✅Case Study - Pickering Beck

Question 1

What is Pickering Beck?

Answer 1

A river in North Yorkshire

Question 2

How far does the beck run for?

Answer 2

29km (18 miles)

Question 3

Which National Park is the beck located in?

Answer 3

The North York Moors

Question 4

Why is the river prone to flooding?

Answer 4

Due to the steep sided valley that the water runs off into the beck

Question 5

Which government scheme was piloted in the town?

Answer 5

‘Slowing the Flow’

Question 6

When does the beck flood in particular?

Answer 6

In the summer, flash flooding

Question 7

How many times was the town flooded between 1999 and 2007?

Answer 7

4

Question 8

How much did the 2007 flood cost in damage?

Answer 8

£7 million

Question 9

How can rainfall increase chance of flooding?

Answer 9

Rainfall in the area is heavy and hydrographs flashy. Peak discharges fluctuate

Question 10

How does the geology affect flooding?

Answer 10

It consists on Gritstone and Limestone, permeable and porous allowing the water to flow through. Soil is also soft and sandy, so permeable, slow lag time

Question 11

How does the local relief affect flooding?

Answer 11

The drainage basin has steep relief in the hills of the North York Moors, decreasing time taken to reach the river

Question 12

How does the vegetation affect flooding?

Answer 12

Largely moorland shrubs and heather, growing in peat bogs which can soak up water, preventing run off and further flooding. If water is redirected for agriculture or forestry, peat dries out

Question 13

What are the main land uses in the river catchment area?

Answer 13

Arable crops
Improved grassland
Heather Moorland
Forestry and woodland

Question 14

How has the town impacted flooding?

Answer 14

Impermeable surface increase run off rates

Question 15

How have farming practices impacted the river?

Answer 15

Farming has lead to diffuse pollution, lowering the water quality

Question 16

What was adopted to manage flooding?

Answer 16

A land management technique instead of hard defences

Question 17

What was constructed at Newtondale?

Answer 17

A large low level bund to hold up to 120,000m3 in flood events to store water

Question 18

What was planted around the river catchment?

Answer 18

19ha of hydrophillic plant such as alder and willow trees to create a natural barrier to flood flows

Question 19

What was constructed in the river catchment?

Answer 19

Large woody debris damns, and natural gullies to help water drain from moorlands into forests

Question 20

How many Large Woody Debris Dams have been constructed in Pickering Beck catchment?

Answer 20

129

Question 21

How much farm woodland has been planted?

Answer 21

15 ha

Question 22

How many heather bale dams have been constructed?

Answer 22

187

Question 23

Why were no-burn zones established?

Answer 23

As burning has the potential to speed up run off by lowering interception and promoting hydrophobic soil conditions

Question 24

What has been created in terms of no burn zones?

Answer 24

A 10 metres wide buffer zone along the main watercourse