CATCH II: stakeholders’ perceptions of connections for integrated catchment management
This 6 page report describes a survey which examines views and insights related to integrated catchment management. Integrated catchment management (ICM) is a popular way of managing our resources, and entails making various connections between sectors, stakeholders, policy and practitioners. Making all these connections is challenging. Part of the CATCH II project aimed to elicit views about connecting insights, processes and planning for the delivery of integrated catchment management (ICM), from a variety of stakeholders connected with planning and implementing of ICM. Views were obtained via a questionnaire survey. This report provides details of the questionnaire, findings and recommendations.
In the last decade, catchment management has seen a wealth of new “top-down” legislation and policy initiatives, such as the EU Water Framework Directive, to take forward emerging demands for better integration and delivery of multiple benefits for society and the environment at the catchment scale. In parallel, there has been a growth of “bottom up”
initiatives, some of these now representing advanced approaches to Integrated Catchment Management (ICM), for example, Tweed Forum, the Westcountry Rivers Trust and Association of Rivers Trusts (now called the Rivers Trust). The CATCH-II project represents a key opportunity to further learn from existing ICM experience, and contribute to the challenge of making catchment management relevant to practitioners.
Coastal Flooding in Scotland: A guidance document for coastal practitioners
The purpose of this guidance is to provide the most up-to-date knowledge and information relating to coastal flooding in Scotland ensuring that the information in this field is based on the best available scientific evidence. In particular, this aims to synthesise existing science and research on issues relevant to climate change, sea level rise, coastal flooding, coastal erosion and flood defences together with strategies of coastal adaptation.
A farmer focus group was held on 22nd February 2012 to share knowledge and understanding of diffuse pollution issues and management opportunities in the Water of Fail catchment, Ayrshire. The aims of this evening workshop were to: (I) update the farming community in the Water of Fail catchment on findings from the recent SEPA one-to-one visits; (II) raise awareness about potential funding opportunities for implementing on-farm measures to reduce diffuse pollution impacts; and (III) share
experiences of land and water management from across academic, farmer, catchment stakeholder and regulator perspectives.
'The Scottish Rivers Handbook’ produced by the James Hutton Institute and the University of Stirling for CREW, is an accessible, fully illustrated 36 page book that gives an overview of the physical character of Scotland’s rivers. The book aims to educate people on working with river processes and natural forms in a sympathetic manner through explaining their natural forms, functions and benefits to society
Natural flood management (NFM) knowledge system: Sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) and flood management in urban areas
This report, one of three reports produced for CREW to verify the current state of knowledge on NFM, focuses on establishing the effectiveness of SUDS measures for flood management in urban areas, particularly in relation to performance under saturation conditions and long term efficiency as a device becomes established. Although it is explicitly recognised that SUDS can also deliver water quality and amenity benefits, this report focuses only on runoff detention and retention. In particular this report examines the performance of devices with high or moderate potential for runoff volume reduction in detail (green roofs, rainwater harvesting, pervious paving, infiltration devices and swales), reviewing the available evidence relating to the impact that these different SUDS measures have on managing flood scenarios.
Natural flood management (NFM) knowledge system: The effect of land drainage on flood risk and farming practice
It is increasingly becoming understood that effective management of river basins in terms of water resources (floods, droughts, recreation and biodiversity) requires the integrated management of both land and water practices (O’Donnell et al., 2011). This integrated approach is also recognised as a requirement at smaller scales. For example, Abdel-Dayem (2006) notes that in most countries drainage systems are “...not designed to address simultaneously water management, disease control, drainage water reuse and flood management” and suggests that an approach to managing drainage from an integrated water and land perspective is essential.
Within this context, this report is one of three produced for CREW to verify the current state of knowledge on NFM. It briefly reviews the historical development of land drainage and looks at the impacts on flood risk from land drains and the recent move towards drain blocking.
Natural flood management (NFM) knowledge system: The effect of NFM features on the desynchronising of flood peaks at a catchment scale
Natural flood management (NFM) is currently being promoted as a cost-effective catchment scale approach to managing flood risk and The Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 places an emphasis on all statutory bodies to consider the use of NFM approaches where possible. Whilst this emphasis has already led to a number of initiatives aimed at assessing and promoting the more widespread implementation of NFM techniques within Scotland, there remains significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of NFM measures at the catchment scale. There is therefore a clear need to improve the evidence base of NFM performance, design and implementation.
This report is one of three produced for CREW to verify the current state of knowledge on NFM. It focuses on establishing the effectiveness of NFM features at a catchment scale, particularly in relation to how they may be used to desynchronise flood peaks and therefore reduce downstream flood risk.
A new sustainable approach to flood risk management which utilises land management has been brought to the forefront of policy making in Scotland through a policy chain including the EU Water Framework Directive 2000, the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003, the EU Floods Directive 2007 and the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009. This new approach manages risk in an integrated and holistic way, to proactively tackle the causes of flooding. Land use is central. Natural flood management (NFM) utilises land management measures to store water and slow the flow in upland areas to reduce flood risk downstream. NFM measures typically include wetland and bog creation or restoration, improvement and maintenance of buffers strips, contour ploughing and afforestation, and the installation of leaky barriers in water courses. To date, uptake of NFM by farmers has been poor - suggesting substantial barriers to implementation exist.
Evaluating CREW Year 2: Full Report
The Evaluating Science Policy Practice Interface (ESPPI) Project aims to assess how far CREW is meeting its original three objectives, and to make recommendations to the CREW Facilitation Team (CFT) and the CREW Steering Group (CSG) for future improvements. This report is based on the views of people involved in CREW (researchers from the James Hutton Institute and the university sector, and policy / practice customers in the Scottish Government, SEPA and Scottish Water).
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