Water Why more focus is needed to help
reduce flood-risk from rivers • Farmland under pressure from floods • Better river management is important • Longer term vision and budget is vital
say landowners. Climate change and the expanding built environment is putting greater pressure on rivers and catchments, warn the Association of Drainage Au- thorities and the Country Land and Business Association.
A
Flooding is increasingly frequent and careful river management is cru- cial, say the two organisations. But long-term underinvestment in the maintenance of many lowland rivers is reducing their capacity to convey the volumes of water needed.”
Lack of investment
ADA and the CLA hosted an online summit on 24 June called Keeping our Rivers Flowing. More than 150 dele- gates discussed the consequences of underinvestment and solutions for bet- ter managing water catchments from source to sea.
Senior Defra and Environment Agency officials heard local land man- agers and internal drainage boards representatives voice their frustra- tion that lowland rivers are less able to evacuate flood water from farmland, homes and businesses. Concern was also voiced about the environmental consequences on wa-
better approach to river man- agement is needed to reduce the risk of flooded farmland,
ter quality of vegetation-choked rivers unable able to transfer enough water naturally from one area to another in times of drought.
The summit also looked beyond the
problems. Several speakers highlight- ed how a different strategic approach and working in local partnerships can help resolve tensions and enable bet- ter river management. ADA chairman and Lincolnshire farmer Robert Caudwell said: “Peo- ple are ready and willing to work to- gether locally to find ways to help our rivers flow, but they feel restrained by a lack of government support on river maintenance. We need to spend more on maintenance to save money spent on flood response and recovery.” The CLA reinforced its desire for landowners to play a bigger part in im- proving water management through local solutions at comparatively low cost. It follows the recent publication of the CLA policy document called A Vision for Water to 2030.
Important role CLA policy director Judicaelle Ham- mond said: “Landowners play an im- portant role protecting downstream communities from flooding, often sav- ing millions of pounds’ worth of dam- age, but this comes at the expense of their own land.
Landowners lack
government, support, says Robert Caudwell
Below: Floods which engulf farmland are increasingly frequent
“It is critical that the Environment Agency works with the rural commu- nity to protect the local river environ- ment and where they can’t, ensures the right body is in place to do so. In the meantime, CLA members are ready to start thinking outside the box.” Ideas included looking at how im- proving soil health can reduce flood risk. Locally-driven partnerships could work and natural flood risk manage- ment projects should be considered, said Ms Hammond.
Future spending
The summit heard about the poten- tial for the further use of innovative, environmentally friendly river main- tenance techniques – including natu- ral measures to slow the flow of water in upper catchments. There was a strong desire to bring
water management to the fore in fu- ture consideration of the Environment Land Management (ELM) scheme, and a recognition that soil management must play a part in reducing river silt and nutrient loads.
Defra is due to submit proposals
We need to spend more on river maintenance
“
to HM Treasury on future investment needed for flood and coastal erosion risk management ahead of this au- tumn’s spending review. Both ADA and the CLA say this should priori- tise routine river management. The organisations say it is vital that both rivers and any associated floodwater are managed effectively to keep water flowing – and local part- nerships should collaborate equitably in the work.
50 ANGLIA FARMER • AUGUST 2021
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