Soft Engineering: Rivers

• What is soft engineering in a river?

  Uses natural processes and sustainable strategies to reduce the impact of flooding
• Outline the main soft engineering strategies in a river:

  • Flood warnings and preparation
  • Floodplain zoning
  • Planting trees
  • River restoration
• What are the costs and benefits of flood warnings and preparation?

  Benefits:

  • Gives people time to evacuate or protect property.
  • Cheap and easy to implement.

  Costs:

  • Not everyone may receive or act on warnings.
  • Doesn't stop flooding – just reduces impact.
  • Can cause panic or be ignored.

  
• What are the costs and benefits of floodplain zoning?

  Benefits:

  • Reduces building in high-risk areas.
  • Minimises future flood damage.
  • Low cost to implement through planning policy.

  Costs:

  • Limits development in valuable urban areas.
  • May reduce available housing in floodplain towns.

  
• What are the costs and benefits of planting trees to manage floods?

  Benefits:

  • Increases interception, reduces runoff.
  • Improves air quality and biodiversity.
  • Natural, low-cost, and sustainable.

  Costs:

  • Takes time for trees to grow and become effective.
  • Large areas of land needed.
  • May reduce farmland space

  
• What are the costs and benefits of river restoration?

  Benefits:

  • Natural flow slows down water, reduces flood risk.
  • Enhances habitats and increases biodiversity.
  • Looks natural and attracts wildlife.

  Costs:

  • Can be expensive to remove hard engineering.
  • May reduce protection for developed areas.
  • Requires space, which may not be available in urban settings.