Flood Management

Question 1

Hard engineering

Answer 1

Working against nature and constructing large permanent features to reduce the risk of flooding (e.g. flood walls)

Question 2

Soft engineering

Answer 2

Working with nature to reduce the risk of flooding (e.g. vegetation planting)

Question 3

Dams

Answer 3

Built to control discharge. It holds back water allowing it to be released in a controlled way

Question 4

Channelisation

Answer 4

Reduces water friction with the bed and banks speeding up water flow. Gets water away from an area quickly

Question 5

Levees

Answer 5

Increases the potential maximum area of the river channel allowing it to hold more water before bursting its banks

Question 6

Afforestation

Answer 6

Trees slow down the flow of water towards the river channel and also allow more interception (reducing overall runoff)

Question 7

Floodplain Zoning

Answer 7

Consider the floodplain and try to avoid building on the areas which are most regularly flooded. Area closest to channel used for farming

Question 8

Flood warning system

Answer 8

Allows evacuation of areas likely to flood and therefore reduction in damage by warning people in advance

Question 9

Retention ponds

Answer 9

Allows runoff to be temporarily stored and in turn lessens the risk of flooding

Question 10

Do Nothing

Answer 10

Accept that flooding is a natural process and allow the river to flood as it pleases without control