Flood management

Question 1

Explain three hard engineering strategies.

Answer 1

• Dams/Reservoirs Allows water to be stored. Controls the amount of water in the river. Can be used for water supply or produce hydroelectricity. Can flood farmland and displace people/destroy habitats.
• Deepening and widening the river channel- Enlarges the channel and allows it to hold more water. In times of heavy rainfall the river is less likely to burst and can transport water effectively.
• Levees/high embankments- Built along the sides of the rivers. Allow the river to contain more floodwater as the water can rise above the level of the natural bank.

Question 2

Explain three soft engineering strategies.

Answer 2

• Planting trees- Normally occurs in the upper course of the river. Increases interception and reduces the risk of flooding. Allows trees to absorb the water from the roots making the soil less saturated. Also reduces groundwater storage.
• Land Use Zoning- dividing the floodplain into areas which experience different degrees of flooding. Land that’s at the highest risk isn’t used for urban development and is usually agricultural land whilst lower risk land is recreational land and the least risk zone is used for buildings.
• Washlands- parts of the floodplain in the lower course which can temporarily be flooded.

Question 3

Explain three soft engineering strategies.

Answer 3

• Planting trees- Normally occurs in the upper course of the river. Increases interception and reduces the risk of flooding. Allows trees to absorb the water from the roots making the soil less saturated. Also reduces groundwater storage.