Flood proof zoning

What is flood proof zoning?

,insert definition> ‘use spatial adaptation to reduce flood risks’?

In layer 2, the spatial adaptation layer, preventive measures taken reduce consequences and damage of flood events by keeping water away from people and flood prone areas. Preventive measures require proactive spatial planning and flood-proof spatial design. Proactive spatial planning refers to removal of measures or relocation of construction in flood prone areas and appropriate land use (flood risk modeling, assessment, flood risk zoning). Flood-proof spatial design implies the adaptation of existing and future constructions (adjustments of existing houses and infrastructure).

Flood proof zoning and FRAMES

In FRAMES, several pilot projects focused on spatial adaptation measures to reduce flood risk. On the one hand, Ninove, Geraardsbergen, Denderleeuw pilots (in Belgium) aimed at improving zoning of developments in flood prone areas. On the other hand, Butt Green Shield (UK) and Ninove (Belgium) aimed at reducing surface flood risk from extreme rainfall via increasing storage capacity in private and public space. (click for a full description of the pilot projects).

How is flood proof zoning linked to the layers of MLS?

The implementation of spatial adaptation measures benefits the other layers of the MLS approach: - Layer 2, Spatial adaptation: (a) reduced flood risk increasing water storage capacity; (b) improve the zoning of flood prone areas considering vulnerable areas and communities.

• Layer 3, emergency management: (a) raising flood risk awareness leads to capacity building among local community groups (citizens, schools) for flood preparedness; this overall NFM increases community resilience.
• Layer 3, resilient recovery: when flood preparedness measures are taken this leads to a better flood recovery for communities.

What are the lessons learnt?

For a full list of the main lessons learnt from the pilots working on flood proof zoning, please click here.

Relevant adaptive capacities

To accomplish actions successfully, certain capacities are more needed than others. More specifically: the combination of flood risk management strategies in response to climate change depends on the adaptation space and capacity of institutions (Berkhout, Hertin and Gann, 2006). Since institutions have the ability to stimulate the capacity of  a society to adapt to climate change from the local to the national level (Gupta et al., 2010), stakeholders and organizations involved in FRAMES focused on the development of adaptive capacities at local and regional level.

The adaptive capacities that were employed and developed during the pilot projects working onflood proof zoning are shown in the spiderweb below. We will provide more detail for those capacities that significantly increased during the pilots.

Referenties

• Guide to dynamic planning Assens Vejle, Danish Coastal Authority, Danish Coastal Authority, 30 mei 2020.
• Medway Flood Action Plan, Environment Agency, 1 november 2017.
• Stakeholder analysis report FRAMES, FRAMES Consortium, 1 januari 2020.
• Adaptive capacities FRAMES definitions and examples, Gupta et al, 20 april 2020.

Hier wordt aan gewerkt of naar verwezen door: Layer 2- Spatial adaptation