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FRM02 Broad Scale Ecosystem Impact Modelling (BSEIM) Scotland Trevor Wade Cascade Consulting. Background to BSEIM. Defra/EA joint R&D programme on flood and coastal defence:
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FRM02 Broad Scale Ecosystem Impact Modelling (BSEIM) Scotland Trevor Wade Cascade Consulting
Background to BSEIM Defra/EA joint R&D programme on flood and coastal defence: • FD2108 (2002) Scoping Study outlining future research and development to support Broad Scale Ecosystem Impact Modelling (BSEIM) • FD2112 (ongoing) BSEIM Toolbox 1 • Consolidated guidance for practitioners in sustainable flood management • Systems and evidence-based approach for ecosystem assessment • Establish and demonstrate a ‘toolbox’ containing best practice procedures in data collation and ecosystem impact prediction using currently available data/ techniques at the broad scale • Fluvial and estuarine/coastal systems
BSEIM ScotlandOverview BSEIM Scotland provides a framework and methodological “tools” for assessing ecosystem impacts from flood management (and potentially other policy) decisions at a catchment and coastal/ estuarine cell scale.
BSEIM ScotlandIncludes: • Broad-scale • Existing datasets • Established, emerging and novel methods • Identification and collation of existing ecosystem objectives • Evidence-based with expert interpretation • Appropriate consultation on data interpretation and ecosystem objectives • Targeted to study objectives
BSEIM ScotlandDoes not: • Provide new data • Interpret at reach or scheme level • Focus on species or designations • Identify flood risk areas
Methodology Stages Identify study area Develop understanding of broad habitat & ecosystem drivers Identify biodiversity opportunities & constraints Map & tabulate Broad-scale Ecosystem Assessment Criteria (EcoAC) Consultation/review through stakeholder forum Use EcoAC to develop/assess activities
Case Study of BSEIM for Flood Management Policy Development in the River Dee Catchment
1. River Dee Catchment 0 20 km Aboyne Tarland Burn Banchory Tarland Ballater River Dee Braemar Aberdeen River Dee Geldie Burn River Muick Water of Feugh Ordnance Survey 1:250.000 used under license from SEGIS
2D. Landscape Sediment Sources 0 20 km • Landscape sediment index: • Unmanaged/ managed pasture Coniferous woodland River channels • Tilled land Mixed woodland • Urban areas Commercial forestry CEH Land Cover Map 2000 used under license from SEGIS; CEH River Channel Network used under license from SEPA; Forestry Commission owned land provided by Forestry Commission and used with permission.
Sediment sources:Tilled land Sediment sources: Forestry
Tarland Burn, middle catchment Lower Tarland Burn, looking upstream in Aboyne
2E. Channel Modification 0 20 km • Habitat Modification Class: Other: • Pristine River channels • Semi-natural • Predominantly unmodified • Obviously modified • Significantly modified • 134 Pristine • 33 Semi-natural • 8 Predominantly unmodified • 17 Obviously modified • 1 Significantly modified River Habitat Survey data provided by SEPA
River Dee mainsteam bank protection, looking upstream near Aboyne Water of Tanar/ River Dee confluence, looking upstream from Aboyne Bar vegetated by trees, River Dee mainstem, looking upstream from Aboyne
3A. Floodplain Areas andExisting Defences Middle Tarland Burn 0 20 km • Flood risk Other: • Indicative River channels • flood outline • Existing flood defences Flood outlines provided by Aberdeenshire Council from digitised aerial photography of 11/2002 floods; Scottish costal defence and asset database used with permission of Scottish Executive
3A. Floodplain Areas in the middle Tarland Flood risk Indicative flood outline Ordnance Survey 1:50.000 used under license from SEGIS
3A. Floodplain Areas in the middle Tarland Elevation: 120 130 140 150 160 170m AOD NextMap DTM used under license from SEGIS
3C. Land Cover in the middle Tarland • Land cover index: Semi-natural Agricultural Water dependent habitats Scrub/ heath/ woodland Arable Fen/ marsh/ swamp • Grassland Grassland Bog • Montane habitats Standing open water
5. Designations and Targets • Catchment Targets • NE Scotland Local BAP Action Plan • River Dee Catchment Management Plan • Natural Heritage Futures • Fisheries targets • Hydromorphology improvement targets
Constraints & Opportunities Protection • Maintain geomorphologically active features • Maintain lack of flow regulation in catchment • Maintain suitable coarse sediment delivery • Maintain velocities for coarse sediment transport on mainstem • Maintain floodplain connectivity where ecologically sound • Prevent construction of barriers to migration Enhancement • Take opportunities to reduce fine sediment imbalance • Take opportunities to attenuate run-off • Increase floodplain connectivity and enhance biodiversity benefit
Map & tabulate Ecosystem Assessment Criteria CEH River Channel Network used under license from Environment Agency
Potential Applications • Appraisal of the wider catchment/ coastal cell implications associated with individual flood management schemes • Assessment of the ecosystem implications of sustainable flood management policy at the catchment/ coastal cell scale • Provides an evidence base for the development of programmes of measures for activities (including flood management) included in the Water Framework Directive, and a framework for their relative assessment
Summary of Project Output • Project report: • Methodology development • River Dee catchment case study • Methodological guidance • Presentation pack The final outputs will be published on SNIFFER’s website at www.sniffer.org.uk during November 2005