Green Vision - Flooding Event - 23rd May 2016

Flooding & Community Engagement 23rd May 2016 #GVIS2016

Welcome and Introduction Dr Andrew Platten Leeds Beckett University

Mike Potter Civic Community Representative Pickering

Fighting the floods:

Community knowledge and engagement

Mike Potter Ryedale Flood Research Group (RFRG) Pickering & District Civic Society (P&DCS) Slowing the Flow Programme Delivery Group, non expert, unqualified

Photos: Mike Potter & Brian Tozer

Not an expert, unqualified 

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Why believe me – all I have is 10 years practical experience So, to be safe, I’ll ask questions Are we already into the era of climate change?

Can we afford flood walls to defend every vulnerable community against 1:200 year events?

If unaffordable, do we abandon communities to frequent flooding? (Insurance? Businesses?)

Will dredging every river solve our problems?

Do we need different solutions?

Shouldn’t we look at the whole catchment?

Pickering Floods 

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Major floods 1927, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1947, 1960 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007 Unique catchment & geography….

Flashy Floodwalls dismissed on CBA EA walked away. Good ideas?

Ryedale Flood Research Group (RFRG)    

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Sep 07 – Oct 08 Local knowledge: Community Upstream bund idea: Community Feasibility study and credibility: RFRG (Universities and community). Experimental!

Impetus to act: Community Justification after failure (Res Act): Community Majority of PR: Community Community agreement and buyin.

Slowing the Flow

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RFRG report: Making space for people. Good idea EA called in by MP EA find DEFRA funding, add in Natural Flood Management (NFM) 

Partners: County, Local & Town Councils, EA NE FC FR NYMNP Durham Uni, Duchy, NYMR, Community

Slowing the Flow in Pickering  

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Pilot project Only limited local taxpayer (community) funding available DEFRA/EA support: Less than wholehearted – unproven, therefore risky.

1:25 year protection scheme. Protection proportionate to funding.

Slowing the Flow in Pickering 

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NFM provides 10% of floodwater storage – handed over to FC/FR FC (local office, community members) Can do, grounded, practical, low cost.

Action.

Engineered bund. 90% of storage. EA

Slowing the Flow in Pickering 

Working with nature (NFM)     

Woody debris dams (WDD) & mini bunds Riparian tree planting (and hedges) Moorland drain blocking. Peat restoration Catchment sensitive farming Sediment supply

Slowing the Flow in Pickering 

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The right location for Woody Debris Dams?

Ground truthing – local knowledge

Slowing the Flow in Pickering Debris Dam. 04 Apr 2012

PDG – Slowing the Flow in Pickering ‘Mini’ Bunds?

Slowing the Flow in Pickering ‘Mini’ Bunds? 25 Sep 2012

Slowing the Flow, not in Pickering   

NFM? Nothing new Local materials

Engineered bund

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Bund – 90% £2.7M 1:25 yr protection Withstand 1:10,0000 yr flood

Engineered bund Not ‘NFM’ but working with natural processes

Boxing Day 2015 floods Academic study or protecting the community?

HOW DO WE DO IT? •Sound Knowledge •Effective Communications •Trust – build relationships •Can Do Attitude

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NFM. The reality gap 

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Who does it? Who pays for it? Who maintains? Who has the expertise?

Reviews, reports, consultations.... or action?

Essentials: 

Whole catchment approach     

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Flood resilience (to 1:200 level?)

Community engagement  

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Upland management Upstream storage Floodplain management River maintenance Hard defences, channel mgt

Knowledge Agreement and buy-in

Correctly planned and modelled Open mind – right measures in the right place

HOW DO WE DO IT? •Sound Knowledge •Effective Communications •Trust – build relationships •Can Do Attitude Abilities & attributes Tenacity Patience Tact & diplomacy Subject interest (friction with partners!)

Likely longevity Beware interminable meetings Insist on outcomes and actions Disregard rank Just for a laugh (or irritation) calculate value - travel, salaries.

яБо

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh5sjqnTfB0

Dr Frances MacGuire Heptonstall Resident and Environmental Risk Expert

Hebden Bridge 2015 Boxing Day Floods Flooding and Community Engagement Event 23rd May 2016 17:30 to 19:30 Old Broadcasting House, Leeds Dr Frances MacGuire Heptonstall Resident

1989 1st Assessment Sea Level Rise: UK Coast Temperature/rainfall/ sea level rise projections: • 2035 • 2050 • 2100

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Climate change is happening Faster and harder than we predicted Committed to locked-in changes Adapt and move to renewables energy/transport based future

1990 Towyn Floods Basic emergency preparedness – fits on a fridge magnet • Move valuable things upstairs – single story – on table or shelves • Radio plus batteries • Torch plus batteries • Water stores – bottle/bath/sink etc.

• Tinned food

Lessons from coastal floods • No such thing as “no risk or risk free” • Couldn’t build concrete walls around whole of UK coast • Council by council piecemeal approach moved problem up/ down coast • Managed retreat • Soft defences – dunes/saltmarsh/offshore reefs

Calder Valley = A Resilient Community

Calder Valley = A Resilient Community • Celebrate community preparedness • Need to recognise people have busy lives – have to return to them • Community gave their all – statutory agencies must drive action forward • Death by stakeholder consultation • Vision/Objectives/Actions/Timelines/Responsibility • Plans at Catchment Level otherwise just move problem downstream

It will flood again so must be prepared • A vision for more resilient built and natural environment • Better communication between residents and statutory agencies – EA, Calderdale Council, NHS • Creative solutions to insurance and financing in an uncertain world – climate change, flood risks, landslides etc.

• Mixture of hard and soft defences • Engage children and young people – it’s their home & future

Philip Marken Leeds Open Source Art

Round Table Discussion Groups

Plenary and Conclusions

Thank you