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The National Rivers Authority's Need for Models
Author(s) -
PICKLES LINDSAY
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.1993.tb00893.x
Subject(s) - flood myth , flooding (psychology) , flood mitigation , environmental resource management , environmental planning , plan (archaeology) , environmental science , flood forecasting , disadvantaged , hydrology (agriculture) , water resource management , computer science , geography , engineering , political science , psychology , geotechnical engineering , archaeology , law , psychotherapist
The Water Resources Act 1991 requires the National Rivers Authority to exercise a general supervision over all matters relating to flood defence. There is need for information in order to manage flood defence – not only as part of the overall management of the catchment but, at a more detailed level, to plan and monitor capital and maintenance programmes. The information requirements of the National Rivers Authority can be satisfied either by witnessing historic flood events, an approach disadvantaged by the infrequency of flood events, or by modelling the system, i.e. the rivers, coasts and flood plain. Once models are calibrated by specific flood events they can be used to predict the outcome of other events and to assess the response required to alleviate potential flooding. The different needs of the Authority can be satisfied by different modelling techniques using different levels of accuracy. Models can be used to analyse river and coastal systems to assess performance and target resources for maintenance and improvement. The management of flood defences by specifying and monitoring their performance is considered, and a recent trial in reach specification based on modelling techniques is described.