Soft engineering strategies for flood solutions include flood warning systems, sandbagging, and flood insurance. Flood plain zoning tries to organize flood defences so that flood-prone land is used for farming rather than housing. Soft engineering defences work with nature through land use management, wetland conservation, river restoration, and planting trees. Flood plain zoning assesses flood risk across land and restricts development in high risk areas.

1. Flood solutions – soft engineering strategies

5. Land use management = flood plain zoning It restricts development – a problem when there is a shortage of housing It can’t be used in areas that are already urbanised There are no new buildings or roads on the flood plain to be damaged so the impact of any flooding is reduced It provides recreational opportunities Planning restrictions prevent buildings or roads being constructed on the flood plain. Use of the floodplain is restricted to things like playing fields, allotments or parks. More water can infiltrate grassy surfaces so there is less surface run off which reduces discharge and flooding Disadvantages Extra benefits How it works

6. Wetland and river bank conservation Less land is available for farming Vegetation protects against soil erosion Vegetation creates wildlife habitats Wetlands store flood water and also slow it down. This reduces flooding downstream. Conserving or re-establishing wetlands gives natural protection from flooding. Planting trees and shrubs along the river bank increases interception and lag time and reduces discharge. This also decreases flooding (= riparian buffers) Disadvantages Extra benefits How it works

7. River restoration Local flood risk can increase especially if nothing is done to prevent major flooding Little maintenance is needed as the river is left in its natural state The river provides a better habitat for wildlife Making the river more natural – e.g. by removing man made levees and allowing the river to flood naturally. As the water spreads out over the floodplain, the river’s discharge is reduced which reduces the flooding risk downstream Disadvantages Extra benefits How it works

11. How can the risk of flooding be reduced? Control LAND USE Stop people building on the floodplain Plant trees to increase interception and infiltration

12. Control land use

13. Homes On Stilts

14. Re-planting Trees

15. Flood protection *Dams *reservoirs *straighten channels *Dredging *levees and embankments *land use zoning *afforestation plenary The challenge: to talk for sixty seconds on one of the flood control measures without any hesitation, repetition or deviation.