A new report showcasing the success of natural flood management (NFM) projects in Cumbria has been released, highlighting the potential of NFM techniques in mitigating the impact of flooding and protecting communities.
The Dovenby Bund natural flood management project is an innovative initiative aimed at reducing flood risk in Cumbria, UK. The project involves the construction of an embankment made of organic materials such as willow, which slows down and stores floodwater, reducing the risk of flooding to local communities.
The project is part of the Natural Flood Management (NFM) programme, funded by DEFRA, and is led by West Cumbria Rivers Trust. The bund was constructed in 2018 and has been in place for some time now, proving to be highly effective in reducing flood risk.
Due to the success of the project, performance monitoring has been initiated to assess its impact on the local area. The monitoring involves measuring water levels and flow rates before and after the construction of the bund to determine its effectiveness in reducing flood risk.
Early results from the monitoring are very promising, indicating that the bund has been successful in slowing down and storing floodwater. This success is a testament to the power of natural flood management techniques in mitigating the impact of flooding and protecting communities from its devastating effects.
The Dovenby Bund project is a collaborative effort between community groups, local authorities, and environmental agencies. Its success highlights the potential of natural flood management techniques to inform future flood risk reduction efforts and protect communities from flooding.
For more detailed information on the Dovenby Bund natural flood management project and its performance monitoring, please refer to the full report available at https://thefloodhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DOVENBY-BUND-Natural-Flood-Management-performance-monitoring.pdf.
