What is Natural Flood Management?

Natural Flood Management is based on the ethos of managing flood risk through natural means, protecting, restoring and emulating natural processes within a catchment. They help reduce flood risk by storing and slowing water, managing connectivity and allowing water to recharge into the ground.

Natural Flood Management can help provide environmentally beneficial sensitive approaches to reducing flood risk. This may be in areas where hard flood defences are not viable, or as part of a catchment plan to aid risk reduction. Hard defences may not provide the best or most long-term solution.

Natural Flood Management:

• Uses Natural Processes to increase Flood Resilience
• Protects, Restores and Mimics Natural Functions
• Slows and Stores Water, Dissipates Wave Energy

The benefits of Natural Flood Management project can be far reaching beyond flood risk management and are likely to include enhancing habitats and water quality.

The Environment Agency have prepared an Evidence Directory which looks in detail at the effectiveness of different Natural Flood Management project measures. In September 2023, the Environment Agency and DEFRA announced £25 million in funding for a new NFM programme.

FPS Environmental Ltd have expertise working with communities and clients, to assess and implement Natural Flood Management methods. This can include Flood Risk Modelling but often is based on utilising best practices and driving maximum ROI.