Integrated Floodplain Management - ecology & hydrology data, 2006-2008
type: Dataset
description: Hydrological monitoring data in this data collection result from dipwells installed at studied flood defence scheme, where electronic gauges monitored water-table fluctuations over time. Ecological data contain species sighting records of birds, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies recorded during site visits to flood defence schemes in summer 2007. These data aim to show the relationship between water regimes and habitat potential.The study is part of the NERC Rural Economy and Land Use (RELU) programme. Agricultural Flood Defence Schemes in floodplain and coastal areas were once an important element of Government support for farmers in Britain. More recently, however, changing priorities in the countryside, concern about environmental quality and perceptions of increased flood risk in lowland areas, in part linked to climate change, have promoted a re-appraisal of land management options and policies for floodplain areas. Eight agricultural flood defence schemes, previously studied by the research team in the 1980s, have been re-examined to identify and explain changes in land and water management that have occurred over the last 40-years. This involved stakeholder and institutional analysis, farmer interviews, ecological surveys, field observations and modelling of hydrological and related ecological processes. Generic land use scenarios have been developed to consider management options that focus on single objectives, such as maximising agricultural production, maximising biodiversity and minimising flood risk in the catchment. The scenarios examined the impacts of changes in rural land use on ecosystem goods and services. The influence of agricultural policy, interacting with farmer circumstances and motivation, on land use has also been explored. The project also evaluated the impacts of the summer 2007 floods on agriculture and rural communities. The results revealed opportunities for achieving a wide range of benefits relating to farming, biodiversity, …
is accessible for free: true
date published: 2010-11-02
keywords: agricultural policy
keywords: biodiversity
keywords: ecology
keywords: farmers
keywords: farms
keywords: floods
keywords: Integrated Floodplain Management
keywords: land drainage
keywords: land management
keywords: RELU
keywords: rural economics
keywords: Rural Economy and Land Use Programme
keywords: water damage
creator: Posthumus, H.
creator: Rouquette, J.
temporal coverage: 2006-05-01/2009-03-31
spatial coverage: bbox0
license: https://ukdataservice.ac.uk/app/uploads/cd137-enduserlicence.pdf
distribution: distribution0
publisher: NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
provider: NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
included in data catalog: Environmental Information Data Centre

Environmental Information Data Centre
type: DataCatalog
alternate name: EIDC

NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
type: Organization

geoshape0
type: GeoShape
box: -3.39 50.86, 0.42 55

Posthumus, H.
type: Person
family name: Posthumus
given name: H.
affiliation: Cranfield University

Rouquette, J.
type: Person
family name: Rouquette
given name: J.
affiliation: The Open University

Cranfield University
type: Organization

The Open University
type: Organization