Water and the Landscape Part 2
This is the second article in a series. Part 1 can be found here
The Pitt report of 2009 was an independent report into how to combat the effects of flooding seen in the UK in 2007.
Many of the recommendations were followed, but more needs to be done and this work will continue, with teams of experts working on flood alleviation schemes. These teams will include landscape architects, like Landvision, who will often be taking leading roles in implementing and specifying flood alleviation schemes. How to actually enable planning policies and anti flooding guidance on the ground and at grass roots level, as envisaged in the Pitt report of 2009, is the landscape architects’ role as part of the team of experts.
Banking on Green is a report that looks at the most cost-effective options for managing polluted runoff and protecting clean water, and finds that green infrastructure solutions save taxpayer money and provide community benefits by managing stormwater where it falls.
A long term, systematic approach is needed to enable increased attention to the detailed design and implementation of sustainable drainage systems. SUDs schemes are part of a long term approach. In all parts of the river’s catchment areas, as part of the planning and development process, SUDs can be used with planting. As more houses are to be built up to 2030, SUDs will play an increasingly vital role in flood prevention and flood alleviation.
In the UK the President of the Landscape Institute, Susan Ilman has written to the Prime Minister pointing out the benefits of SUDs and a coordinated approach to management of water in the landscape.
Along with tree planting, SUDS can help to reverse the trend for flooding. Faster water flows can be slowed to slow water flow rates less likely to cause flash flooding. Flooding caused by increased frequency of storm events, due to global warming, means that we will need more landscape management such as dredging and ditch clearance. Some creation of water bodies in low lying, less populated, existing marshland areas, will also form a part of this process of flood alleviation.
The landscape architect has a key role in flood alleviation; design and management of the landscape. If appropriate management had taken place, the effects of this year’s rainfall would not have been as catastrophic. This has described in the following BBC report.
For advice on design to combat flooding, or to discuss a project of design or management; contact Landvision now.