Rivers KQ4 Flashcards
State some conflicts within river basins when they are developed?
Discharge of sewage - can pollute public supplies
Farmers may damage aquatic ecosystems through the application of fertilisers = eutrophication
Recreational activities and fish migration may be hindered by dam creation
Urban development may lead to increased flood risk
What are the challenges of river basin management?
Knowing the nature of the resources and their status Cost - short vs long term Who pays and who gains Political will Ownership Technology Size or scale Time scale Possible wider impacts for areas beyond the basin
What has the Environment Agency done in the english rivers?
Built dams Created sediment traps Built comcrete/stone channel walls Channelled streams underground Transfer water
What 5 factors need to be considered when managing a river basin?
Water balance Channel Land characteristics Ecology Human activity
What do the River Basin Management Plans RBMP’s aim to do?
Protect and enhance the aquatic ecosystems
Promote sustainable water use
Supply sustainable and good quality surface and ground water
Reduce and eventually eliminate any polluting discharges and emissions
Mitigate the effects of flooding or droughts
Delimit conservation areas designed to protect habitats and species
What is the purpose of the Catchment Flood Management Plan?
It helps to understand the scale and extent of flooding now and in the future
Sets up policies for managing flood risk within the catchment
Promoting more sustainable approaches to managing flood risk
Informs the stakeholders of the planning and decision making process
Who are the stakeholders in the Catchment Flood Management Plan?
Environment agency Regional and local planning bodies Water companies and other utilities Transportation planners Land owners, farmers and land managers The public
How big is the catchment for the river severn.
11,000km squared
With a population of around 2.3 million
What are the 4 areas called that the Catchment Flooding Management Plan has split the severn basin into?
The Shropshire plain
The Kerry & Shropshire Hills
The Midland Plateau (incl. Iron Bridge Gorge)
Floodplain to Worcester
What does the Severn basin contain?
15 conservation areas
11 national nature reserves
4 AOBS - Cotswolds
Also 1000 Historical sites eg Monuments
What is causing the flood risk on the severn?
Surface water drainage
Sewage flooding
The river or its tributaries flooding
What are the biggest settlements at risk?
Coventry
Leamington Spa
Warwick
What types of infrastructure are at risk?
44 sewage treatment plants 19 schools 3 hospitals 17 motorway sections 106 electrical installations
What does the EA use the RBA for?
Ensure that..
Sufficient water supplies for industry, domestic, agricultural and natural environments
The water quality is also maintained
River discharge is controlled to prevent flooding or drought
Name what the EA does for Flood Management?
Steep areas have been afforested to increase interception and reduce surface run off
Channel capacity has been increased
Sophisticated flood warning scheme
How does urbanisation increase the likelihood of flooding?
Land is covered by impermeable concrete - reduce infiltration therefore increasing the velocity above ground = reducing lag time
Storm drains reduce the distance that the water has to travel meaning it increases the velocity
Clearing natural vegetation for housing - reduces the amount of interception and water loss
Bridges restricting the flow of the river
What is the result of urbanisation affecting flood risk?
Land use planning is limiting the use of the flood plain
Some uses of the floodplain are being changed - playing fields not electricity plants
Natural vegetation be restored
Water storage being created around towns
People in vulnerable areas being advised
State some activities that reduce the probability of floods?
Maintaining and improving flood defences
Maintaining river channels
Maintaining drainage networks
Maintaining road drainage and sewers
State some activities that reduce the effects of floods?
Use flood risk mapping to identify areas of risk
Working with local authorities to ensure that any new developments are good with planning on the flood plain
Provide flood forecasting and warning
Promote awareness for community action
Name some flood defences along the River Severn?
Timber clad sheet piles Brick walls Earth embankments Dredge the river Creation of resevoirs / dams
What are the issues within the Severn Basin?
Pollution from rural areas or waste water or towns/cities or transport
Physical modification
Changes to natural level and flow of water
Negative impacts of non native species
Name some strategies to help relieve the issues along the River Severn?
Controlling the agricultural pollution
Trying to improve the rural sewage disposal
Creating new wetlands and river corridor projects
Attempting to control the escalating abstraction demands for irrigation
Managing recreational development especially in Telford
What are some issues with the River Nile?
The river runs through about 8 countries meaning that building a dam will have a direct affect on rivers down or upstream
How do they reduce the flood risk on the river nile?
The Aswan Dam is 1.2 km long and was opened in 1971
Built to reduce flooding, generate electricity and provide water for irrigation.
