11.8 Managing Floods - Soft engineering

Question 1

➢ What is soft engineering?

Answer 1

➢ Involves working with natural river processes to manage the flood risk

Question 2

How does planting trees reduce the risk of flooding?

Answer 2

➢ Afforestation can help the trees obstruct the flow of water and slow down the transfer to river channels
➢ Water is soaked up by the trees or evaporated from leaves and branches
➢ Relatively cheap and has environmental benefits

Question 3

How do wetlands and flood storage areas reduce the risk of flooding?

Answer 3

➢ Wetlands environments on river floodplains are very efficient in storing water. Wetlands are deliberately allowed to flood to form storage areas
➢ Water can be stored to reduce the risk of flooding further downstream

Question 4

How does floodplain zoning reduce the risk of flooding?

Answer 4

➢ Floodplain zoning restricts different land uses to certain locations on the floodplain
➢ Floodplain zoning can reduce overall losses caused by flood damaged

Question 5

How does river restoration reduce the risk of flooding?

Answer 5

➢ Where the course of a river has been changed artificially - river restoration can return it to its original course
➢ River restoration uses the natural processes and features of a river - such as meanders and wetlands to slow downriver flow
➢ Reduces the risk of a major flood downstream

Question 6

How can flood warnings help to reduce the risk of flooding?

Answer 6

➢ Rivers and river basins are monitored remotely using satellites and computer technology
➢ Instruments are used to measure rainfall and to check river levels
➢ Computer models can then be used to predict discharges and identify areas at risk from flooding

Question 7

What is involved in the planning for floods?

Answer 7

➢ Planning what to do if there is a flood warning - moving valuable items upstairs eg
➢ Using flood gates to prevent floodwater from damaging property
➢ Using sandbags to keep floodwater away from buildings