GCSE River Management Flashcards
Define the following key terms.
DEFRA
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; they plan new coastal defenses
Environment Agency
The semi-government agency which build and maintain UK flood protection schemes
Met Office
Weather experts who model the future weather and forecast severe weather warnings
Hard engineering
River management strategies which involve major construction work, they are often obtrusive
Soft engineering
River management strategies which work with the natural coastal processes
Embankment
An artificial slope raised above the river banks to keep water inside the river channel
Channelisation
The deepening and widening of a river to increase its capacity to hold more water within the channel
Flood relief channel
A constructed waterway designed to divert excess water away from populated areas near the river in the event of flooding
Dam
A barrier obstructing the flow of water downstream, the water is released in a controlled manner
Flood wall
A vertical artificial barrier designed to temporarily contain the waters of a river
Storage area
A large depression close to the river that will fill with water if a river overflows
Floodplain zoning
Policies that prohibit and restricts development within floodplains in order to prevent damage to property and risks to people
Washlands
Wasteland areas around a river that is allowed to flood naturally preventing flooding in other areas
Warning systems
A network of sirens messages and notifications which give people early warning in the event of a flood
Afforestation
The planting of trees in the catchment area of a river to intercept rainfall and slow down the flow of water to the river
