An example of a river valley in the UK to identify its major landforms of erosion and deposition – The River Tees

The River Tees is a fantastic river to study as it contains nearly all of the classic river landforms; V shaped valleys and interlocking spurs, waterfalls, floodplains and levees, meanders and ox bow lakes and an estuary at Tees mouth.

It also provides an example of how river basins can be managed against flooding. The River Tees catchment is located in the north east of England. It has three main rivers, the River Tees, the River Skerne and the River Leven.

River Tees Catchment factors

Physical (Natural Factors) Human Factors

1. River Tees drains the eastern slopes of Cross Fell in 1. The Tees Barrage forms an artificial barrier between the Pennines and flows eastward to the North Sea. the Tees Estuary and the upstream catchment. This 2. The length of the channel from source to sea is helps maintain water levels for amenity purposes approximately 160 kilometres. and eliminates tidal effects further upstream. 3. The River Tees rises on the slopes of Cross Fell at a 2. Land use in the west of the area is mainly moorland height of 893metres. and pasture – low interception rates 4. Upland area receives over 2,000 millimetres of rain 3. On the lower slopes and middle catchment the land each year. use changes to a greater amount of pasture and 5. The rainfall reaches the river quickly because the woodland Higher interception rates slopes are steep and very little water can infiltrate 4. To the east - large built up areas, including due to the impermeable rocks and saturated peat. Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees. 6. After heavy rainfall or when the snow melts in the Approximately 687,000 people so big urban spring the river level can rise quickly and the water influence also flows downstream quickly. 5. Large industrial areas such as the ICI chemical works which use the water.

Flood events along the River Tees

Tees catchment has a long history of flooding with reported flooding dating back over 400 years. Over 9,600 properties including some key infrastructure buildings are at risk of flooding (not taking into account defences) during the one per cent flood event. In the future due to climate change this number is expected to increase to 11,230 16/17th November 1771 river Tees burst its banks in a number of places with Yarm being one of the areas worst affected. At the height of the flood some stretches of Yarm High Street were submerged in 20 feet of water. River flooded again in 1995 and 2015. Almost three per cent of the catchment population is at risk from the one per cent flood event. This means that flood management is definitely needed in this catchment

The Flood defence scheme in Yarm

1. Since the 1995 flood event a new flood defence scheme costing £2.1 million has been built. 2. Improved flood warning systems which liaise with the Meteorological Office, police and other emergency services. Describe the major landforms

3. New development has discouraged building on low-lying and flood-prone of deposition for a river valley in the UK you have studied land (land is used for activities not damaged by inundation e.g. playing fields, parks, urban forests/walks etc.) Evaluate/discuss issues arising from a Flood 4. In Yarm the Environment Agency management scheme in the UK put in Reinforced concrete walls with metal flood gates for access by people

and vehicles Used Earth Embankments Put in Gabions to protect walls and embankments from erosion Included Fishing platforms, street lighting and replanting to improve the environment Kept building materials in keeping with existing architecture