Role of rural land use management in flood and coastal risk management

Abstract

Abstract Flood risk is influenced by the rate and speed of rural land runoff within the catchment and by flow attenuation in the floodplain. Most research to date has demonstrated that the overall flood risk benefits of multiple small scale land management changes at a large catchment scale are difficult to determine and, in some situations, may not provide significant benefits in flood events. Measures may, however, offer potential for attenuation, improving flood warning times and therefore reducing flood damages. Climate change and major legislative drivers such as the Water Framework Directive will also further drive the need to consider different approaches to how land is managed and the impact that this may have on flood and coastal risk management.