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Hydrological impacts of floodplain restoration: a case study of the River Cherwell, UK
1Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, UK
2Peter Brett Associates,Westcote Road, Reading, RG30 2DE, UK
Email for corresponding author: man@ceh.ac.uk
Abstract. This paper investigates the impacts on floods of hypothetical changes to river channel geometry by construction or removal of embankments to prevent water spreading onto the floodplain at high flows. A numerical model is applied to the River Cherwell between Oxford and Banbury to simulate changes to flood hydrographs. Embanking the river increases the peak flows downstream by 50-150%. Restoring the river channel through the floodplain to pre-engineered dimensions reduces peak flow by around 10-15% and increases peak water levels within the floodplain by 0.5-1.6 m. These results suggest that floodplain rehabilitation, in terms of embankment removal or returning the channel to pre-engineered dimensions, can be a valuable part of the flood management strategy of a catchment. Both measures lead to increased inundation of the floodplain, which can be positive for ecological restoration.
Keywords: floodplains, hydrological impacts, rehabilitation, flood frequency
Final Revised Paper (PDF, 1042 KB)
Citation: Acreman, M. C., Riddington, R., and Booker, D. J.: Hydrological impacts of floodplain restoration: a case study of the River Cherwell, UK, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 7, 75-85, 2003. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager
