SPI and the floods WG - Onema

Science-Policy
interface and the
Floods
WG
CIS-SPI 3rd event 14&15 November 2012 – Brussels
by Maria Brättemark, DGENV.D.1
ENVIRONMENT

Floods Directive – implementation steps
Preliminary
Flood Risk
Assessment
Flood Hazard
and Risk Maps
Scotland,UK.
http://map.sepa.org.uk/nfra/m
ap.htm
Flood Risk
Management
Plans
ENVIRONMENT
Transboundary maps
lower Torne River -
Sweden/Finland
http://www.smhi.se
England & Wales :
http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/research/plannin
g/127387.aspx

Floods Directive
- Three stage approach
• Preliminary flood risk
assessment (maps, experience
from past floods, predictions of
future floods, identification areas of
potential significant flood risk)
• Flood mapping (= knowing areas
at risk of flooding, different
scenarios, flood hazard maps &
flood risk maps),
• Flood Risk Management Plans
(= plans to reduce flood risks,
covering all elements of the flood
risk management cycle)
26.11.2009 (Transposition)
26.05.2010 (CA/Unit of management)
22.12.2011 2018
22.12.2013 * 2019
22.12.2015 ** 2021
Review /update every 6 years thereafter
Reporting to the Commission : 3 months after
* = date of 1st review of pressure and impact analysis under the WFD
** = deadline for 2 nd cycle WFD river basin management plans
ENVIRONMENT

All aspects of flood risk
management, focus on
Prevention
Protection
Preparedness
What can research projects do to help?
ENVIRONMENT
Photos : BBC website. Funchal floods.

Supporting the implementation –
the Science policy interface and WG F “Floods”
•WG F :
• Policy-lead discussion on
research priorities
• Key research projects invited
to meetings
• Interaction DG Research
• One of the platforms for
coordination and dissemination
of CRUE Era-net calls
• Thematic workshops
• Compilation of research needs
(to CIS-SPI)
ENVIRONMENT
WGF Thematic workshops :
• Focussed discussions on
different stages of
implementition
• Projects presenting progres
results
• Conclusions includes
collection of research
priorities (to CIS-SPI)

Thematic workshops : 2007-2012
Land use (I &II)
Flood mapping
More use of cognitive research on flood risk perception
Role of wetlands and natural water retention to be enhanced.
Improve transboundary methods and practics for flood mapping.
Preliminary Flood Risk
Assesment
Catchment Approach
Climate Change
Flood Risk Management Plans
Flash Floods and Pluvial floods
Economics
Stakeholder Involvement
Improve knowledge of the significance of different types of floods.
There is a lack of empirical data on the performance of natural approaches to
managing the sources and pathways of flood waters which both demonstrates the
relative cost effectiveness when compared to, for example, civil engineering
solutions, and their effectiveness under different flood conditions
Improve the consistency of Climate Change information and its consequences for
different sectors and stakeholders
More knowledge is needed on decision making in an uncertain environment
More data on the effectiveness of natural water retention measures is needed.
Increased use of innovative consultation practices (MCAs)
Prioritisation of measures.
Improve data availability, density and quality concerning rainfall, water discharges
and sediment transport
Impact on mental health in economic assessments
Improvement of valuation of benefoits of flood risk $managemen
Social networking was identified as having potential in generating broad, nonprofessional
involvement in flood risk management; however the best means of
using social media is not clear.
ENVIRONMENT

Recommendations
•
of WG F – Thematic
workshop on Flash
Floods and Pluvial
Floods
ENVIRONMENT

Cagliari recommendations (1)
• The specific time-scale features requires effective methodologies and tools to
share experiences and methods among different communities and
organisation.
• Flash flood and pluvial flood timing and durations reduce possibilities of
intervention for risk reducing/mitigating and require new approaches in
hazard assessment techniques;
• Implementation of flood warning systems and community self-help
programs is therefore one of the most effective ways to manage the
flash flood risk.
• A multi-sectorial and multi-disciplinal approach is therefore required to
address in an integral way flash floods and pluvial floods risk
management.
• There is a need to focus research on rainfall estimation, nowcasting and
forecasting in order to increase the efficiency of the systems devoted to
monitor flash flood generating storms
ENVIRONMENT

Cagliari recommendations (2)
• Numerical weather prediction (NWP) models are currently available at spatial and
temporal resolutions that make them attractive for hydrological applications also
in small watersheds and potentially for flashfloods. However, the skill in
predicting precipitation has to be improved
• Standard use of post-flood survey is recommended to gather flood response
data (flow types, flood peak magnitude and time, damages, social response) with
the objective to advance understanding of such events (including development of
data archives) and improve assessment of vulnerability aspects (economical,
social, ecological, etc.).
• To warn the public it is necessary to make a better attempt to understand
the public and be understood by the public by changing/improving the
language and terminology used. This includes advancing methodologies to
present uncertainties to end users.
• Appropriate tools (i.e. web-based platforms) should be developed to advance
and share experience/skill on use of forecasting systems for flash flood
events (which are locally rare).
ENVIRONMENT

Some concluding thoughts...
• Policy lead review of resarch needs important
• Flood risk managers/users to be involved in the design of
projects, throughout of project results in useful outcomes
• Time scale and scope of research most useful for policy makers
• Projects need to take on board views expressed…
• Multi hazard , multi disciplinary approach needed.
• New CIS – Targeted mini-seminars inviting research projects to
reply to specific questions asked by WGF – focus on policy
relevant results.
ENVIRONMENT

Thank you for your attention !
More information
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/index_en.htm
ENVIRONMENT
WISE Floods Directive Viewer
water.europa.eu