Soft Engineering

• What is soft engineering?

  Schemes set up using knowledge of a river and its processes to reduce the effects of flooding
• Flood warnings and preparation

  The environmental agency monitors rivers and issues warnings via newspapers, TV, radio and the internet when they are likely to flood so people can prepare.

  People have time to try to protect their properties

  Many possessions can be saved, resulting in fewer insurance claims

  Some people may not be able to access the warnings

  They do not stop land from flooding
• Flood plain zoning


  This attempts to organise the flood defences in such a way that land that is near the river and often floods is not built on.

  This could be used for pastoral farming, playing fields etc. The areas that rarely get flooded would therefore be used for houses, transport and industry.

  Flood risk is lower due to less impermeable surfaces near river + less damage to buildings etc

  Less land available for farming
• Planting trees

  It increases interception in valley

  Increases lag time and soil erosion is reduced due to vegetation habitats for wildlife

  Reduces land for farming
• River restoration

  Restoring rivers to more natural course by taking away embankments and restoring meanders. This allows rivers to flood but slows them down

  Little maintenance

  Doesn't stop major flooding