In the article “Natural Engineering offers solutions against future flooding”, it was stated that there are solutions inspired by nature which can prevent flooding in areas affected due to increased rate of water flow upstream (Newcastle University, 2014). One example of this solution implemented in Belford shows how this natural flood management scheme can be applied in other areas around the UK where flooding is prevalent. The scheme is an effective method to prevent flooding in low lying areas by altering the natural flow pathways and reducing the runoff from the land. Managing the downstream flow gives people more time to prepare in the event a flood occurs. This also reduces pollution by preventing phosphorus and nitrates from being washed off the land. The scheme uses soft engineering solutions to prevent flooding by storing water, increasing soil infiltration, increasing resistance to water flow or redirecting water. Implementation of the natural flood management systems can be significantly cheaper as compared to conventional flood management systems.
The article published on Science Daily provides information regarding the implementation as well as benefits of using natural flood management systems, however it fails to address the negative impacts and trade-offs such a system will have when altering the natural flow pathways.
Firstly, loss of biological diversity and ecological function may be a possible consequence of altering natural flow pathways. Altering natural flow pathways may cause disruption to the existing eco-system as changing the flow of water or introducing new features to store water will affect the natural balance of the water body. Changing the “area, frequency and duration of flooding of floodplains and terminal wetlands” will reduce the habitat of species which depend on these water bodies. This can also lead to increased habitat of invasive species.
The study conducted in Belford is not representative of other natural flood management systems implemented in other areas around the world as the impact on the eco-system may differ in different places. According to the article “Alteration to the natural flow regimes of rivers, streams, floodplains & wetlands – key threatening process listing”, it was demonstrated that altering natural pathways can adversely affect the eco-system in New South Wales, Australia, which could be very different in terms of geography and bio-diversity as compare to Belford, Northumberland.
Retrieved from:
Newcastle University. (2014, January 28). ‘Natural’ engineering offers solution against future flooding. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 31, 2019 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140128094531.htm
Office of Environment and Heritage. (n.d.). Alteration to the natural flow regimes of rivers, streams, floodplains & wetlands – key threatening process listing. Retrieved February 1, 2019, from https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspecies/AlterationNaturalFlowKTPListing.htm
K. Waylen, K. Holstead, K. Colley, & J. Hopkins (2017). Challenges to enabling and implementing Natural Flood Management in Scotland. Retrieved February 1, 2019, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jfr3.12301
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