SNIFFER’S ROLE IN FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT

Fiona MactaggartResearch Manager

SNIFFER: background• SNIFFER aims to improve knowledge to protect

our environment• Funded by five members:

o Scottish Executiveo Scottish Environment Protection Agencyo Scottish Natural Heritageo Environment and Heritage Serviceo Forestry Commission

• Additional collaborative income at a topic and project level

Current topic areas

• Implementation of Water Framework Directive• Urban environment• Land quality• Air quality• Programme of UK environmental regulation

research• Climate change• Flood risk management

FRM service: background

• Scottish Executive’s Environment Group commissioned SNIFFER to provide a research and knowledge management service in relation to flood risk management (FRM).

• Funding from August 2004 to August 2006.

• On behalf of Scottish stakeholders.

FRM service: aims1. Develop knowledge, understanding and awareness of flood risk

management research programmes and initiatives in the UK and EU;

2. Develop a flood risk management research agenda for Scotland; 3. Ensure that Scotland’s research agenda and priorities are

represented within UK and EU research programmes and initiatives through communication with key research funders;

4. Provide a knowledge management service with a policy focus; 5. Commission and effectively manage flood risk management

research; and 6. Interpret, disseminate and communicate flood risk management

research findings to the Scottish Executive and within Scotland.

FRM service: delivery mechanisms

• RISE website www.sniffer.org.uk/rise • Steering group.• Research programme.• Liaison and potential future collaboration

with other research funders.• Providing support to the Scottish

Executive’s input to the Flood Risk Management Consortium (FRMC) & CRUE ERA-NET.

RISE websitewww.sniffer.org.uk/rise

Research Information Service for Flood Risk Management (RISE)

FRM steering group: membership

• David Seaman, Scottish Executive• David Faichney, SEPA• David Howell, SNH• Alasdair Smith, Aberdeenshire Council (to be

confirmed) • Mike Donaghy / Andrea Johnstonov, Scottish

Environment Link• Alistair Dyer, Scottish Water • John Clarke, Rivers Agency• Fiona Mactaggart, SNIFFER

FRM steering group: remit

To provide strategic direction and advice to SNIFFER’s Research Manager to ensure that:• the developing Scottish FRM research

agenda reflects and addresses the needs of Scottish stakeholders; and

• SNIFFER effectively communicates FRM research findings and information to Scottish stakeholders.

FRM steering group: next steps• Initial FRM steering group meeting on 27

April to:o agree terms of reference, and o approach to development of Scottish FRM research

agenda.• Development of research agenda:

o will build on recommendations from existing documents and

o is likely to include stakeholder workshops to identify research needs/gaps.

• Limited core funding available – aim to secure collaborative income from stakeholders.

FRM research programme

• Programme will deliver the research agenda identified under the FRM steering group.

• To include seminars and workshops as well as commissioning research.

• Already two SNIFFER projects: Broad scale ecosystem impact modelling (BSEIM)

toolbox Scotland Assessing the benefits of flood warning

BSEIM toolbox Scotland project

• Aims to develop a ‘toolbox’ containing best practice guidance in data collation and ecosystem impact prediction using current available techniques.

• Toolbox will assist with ensuring that those involved in flood management, river basin and development planning in Scotland adopt a consistent approach when assessing and considering ecosystem impacts.

Flood warning project

• Review and assessment of available methods for assessing the socio-economic and environmental benefits of flood warning operations generally, and of specific schemes.

• If existing methods are unsatisfactory/ insufficient, a new method may be developed.

Support: Flood Risk Management Research Consortium (FRMRC)

• EPSRC funded Consortium. • Collaborative income from Scottish

Executive, Defra, Environment Agency, Rivers Agency, NERC & UKWIR.

• 4 year programme of research (2004-2008) worth over £5 million.

• Over 70 individuals involved in different university departments.

Support: Flood Risk Management Research Consortium (FRMRC)

To combine the strengths of blue skies and targeted end-user research, delivering

outputs which will result in a reduction of flood risk in the UK.

www.floodrisk.org.uk

Support:CRUE ERA-NETwww.crue-eranet.net

• Co-ordination of FRM research in the EU• Scottish Executive part funding.• Aims to:

o Develop strategic integration of FRM research at the national funding and policy development levels within Europe.

o Provide knowledge and understanding for the sustainable management of flooding risks at the river basin and coastal process cell scale.

FIAC and SNIFFER

• FIAC: offer advice on taking forward the National Flooding Framework

• SNIFFER: research and knowledge management

• SNIFFER can support the work of FIAC by:o Providing knowledge on the EU and UK research

agendas;o Managing research to address any identified

knowledge gaps.

Further information

• SNIFFER’s research manager, Fiona Mactaggart (fiona@sniffer.org.uk)

• RISE website www.sniffer.org.uk/rise