HYDROLOGY

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Introduction

Climate change has occurred worldwide with great amount of adversities that are related to the phenomenon. Flooding, drought, rapid snowing are some of the adverse weather conditions that result from the climate changing (Hiscock, Rivett, & Davison 2002). Each of these effects contributes to several issues that affect several aspects of the human life, such as the socioeconomic, physical, and environmental. In floods management, the issues need to be addressed and planned to mitigate and control the adverse effects that develop because of the floods. In reference to the Great River Ouse , these issues are addressed in the flood management plan.
The great Ouse has its catchment in the east of England, beginning at Northamptonshire (Hiscock, Rivett, & Davison 2002). The catchment goes across several towns, later going into the wash downstream of the King’s Lynn. The catchment has several other rivers that contribute to the great Ouse river; for instance, Towcester has Tove river, in the south of Milton Keynes there is the Ouzel river, in Cambridge is Cam river, and in Biggleswade is Ivel river. The map in FIG 1 shows the rivers in the catchment area. The great Ouse catchment area is about 8,596 Km2 and accommodates a population of about 1.7 million people in the region. The area’s population is significantly big such that the impact of flooding is major.

Figure 1 (Summary Report January, 2011) the catchment rivers

Environmental

In the Ouse River, the catchment flood management plan is undertaken on the Ouse River to comprehend the level and extent of flooding in the present and imminent future. In the catchment flood management plan (CFMP), policies are set for managing flood risk in the catchment areas (Hiscock, Rivett, & Davison 2002). The environmental issues in the catchment area are the natural aspects that occur to the region without human control. In the catchment area, flood management plan is done to specifically mitigate the great amount of environmental problems that come with the floods such as the changing of the climate. Environmentally, the various effects that occur due to changes in the climate are considerably large.
Changes in weather patterns are among the first to be considered in the flood management plan due to changing climate. Weather changes provide unexpected weather conditions that are impossible to handle in the process. Prolonged rainfall is among the effects of changes in weather that contribute to extensive flooding that occurs in a place (Hiscock, Rivett, & Davison 2002). The presence of the sun also contributes to the current weather condition that affects the environmental situation of a certain area. The sun provides the necessary temperatures that the area needs to dry off or evaporate the excess water that is present in the catchment area hence avoiding any flooding that may be imminent.

Figure 2 (“flooded river,” n.d.)A flooded river
The trees present in an area are important in the flood management plan because of their many benefits to the ecological system. Trees use carbon dioxide gas present in the environment and are part of the greenhouse gases. Absorption of carbon dioxide gas by trees contributes to the restoration of the climate and reduction of the global warming (Brown, Basell, & Butzer 2011). Trees also absorb water during their metabolic activities and thus reduce the high amounts of water that is present in an area, which may lead to flooding. In the flood management plan, trees provide a preventive solution to the flood risks.
The landscape of the area is an environmental issue that affects the flood management. In any region, the different geographical and scenic view is assessed in flood management and the mitigation measures taken. In the great Ouse catchment areas, some places have high altitude where the water is forced to flow to the other low altitude regions where the flooding is likely to occur more than the high regions (Hiscock, Rivett, & Davison 2002). Other natural scenic landscapes that are present in the region are designated to be free from interference. The preservation of such an area in Ouse catchment is an environmental issue that should be looked at in the flood management plan.
The type soil in a place is also an environmental aspect that is evaluated in the flood management plan. The different soil properties provide different water handling abilities of a soil. Clay soil, for instance, has the highest water retaining ability compared to the other types of soils. Hence, water present in the soil is bound to stay for long without being released underground thus a high probability of flooding. Sand on the other hand, possesses the lowest water retention capabilities. Sand is the best in places that may experience flooding due to the quick water absorption and poor retention allowing water to pass through. The type of soils also directly affects the landslides when the water exerts too much weight on the soil than the normal (Hiscock, Rivett, & Davison 2002).

Flood Management

This part briefly claims about the traditional flood management methods listed: Source control to decline runoff (permeable pavements, afforestation, artificial recharge); Storage of runoff (wetlands, detention basins, reservoirs); Сapacity enhanсement of rivers (bypass channels, сhannel deepening or widening); Separation of rivers and populations (land-use сontrol, dikes, flood proofing, zoning, house raising); Emergenсy management during floods (flood warnings, emergenсy works to raise or strengthen dikes, flood proofing, evaсuation); Flood reсovery (сounselling, сompensation or insurance) Seсuring Livelihoods. Both population growth and economic growth exert great pressure on the natural sources of a system. Growing population pressure and enhanced economic development in floodplains, such as the making of buildings and infrastructure, great increase the risk of flooding. Floodplains give astounding, in fact simple occupation opportunities much of the time. In creating nations with essentially rural economies, sustenance security is synonymous with job security. Floodplains help significantly to the sustenance creation that gives nourishment to the populace of these nations. While it can be contended that virtual water exchange – and by derivation diminished reliance on surge inclined and water rare zones – could address the issue of sustenance security, it would not address the issue of occupation security. The opposition for access to constrained area assets can imperil the weaker segments of the populace who to a great extent possess the floodplains. Resettlement projects and other floodplain approach measures must be surveyed for their general impact on the occupation chances of populaces at risk

Socio-Economic

Socially, flooding has a very negative impact on the lives of people. In the great Ouse catchment area, the population is enormous and flooding will affect the region’s settlement. When conducting a flood management plan, the population is important in the consideration of plans and policies. The people present in the region and the effects that are bound to take place because of the floods such as migration to safer areas (Hiscock, Rivett, & Davison 2002). The social lives of people are affected when the amenities are destroyed by floods, the roads and public infrastructure the people use in their daily activities.
The health of people is an issue affected by floods socially and economically. During any flooding situations, water borne diseases are highly prevalent. When the people contract the diseases, their social interactions and relations are affected. The financial requirement for meeting the health and medical needs due to flooding supplements the issues to be looked at in the flood management planning. The rise in diseases promotes the need for the people seeking medical services that require more expenses (Hiscock, Rivett, & Davison 2002). Death is also a social factor that is associated with flooding and affects the economic and social circles as well.
Migration of the people is a social and economic factor that ought to be considered in any flood management planning. The people affected by the floods tend to migrate to other regions which are unaffected by the floods. The migration of the people from one locality to another affects their normal social lives from their homes to other settlements. The economy of the locality is also affected by the shift in population, which will promote the economy of another locality (Hiscock, Rivett, & Davison 2002). During the planning, the possibility of the massive population migration should be estimated and prevented from happening to ensure stability of an economic center.

Figure 3 (Summary Report January, 2011) graph showing the towns and the possible risk in the present and future
The settlement of people should be strong enough to withstand the cases of flooding in the catchment region. The settlement economically affects the costs of living and the quality of housing that can be destroyed by the floods in the regions. The plan seeks to prevent the economic losses that could be experienced by the people as well as the destruction of the economic facilities and the economic centers of the people a nd their economic activities. Floods interrupt many economic activities and should be well handled to avoid the economic collapse of a locality (Hiscock, Rivett, & Davison 2002). The management plan therefore should employ plans that will benefit the people in curbing and avoiding the floods in the future.
In the plan, the people should develop strategies and structures that will prevent the flooding having a major negative impact on the social and economic aspects of human lives. The flood management plan should create jobs for the people and empower them financially to be in the control and prevention of the floods (Hiscock, Rivett, & Davison, 2002). The people should be empowered through training on the various steps to undertake in case of floods. Construction of structures that can withstand and curb the floods such as the drainage and roads is also an economic venture that is bound to promote the people socially and economically in flood management.

Figure 4(“Great Ouse Catchment Flood Management Plan Summary Report January 2011,” 2011) settlement along a river

Physical

The physical aspect in flood management is where the tangibles are affected in the planning. During floods, many factors are affected such as the structures in which people stay. The excessive waters in many ways can destroy the structures. The sinking of the ground in which the structures are built contributes to the physical threat that is imminent during flooding. The buildings and roads are sometimes carried away during the adverse conditions and the people are left without shelter. In the physical, there are many losses to property and the infrastructure, which is later reclaimed.

Figure 5(“Great Ouse Catchment Flood Management Plan Summary Report January 2011,” 2011) bridge structure above the river
Floods pose high risks to many sectors in an area, the high probability of landslides in floods, also affects the buildings present and the infrastructure (Penning-Rowsell, Priest, Parker, Morris, & Viviattene, 2013). High destruction of property is also experienced in the farm activities where the produce is destroyed. The losses experienced in floods physically are insurmountable and the process of reclamation is not easy. Physically the death of people also is a major concern in planning. When people die, their presence is lost and the population is affected as well. In the planning of the physical issues of flood management the physical is one of the greatest issues that needs to be addressed as the consequences are permanent.

Figure 6 (Summary Report January 2011) drainage system

Conclusion

Flood management is important in the catchment areas; prevention of the tragic event can be out of hand for the people due to the climatic changes. However, the people can adopt measures that can effectively curb the flooding of the regions and avoid the many losses that come with the occurrence. Proper drainage what ensures proper flow of the water from the wet areas to the dry areas could be employed firstly. Technological application of the flood management is also encouraged to minimize any errors that promote the casualties of the occurrence. These are the new weather observation devices and methods that could be used in ensuring climatic data and records are well analyzed. Environmental conservation is also supreme in the flood management plan to prevent the unnecessary measures in the end.

References

Brown, A. G, Basell, L.S & Butzer, K.W 2011, Geoarchaeology, climate change, and sustainability, Geological Society of America, Boulder, CO.
Flooded River N.d. Viewed 26 November 2014 http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/27/99/3279994_388d6459.jpg
Great Ouse Catchment Flood Management Plan Summary Report January 2011, Viewed 26 November 2014 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/288877/Great_Ouse_Catchment_Flood_Management_Plan.pdf
Hiscock, K.M, Rivett, M.O & Davison, R.M 2002, Sustainable groundwater development, Geological Society, London
Penning-Rowsell, E, Priest, S, Parker, D, Morris, J & Viviattene, R 2013, Flood and coastal erosion risk management: a manual for economic appraisal, Taylor & Francis, Routledge