Hard And Soft Engineering RIVERS Flashcards
Dams & Resevoirs HARD
Good-
water can be stored
very effective
Bad -
expensive
maintenance
Channel Straightening HARD
= cutting through meanders to create a straight channel
Good-
protects vulnerable areas from flooding
increases water speed ( less likely to flood)
Bad-
maintenance (river wants to meander)
can cause flooding downstream
Embankments HARD
=raised river bank
Good-
holds more water
prevents property flooding
Bad-
can look unnattractive
blocks access to river (fishermen)
Flood relief channels HARD
=man made river channel used to bypass urban areas
Good-
very effective
Bad-
very expensive
Wetlands and flood storage area SOFT
=areas that are allowed to flood
Good-
stores water
Bad-
allows large patches of land to flood
Floodplain zoning SOFT
= restricts where buildings can be and where things are on a floodplain
Good-
Reduces losses caused by flooding
Bad-
can lead to house prices falling that are built on the floodplain
Afforestation SOFT
=more trees
Good-
looks natural
saves planet
Bad
lots of space
River bank conservation/restoration SOFT
=changes artificial rivers back to their original course
Good-
slows down river flow
Bad-
lots of work
can be expensive
Beavers!
Good-
slows flooding and river flow
Bad-
no control on where dams are built
Flood warnings! SOFT
1- flood watch (be careful)
2- flood warning (move valuables)
3- severe flood warning (get to high ground)