Component 2: Creating temporary flood storage areas on farmland
A) Flood Retention Schemes
Background
PCP's flood retention schemes (otherwise known as JAF Farming Water 1a) are a sub project of PCP's main Farming Water programme. These schemes are designed to test the potential and practicality of attenuating and delaying flood peaks by increasing the volume of floodwater stored temporarily on farmland on the floodplains in the mid-catchment. This would be achieved by the formation of artificial obstructions such as earth bunds, hedges or woodland across the floodplain and possibly throttles in the associated river channel.
Although large volumes of water could be involved, detention times would be unlikely to exceed 2 to 3 days and only comparatively minor flood events would be significantly affected. However these characteristics would assist in maintaining productive agriculture should this be required.
Objectives
To demonstrate the approach to deliver farm scale schemes to increase the temporary retention of floodwater in floodplain areas.
To improve understanding of what is required to deliver such schemes.
To provide two demonstration sites for farmers/landowners to visit.
To test the feasibility of combining the deliberate worsening of flooding on farmland with commercial farming and therefore whether farmers see this as a viable use of suitable land in the catchment.
To test whether the current and future agri-environment schemes operated by DEFRA will adequately compensate/reward farmers for delivering flood management benefits.
To learn more about the individual pilot projects, click a link below:
Balham Hill Farm
Creedy Bridge
Moortown Farm
B) On-Farm Flood Storage Schemes
Background
PCP's Flood Storage Schemes (otherwise known as JAF Farming Water 1b) are a sub project of the PCP's main Farming Water Programme. They are designed to demonstrate the practicality of creating a network of farm scale flood storage reservoirs to intercept upland runoff. To qualify for inclusion in any DEFRA stewardship scheme it will be essential that these schemes feature environmental gain. The pilot sites are also being chosen to demonstrate other conjunctive use opportunities such as the storage of water for spray irrigation.
Objectives
To demonstrate the approach to deliver farm scale runoff retention facilities.
To test the ability of these schemes to provide flood management benefits further downstream.
To improve the understanding of what is required to deliver a farm scale flood retention facility.
To provide four pilot sites for promotional purposes.
To learn more about the individual pilot projects, click a link below:
