UN
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IHP
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Centr
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Wate
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Law
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Managing Borderlands: Engaging stakeholder communities in decisions concerning sustainable flood
management.
10/2/2011 Prof. Chris J Spray
Cross Boundary
Partnerships
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 2
Background
• UK and devolved governments have recognised the need to develop co-operative land and flood risk management strategies in order to build resilience required to mitigate the uncertain impacts of climatic, economic and societal changes
• Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 will require development of a better science evidence base for policy-making and increased stakeholder participation.
• Environmental management needs to develop new methodologies that integrate a diverse collection of stakeholders, with a diverse (often conflicting) collection of expertise, practices and contested knowledge.
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 3
SNIFFER Flood Risk Management Conference – Edinburgh 10th February 2011
Tweed research: Dundee University & partners
Eddleston Water:
• Eddleston Water scoping study
• Eddleston Water restoration study
• Managing Borderlands (RELU project)
• Scottish Universities Insight Institute
Gatekeepers of participatory management
Nicole Archer, Tom Ball, Andrew Black, Mike Bonell, Brian Cook, Josselin Rouillard, Chris Spray, Alan Werritty
Newcastle University
SNH
York UniversityDurham University
Cbec Ltd
NFU(S)
Forest Research
Tweed Foundation
Environment Agency
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 4
• Improvement to river structure & habitats - failing
good status (WFD) - due mainly to
hydromorphological alterations
• potential contribution of “Natural” Flood
Management techniques – flood history
• and potential for multiple benefits & ecosystem
services (fisheries, biodiversity, diffuse pollution)
A total Catchment Approach, not just 2 Main drivers
•Output Recommendations:
• Plans for physical restoration of channel and
floodplain
• Proposals for interventions to achieve flood risk
reductions
• Value for money and priorities for action
• Stakeholder engagement
• Detailed monitoring
Eddleston Water Restoration Scoping study (July 2010)
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 5
Characterisation and current status:landscapes, habitats, ecology.
Sources
Pathways
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 6
Characterisation and current status: topography
Eddleston Water:
• a south-flowing tributary of Tweed draining 69 km2
• fractured greywackes mantled with highly variable covers of till, fluvio-glacial outwash and peat
• annual precipitation: 850 mm (valley floor)-1500 mm (summits)
• steeper slopes east of main stem => flashy runoff: gentler slopes west of main stem => delayed flow. QMED c. 23 m3s-1 , Q10 c. 38 m3s-1
• ideal exemplar of “source-pathway-receptor” flood risk management model
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 7
Characterisation and current status:hydromorphology and channelisation
Main stem sinuous c.1750: but extensively channelised by 1811
Minimal recovery since and main reason for ‘poor’ WFD status because of current hydromorphology
Roy Map
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 8
Characterisation and current status: flood risk
Source: JBA Consulting 2008
Scottish Borders Council identifies 589 properties within SEPA’s 1:200 year flood envelope.
Peebles flooded every 5-10 years.
Currently no structural defences, only flood warning scheme.
Annual flood Return Discharge
risk probability period (yrs) (m3s-1)
QMED 2 22.8
0.2 15 31.7
0.1 10 38.1
0.05 20 47.1
0.02 50 54.8
0.01 100 63.5
0.005 200 73.2
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 9
Characterisation and current status: summary
• fails to achieve WFD ‘good’ status – because of ‘poor’ hydromorphology
• channelised reaches of main stem poor habitat (poor mix channel types, lack riparian vegetation)
• highest runoff from eastern tributaries and rapid increase in downstream bankfull discharge
• ideal exemplar for flood risk management measures (source-pathway-receptor) no structural defences
Proposed measures: overall aim... “to restore river and its whole catchment whilst at the same time promoting livelihoods of those who derive income from the sustainable management of farms, forests and fishery”:
• improved physical habitat;
• reduction in flood risk;
whilst promoting sustainable management of farms, fisheries and forestry, and recreational opportunities
Km
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 10
Proposed measures: locations and types
Selected groups of measures:
A: breach/set back embankments, new fence margins, riparian woodland, wet woodland, large woody debris
C: re-meander channel, riparian woodland
L: Reduced stocking density, tributary woodland, floodplain forest
N: create ponds, wetlands, riparian woodland block ditches, large woody debris
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 11
Extensive Groundwater monitoring with BGS
Planting up hillsides & river banks
Working with Forestry Commission Scotland
Natural flood management: -
Influencing “sources” by intervention in the upper catchment and hill slopes
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 12
Breach in embankments could permit temporary flood storage on left bank during high flow events.
Re-meandering opportunities.
Natural flood management: Influencing “pathways” by interventions in the
floodplain itself
Intensive monitoring programme
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 13
Interviews with key stakeholders:
• Organisations - Scottish Govt, SEPA, Tweed Forum, Scottish Borders Council, SNH, Tweed Foundation, Scottish Water, NFU(Scotland), Scottish Wildlife Trust, Country Landowners Business Association.
• Interviews with five landowners (three floodplain and two upland farmers) middle-aged, male, long-term landowners in the valley (>30 years) with several sources of income.
Socio-economic Opportunities, Constraints and Barriers
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 14
Opportunities, constraints and barriers: institutional
• Legal constraints: EC Environmental regulation (Water Framework Directive and Habitats Directives) operation of statutory duties by SEPA and SNH;
• Land use policy: high quality agricultural land on floodplains for food or flood control? Delivery of agri-environmental schemes over longer time spans (eg planting woodlands);
• Land tenure: contrasting planning horizons for tenant farmers, owner-occupiers and large estates – value of multiple benefit measures (eg Coed Cymru project in Central Wales);
• Quality of science: nature of science evidence base crucial in persuading land managers;
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 15
Opportunities, constraints and barriers: farmers
• understand aspirations and land tenure systems of the farming community – a real opportunity and a threat;
• develop trust and a common vision for aims of the restoration programme;
• role of an intermediary, independent stakeholder-led organisation, with technical and social support networks (Tweed Forum highly valued);
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 16
Opportunities, constraints and barriers: farmers
• local expert knowledge must be factored in to any planning;
• financial incentives must be set at the right level – to sustain farm units and to attract engagement;
• long-term, guaranteed contractual arrangements to deliver focused outcomes;
• simplicity in any contractual arrangements.
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 17
16/02/2011 17
Managing Borderlands: – RELU project (Lead Newcastle University)
Linking the Eddleston Water and the Wooler Water
Examining how local communities can become more resilient and
adaptive to flooding in the context of the “borders” that exist between
institutions, between different knowledges (and access to knowledge) and
different stakeholders in England and Scotland, faced by challenges of
climate change
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 18
Managing Borderlands:
• Professional & Stakeholder knowledge• Responsible Agencies in England & Scotland• Nations that share the Tweed
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 19
Length: 156 kms Catchment: 5,000 sq km
Scotland (84%): England (16%) Mainly agricultural & valley townsTweed
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 20
Partners: RELU Programme 2 (ESRC)
Newcastle University: Liz Oughton (lead), Andrew Donaldson, Dave Passmore, Terry Carroll
Durham University: Louise Bracken
York University: John Forrester, Steve Cinderby
Dundee University: Chris Spray, Brian Cook
Tweed Forum: Nicola Bissett
Skills cover social sciences, flood hydrology, GIS, participatory mapping, knowledge exchange, governance, wetland ecology, and stakeholder engagement
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 21
Building on existing work of Tweed Forum and partners
Bringing people together around Flood Risk Management issues:
• Conflict resolution and future scenario planning
• Sustainable Flood Risk Management;
• Research, demonstrations, pilots and action
Till Wetland Restoration Project Bowmont/Glen Flood management
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 22
Project Objectives
analyse existing research, and how data is used (or lost) within stakeholder groups, and relevant management systems
•Incorporate local knowledges into land management strategies
Facilitate knowledge exchange between different groups, agencies and across national borders
Use Q methodology to explore options for adaptive management in the face of increasing uncertainty
Evaluate the effect of social learning in and through the project from feedback by partners
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 23
Timescales:
• Project started September 2010 –
14 month period
• Run as four inter-linked work packages, north and south of the Border (Eddleston and Wooler Waters)
• Initial team launch meeting in Newcastle - August 2010• Team site visit to Eddleston Water - Sept 2010• Creation of knowledge databases -Oct 2010 – Feb 2011• Final Report to RELU November 2011
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 24
Background – Eddleston Water
Tweed catchment landscape includes moorland, forestry, upland livestock grazing and arable farming
Salmon, trout fisheries and
tourism are important to the
economy
Administrative difficulties of
managing a cross-border river
Catchment is subject to complex environmental designations and rural development regimes that make integrated management difficult.
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 25
Background - Wooler Water
Parts of the catchment suffered severe flooding in 2008 and 2009
Climate change projections suggest more severe weather in the future.
There is a need to increase the flood resilience of the region.
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 26
Science-based estimates of flood extent
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 27
Methods
Overall approach is to help stakeholders refine the problem of flooding from different perspectives and experiences (I.e. not just the “science-based” estimates and impacts)
Knowledge exchange will be facilitated through the Tweed Forum (the only organisation working across the border to establish a network between English and Scottish stakeholders)
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 28
Methods
The project is organised in four related work packages:
WP1: Interrogating existing knowledges
Critical analysis of the local evidence base for adaptive flood risk management
Expert interviews
• Creation of data inventories, and analysis of accessibility to stakeholders
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 29
Methods
WP2: Capturing the diversity in ways of building flood resilience
Q methodology
Informed by WP1 analysis
Uses a mix of quantitative and qualitative techniques to study the range of subjective positions on a topic
Participatory GIS mapping of wider local knowledge
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 30
Methods
WP3: Producing strategies for building resilience in land management
Return to the expert stakeholders with results of Q methodology and participatory mapping
Aim to identify preferred land management strategies, informed now by a much wider network of interests and breadth of knowledge
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 31
Methods
WP4: Learning and evaluation
Elucidate and record expert stakeholder learning
Record social learning taking place within the Managing Borderlands project team (analysis of researcher diaries)
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 32
Outputs
• An assessment of impacts of Scottish
and English policies and practices on
Border communities
• Recommendations concerning policies
that stakeholders, managers, and agencies
desire or oppose
• Identification of local data needs and
perspectives relative to Scottish and
English governance
• Comparison of concerns between diverse
stakeholder groups and interested parties
• Workshops, research papers and
dissemination via Tweed Forum, RELU,
UNESCO HELP Basin network and other
stakeholder networks
IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science | under the auspices of
UNESCO
Slide | 33
Learning across International boundaries
Scottish Universities Insight Institute
Gatekeepers of Participatory Management
Dundee University and St. Andrews University, with Tweed Forum
Workshops and Field Visits
May 2011, and subsequent
Motueka River Basin, New Zealand
Fraser Basin, Canada
Tweed, Scotland/England
Dee, Scotland
Catchment NGOs and their role
interfacing between government and
society in integrated water resource
management