A Strategic Approach to Flood Risk

Management & Habitat Creation

Case Study River Petteril

Eden & Petteril Flood Alleviation

Scheme

Paper produced with thanks to:-

Environment Agency staff, North Area,

NW Region

Atkins Water, Warrington

Axis consultants, Chester

Paper Authors

Gary Jones-Wright, Project Manager NCMPS NW,

Environment Agency

Rachel Gerrard, Flood Defence Engineer North

Area, NW Region, Environment Agency

Study Area

Benefits of Strategic Approach

Establish early in the process a clear understanding

of the nature of the flooding problem and the

processes involved

Develop strategic options and assess the implications

catchment wide

Work with professional partners to develop options

which achieve multiple objectives

Strategic Approach

to Flood Risk

Management

CFMP

Works

Catchment Flood

Management Plans

Flood Defence

Feasibility, Detailed

Design & Construction

Flood Risk Management PAG2

STRATEGIC APPRAISAL

Flood Defence Policy

Objectives within the

catchment

Identification of the

preferred strategic flood

defence options within

the study area

Identification of the

preferred local engineering

options to reduce flood

risk in study area

Identify Flood Defence

Needs

Research & Development

Technical Studies &

Draft Report

Consultation

Strategic Appraisal Report

Data Gathering

Strategic Optioneering

Carlisle & Lower Eden Flood Risk Management

Strategic Appraisal, modelled and appraised multiple

flood alleviation options

Strategic options were appraised against a matrix of

various criteria

The preferred strategic option identified was to ‘hold

the line, improve the standard of protection and

maximise opportunities to locally retard defences and

improve habitat’

Eden & Petteril FAS Study Area

River Petteril,

Melbourne Park

Existing Situation

River Petteril, Melbourne Park

Existing Situation

River Petteril, Melbourne Park

Existing Situation

January 2005 Flood Event

River Petteril,

Melbourne Park

Preferred Option

River Petteril, Melbourne Park

Preferred Option

Key Features of Melbourne

Park - Preferred Option

Option complies with Carlisle City Council’s Three

Rivers Strategy

Option removes some of the constraints to the

natural processes along part of the River Petteril

Option provides benefits to flood risk management,

visual and recreational amenity and community

ownership

Opportunities to target rare habitat types in good

quality watercourse and tributary of the Eden SAC

In Summary

Strategic approach to flood risk management

identified opportunities to deliver flood defence

scheme which could achieve multiple objectives

The early identification of the opportunity, before

feasibility (PAR) stage, means funding is more

likely, and management agreements can be

developed with partner organisations at an early

stage

The preferred strategic option is more likely to

provide the most environmentally acceptable

flood defence scheme