Esk and Coastal Streams Catchment Flood Management Plan Summary Report December 2010 Managing Flood Risk We Are the Environment Agency
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Esk and Coastal Streams Catchment Flood Management Plan Summary Report December 2010 managing flood risk 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 air you breathe, the water you 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 Rivers House, 21 Park Square South, Leeds, LS1 2QG Tel: 0870 8506506 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. ISBN: GENE1109BRCL-E-P December 2010 Introduction I am pleased to introduce our summary of the Esk and Coastal Streams Catchment Flood Management Plan (CFMP). This CFMP gives an overview of the flood risk in the Esk and Coastal Streams catchment and sets out our preferred plan for sustainable flood risk management over the next 50 to 100 years. The Esk and Coastal Streams CFMP is one of 77 CFMPs out in the past which reduce the risk in key areas such for England and Wales. Through the CFMPs, we have as Skinningrove. In total there are 853 properties assessed inland flood risk across all of England and currently at risk during a 1 per cent event (not taking Wales for the first time. The CFMP considers all types into account defences). This will increase to 866 of inland flooding, from rivers, ground water, surface properties in the future. water and tidal flooding, but not flooding directly We cannot reduce flood risk on our own, we will from the sea (coastal flooding), which is covered by therefore work closely with all our partners to improve Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs). Our coverage of the co-ordination of flood risk activities and agree the surface and ground water is however limited due to a most effective way to management flood risk in the lack of available information. future. We established a local steering group which The role of CFMPs is to establish flood risk management included Hambleton and Ryedale District Councils, policies which will deliver sustainable flood risk Redcar and Cleveland and Scarborough Borough management for the long term. This is essential if Council and North Yorkshire County Council and a we are to make the right investment decisions for regional steering group which included Natural England the future and to help prepare ourselves effectively and water companies amongst others. for the impact of climate change. We will use CFMPs This is a summary of the main CFMP document, if you to help us target our limited resources where the need to see the full document an electronic version risks are greatest. can be obtained by emailing necfmps@environment- This CFMP identifies flood risk management policies to agency.gov.uk or alternatively paper copies can be assist all key decision makers in the catchment. It was viewed at any of our offices in the North East Region. produced through a wide consultation and appraisal process; however it is only the first step towards an integrated approach to Flood Risk Management. As we all work together to achieve our objectives, we must monitor and listen to each others progress, discuss what has been achieved and consider where we may need to review parts of the CFMP. The Esk and Coastal Streams CFMP area has a history of David Dangerfield flood risk. Limited engineering works have been carried Yorkshire and North East Regional Director Environment Agency Esk Catchment Flood Management Plan 1 Contents The purpose of a CFMP in managing flood risk 3 Catchment overview 4 Current and future flood risk 6 Future direction for flood risk management 10 Sub-areas 1 Guisborough 12 2 Loftus and Skinningrove 14 3 Rural Esk 16 4 Lower Esk 18 5 Skelton Beck 20 Map of the CFMP policies 21 2 Environment Agency Esk Catchment Flood Management Plan The purpose of a CFMP in managing flood risk CFMPs help us to understand the • IDBs, water companies and CFMPs aim to promote more scale and extent of flooding now other utilities to help plan their sustainable approaches to managing and in the future, and set policies activities in the wider context of flood risk. The policies identified for managing flood risk within the the catchment; in the CFMP will be delivered catchment. CFMPs should be used through a combination of different • Transportation planners; to inform planning and decision approaches. The following actions making by key stakeholders such as: • Land owners, farmers and land and their implementation will be managers that manage and subject to further appraisal and • The Environment Agency, who will operate land for agriculture, funding, and prioritised by their use the plan to guide decisions conservation and amenity supporting evidence. The CFMP is on investment in further plans, purposes; a living document and actions will projects or actions; be updated as necessary to reflect • The public and businesses to • Regional planning bodies and changing responsibilities and enhance their understanding local authorities who can use the delivery mechanisms. of flood risk and how it will be plan to inform spatial planning managed. activities and emergency planning; Figure 1 shows the relationship between CFMPs, delivery plans, projects and actions Policy planning • CFMPs and Shoreline Management Plans. • Action plans define requirement for delivery plans, projects and actions. Policy delivery plans (see note) Projects and actions • Influence spatial planning to reduce risk • Make sure our spending delivers the best and restore floodplains. possible outcomes. • Prepare for and manage floods • Focus on risk based targets, for example (including local Flood Warning plans). numbers of households at risk. • Managing assets. • Water level management plans. • Land management and habitat creation. Note: Some plans may not be led by us – we may • Surface water management plans. identify the need and encourage their development. Environment Agency Esk Catchment Flood Management Plan 3 Catchment overview The River Esk and a number of There is a large amount of open The Esk and Coastal Streams CFMP smaller coastal streams flow moorland and grassland within looks at the risk of flooding from through a mostly rural catchment in the catchment. The North York all sources, but mostly from river North Yorkshire. Map 1 shows the Moors are the largest areas of flooding. There is also a risk of location and extent of the Esk and heather moorland in England. flooding from the North Sea in this Coastal Streams CFMP area. The The catchment is highly valued catchment. The future management North York Moors cover most of the for nature conservation. Large of tidal and coastal risk is covered catchment, giving way to lowlands areas of upland are designated in detail by the 'River Tyne to nearer the coast. The population of as a Special Area of Conservation Flamborough Head Shoreline the catchment is relatively small at (SAC) and Special Protection Area Management Plan'. around 83,000, and the economy (SPA) for birds. There are also 17 is based largely around agriculture Sites of Special Scientific Interest and tourism. Mining was historically (SSSI) with a variety of habitats and a significant part of the economy, geological features. The River Esk but now only one significant potash is the main salmon and sea trout mine is in operation. Less than river in Yorkshire, with 237km of 5% of the catchment is urban, river protected under the European with many small villages and Freshwater Fish Directive. Many of towns scattered throughout the the rivers have steep valleys and area. Whitby, with a population of small floodplains, which can cause 13,500, is the largest urban area. floods to rise quickly after heavy or Population increases during the prolonged rainfall. summer months, due to tourism. 4 Environment Agency Esk Catchment Flood Management Plan Map 1. Location and extent of the Esk and Coastal Streams CFMP area © Environment Agency copyright and/or database rights 2009. All rights reserved. Environment Agency Esk Catchment Flood Management Plan 5 Current and future flood risk Overview of the current flood risk What is at risk? The risk of flooding can be broken Currently the main sources of Within the Esk and Coastal Streams down into two parts; the chance flood risk for people, property and catchment there are 681 residential (probability) of a particular flood infrastructure are: properties and 111 commercial and the impact (consequence) that properties at risk of flooding at • River flooding occurs throughout the flood would have if it happened. the undefended 1 per cent flood. the CFMP, the main areas include The probability of a flood relates to This means that two per cent of the Guisborough and Loftus and the likelihood of a flood of that size population living in the catchment Skinningrove. occurring within a one year period, is currently at risk of flooding. it is expressed as a percentage. For • Surface water flooding occurs in Flooding has a neutral impact on example, a 1 per cent flood has a 1 parts of the catchment. Specific around 0.8km² of SSSI, 0.54km² per cent chance or 0.01 probability locations include Lealholm, of SAC and 0.5km² of SPA. of occurring in any one year. Egton Bridge, Briggswath and Additionally, there are 4 Scheduled Ruswarp, where there is a risk Within this document the figures Ancient Monuments and 0.2km² of surface water flooding from for flood risk are shown as the 1 of Registered parks and gardens moorland runoff.