River Welland Catchment Flood Management Plan Summary of Scoping Report November 2006 We Are the Environment Agency
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
t c <Av, 1C m Environment U Agency r River Welland Catchment Flood Management Plan Summary of Scoping Report November 2006 We are the Environment Agency. It’s our job to look after your environment and make it a better place - for you, and for future generations. Your environment is the airyou breathe, the wateryou drink and the ground you walk on. Working with business, Government and society as a whole, we are making your environment cleaner and healthier. The Environment Agency. Out there, making your environment a better place. Published by: Environment Agency Kingfisher House Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay Peterborough PE2 5ZR Tel: 08708 506 506 Email: [email protected] www.environment-agency.gov.uk © Environment Agency All rights reserved. This document may be reproduced with prior permission of the Environment Agency. November 2006 What is a Catchment Flood Management Plan (CFMP)? A Catchment Flood Management Plan is a plan that provides an overview for managing the long-term risk of flooding in a particular area. We are producing a CFMP for each major river or area The policies will establish whether we should take in England and Wales. CFMPs look at flooding from all action to allow flood risk to: sources except for coastal flooding from the sea. This is increase in suitable areas considered in Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs). be reduced CFMPs will identify the main factors influencing flood flows and flood risk and will assess how they may remain at the current level change overtime. The CFMP will not propose specific measures to manage The final plan will outline sustainable flood risk flood risk but will identify where we should undertake management policies that will provide a balance further work. between cost effectiveness, social needs, demands on land use for development and the environment over the next 50-100 years. It will include a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) that will look at Q Have we adequately how the policy options we propose might affect the environment. explained the concept It will seek to make sure we provide a high level of of Catchment Flood protection and enhancement, wherever possible, to safeguard the environment for the future. Management Plans? Kate's Bridge, Thurlby 2 ‘ Environment Agency River Wetland Catchment Flood Management Plan Summary of Scoping Report Contents What this booklet tells you..............................................1 Consequences of flooding............................................7 What is a Catchment Flood Management Plan (CFMP)? 2 Environmental impact....................................................8 What is the Scoping Stage?............................................3 Possible future scenarios............................................10 Timetable for the River Welland CFMP...........................3 Catchment objectives..................................................11 Catchment overview........................................................ A Way forward................................................................. 12 Current flood risks and management............................. 6 Feedback Form..............................................................13 What this booklet tells you: This booklet tells you about a Scoping Report we have recently published on flood related issues within the River Welland catchment. We are in the process of developing a Catchment the draft CFMP objectives that will be used to Flood Management Plan (CFMP) forthe RiverWelland decide which flood risk management policies are catchment. This will be a broadscale strategic plan that appropriate in a particular part of the catchment. will look to assess how flood risks might change and You have until 23rd February 2007 to return your be managed over the next 50 to 100 years. The Scoping comments using the feedback form at the end of the Report outlines our current understanding of flood booklet. You will find questions at several points risk in the catchment and provides a catchment wide throughout, and on the form to assist you in making understanding of flooding processes and how these your response. If you would like to see the full Scoping may change in the future. Details of the timetable for Report, you can either view this on our website at: producing the Final Plan are given on page 3. www.environment-agency.gov.uk This booklet aims to: or at any of the following main libraries: inform, and get responses from interested groups or Market Harborough Oakham individuals on our understanding of why and how Stamford Bourne flooding might occur and the impacts of it; Market Deeping Peterborough obtain your views on how we intend to assess which Spalding flood management policies might be appropriate Alternatively, if you would like your own copy on CD, overthe life of the plan. this can be sent upon request. In particular we would like your comments on: the possible future scenarios described on page 10; ENVIRONMENT AGENCY l i i i l l i 102620 t Rood Management Plan Summary of Scoping Report 1 What is the Scoping Stage? The Scoping Stage aims to present: an understanding of the catchment processes a summary of: leading to flood risk; • the potential changes in land use management, urban growth and climate change affecting the a summary of past and present flood risk and flood catchment in the future; risk management measures; • an indication of the likely impact of these changes; draft objectives to help us decide which flood risk • proposed scenarios for the future to be tested in management policies might be appropriate. the next stage. Timetable for the River Welland CFMP When Milestone Output March 2006 - May 2006 Inception Stage Initial data collection and understanding of the catchment. Engage with interested parties. Inception Report. June 2006 - November 2006 Scoping Stage Understanding current flood risks and management. Identify draft opportunities and constraints. Identify draft scenarios and objectives. Scoping Report. November 2006 - February 2007 Scoping Consultation Consultation responses. Establish direction ofCFMP. January 2007 - May 2007 Draft CFMP Stage Develop opportunities and constraints. Appraise policies. Draft CFMP. May 2007 - September 2007 Draft CFMP Consultation responses Consultation September 2007 - November 2007 Final CFMP Agree sustainable responses. Identify future strategies and studies. Publish final CFMP. Environment Agency River Welland Catchment Rood Management Plan Summary of Scoping Report 3 Catchment overview The River Welland catchment is located in the east of England and extends from its headwaters around Market Harborough, through Stamford and Spalding to its outfall into The Wash. The CFMP area is made up of a number of separate “We have a range of powers watercourses divided by natural watersheds. Each watercourse has a separate hydrometric catchment. in respect of flood risk For this CFMP we have combined these to form a larger unit with a total area of approximately 1650 km2. The management forthe main catchment is predominantly rural, with the main urban areas being Market Harborough, Oakham, Stamford, rivers in the catchment.” Market Deeping, Bourne, Spalding and the northern The catchment supports a variety of land uses, although part of Peterborough. 95% is agricultural land. Besides agriculture, 2% of the catchment is urban and the remaining 3% non- The River Welland and its tributaries drain the entire agricultural (including open water, shrub, woodland CFMP catchment area, and are divided into two and natural grassland). significantly different regimes. We have a range of powers in respect of flood risk To the West of Stamford, the catchment is hilly with the management forthe main rivers in the catchment. Welland’s major tributaries such as the River Charter Ordinary watercourses are managed by local and River Gwash cutting valleys into the underlying authorities, while the fen area in the east of the clay. To the east of Stamford the hills flatten out to form catchment is drained by a network of watercourses the entirely different landscape of the Fens where the and pumping stations maintained by Internal Drainage river is embanked and acts as a carrier for upland water Boards. through low-lying fenland, discharging out to sea at Fosdyke. The tidal limit is in Spalding. Figure 1 shows an overview of the catchment. Stamford Town Centre 4 Environment Agency River Welland Catchment Flood Management Plan Summary of Scoping Report Oakham Figure 1 - The River Welland Catchment Welland River The - 1 Figure Environment Agency River Welland Catchment Rood Management Plan Summary of Scoping Report Key: % Towns — — Mam Rivers | Flood Zona 3 (1% risk of Fluvial flooding and/or 0.5% risk of Tidal flooding] Peterborough Lakes Harborough District Daventry District Kettering District Corby District Melton District Rutland East Northamptonshire District City of Peterborough South Kesteven District North Kesteven District South Holland District :Boston District Current flood risks and management People, property and the environment are at risk of flooding now. We spend a significant amount each year on flood risk management. Anglian Water, local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards undertake management in addition to this. The main cause of flooding in the catchment is heavy Our flood map shows the area at risk of flooding and rain falling over a short time period, particularly when it can be viewed on our website www.environment the ground is already saturated or when channels agency.gov.