Auditing of fluvial geomorphological processes for flood defence in the U.K. Environment Agency

Abstract

This study reviews existing methods of geomorphological and engineering science / practice, with reference to flood defence application in general, and particularly in the U.K. Environment Agency. A new method of geomorphological audit is then developed tor application to flood defence maintenance in two case studies covering: the Shelf Brook, (which drains a small upland catchment near Glossop, Derbyshire), and the upper Mersey river system, (which drains a large part of the southern Pennines and northern Peak District). The global objectives of this exercise were to develop a method of rapid geomorphological catchment appraisal that was versatile and utilitarian. Versatility was defined in terms of) applicability to different physical habitats, catchment sizes, flood defence management objectives and flood defence scheme 'life-stages' (from feasility to post-project appraisal). Utility was defined as the demonstration of the audit's advantages over existing methods, the investigation of any additional data requirements for flood defence application (outside that collected by the audit), and the assessment of the tangibile benefits of the method verses its costs. Additionally a two year dataset of field geomorphological data were compiled to verify the findings of the audit as part of the first case study. This first study satisfied the global objectives in part, however, in reviewing the application of the audit methods a number of interim areas for expansion were also identified. These comprised: the need to apply the audit methods to a full catchment system of watercourses, the need to include areas of modified channel within the audit to make it more widely applicable, and the importance of looking at inter-observer variability. The question as to whether or not it was possible to reduce the coverage of an audit from 100% of catchment reaches to a sample of the total 'population' of reaches was raised. Additionally, the need to collect more data on the types of erosion and deposition occurring, and the causes of that erosion and deposition, was also identified. The second case study went on to address these expansion areas, in addition to the original global objectives. Conclusions were then drawn on the overall success of the audit methods developed through these two studies.

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