National Highways (NH) rarely controls the catchments that generate flood risk. In perhaps a 'first of its kind' pilot project, Atkins partnered with NH, Don Catchment Rivers Trust to engage with landowners and implement measures .The project ran as an online auction whereby landowners bidded via the online reverse auction platform NatureBid, to plan, implement and maintain NFM measures available through the Fund.
The pilot project aimed to understand whether NFM is a realistic alternative or complement to traditional flood management. Although the pilot faced challenges, requiring imaginative solutions, key messages from Atkins are that a trusted local presence in a catchment is key to landowner engagement, and understanding and valuing co-benefits is essential to promoting a viable scheme.
NatureBid's results showed:
- More than £1M worth bids submitted
- £500k of measures funded
- 111 new environmental measures across the landscape
- 5,000 square meters of storage potential across all measures
Acroos the River Don catchment area, seven participating landowners are implementing eight different NFM measure types across the 5.3 square kilometre focus area which encompasses the steep hillside uphill from the A616 highway, between Underbank and Langsett Reservoirs. Measures include reducing soil compaction by soil aeration, mixed species herbal leys, cross-slope woodland and hedgerows, flow pathway bunds, online storage ponds, in-channel leaky barriers, headwater woody bundles and landowner innovation.
The project demonstrates NFM may successfully contribute to managing flood risk to roads and other linear infrastructure in the future, while novel and effective solutions are possible by partnering with organisations with the right knowledge, skills and working ethos.