. Linking Floods Directive to Water Framework Directive
Natural Flood Management Measures (NFM)
• Contributes to reducing flood risk for smaller, more frequent events
• Acts as complimentary flood risk reduction measures to schemes that may include
hard engineering
• Reduces the need for raising existing flood defence walls etc due to climate
change effects
• Increases the resilience of communities to withstand more extreme events
• Provides additional benefits for environment and society
• Cannot always afford protection during extreme flood events
Source
www.rrc.co.uk

40. Urban rivers as drainage channels
with recreational green space
Vistula river, Krakow, Poland

41. Urban rivers as drainage channels,
green space and biodiversity
Brisbane river, Brisbane, Australia