Sustainable flood management uses natural and soft engineering approaches that work with river systems rather than against them. It involves restoring rivers to their natural state, using wetlands to absorb flood water, and implementing integrated catchment management plans that combine reduction, protection, and both hard and soft engineering approaches. River corridors refer to undeveloped floodplain areas where planning restrictions allow rivers to flood without risk to humans.

1. AS GEOGRAPHY
HYDROLOGY
4 QUESTIONS
REVISION
SUSTAINABLE
FLOOD MANAGEMENT

2. DEFINITION
Sustainable flood management is a “soft engineering approach” which
work with, rather than against, the river system.

3. QUESTION 1
What is river restoration?

4. ANSWER
Returning to their natural state rivers that have been modified by human
activities.

5. QUESTION 2
How can wetlands help in flood management?

6. ANSWER
Wetlands environments on floodplains will absorb flood water.

7. QUESTION 3
What is integrated catchment management?

8. ANSWER
The development of an overall plan that combines abatement
(reduction) and protection, possibly using both and and soft
engineering approaches.

9. QUESTION 4
What are the river corridors?

10. ANSWER
Areas of floodplain where development has not occurred.
Planning restrictions maintain an area of land onto which rivers can
flood without creating a human hazard.

11. IMPORTANT
You may need to refer to examples such as the Rhine and the Danube
Delta (Romania).
Be aware that different groups of people may have conflicting views
about flood management schemes and strategies.