Natural flood management (NFM) is the restoration of natural processes and forms to reduce flood risk for downstream communities. Interventions can include floodplain re-connection, woodland creation and large woody dams. This manual contains techniques which, for the most part, focus on floodplain re-connection and the creation of floodplain features and habitats. They are grouped by energy and are placed on a spectrum of working with natural processes.
Other NFM techniques can be found in other resources such as the Environment Agency's 'Working with natural processes to reduce flood risk' evidence base and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's 'Natural Flood Management Handbook'.
Low Energy <0.125% slope
High working with natural processes
2025 / Blocking an overdeep headwater stream to re-connect a floodplain
2024 / Blocking land drains and a ditch to re-connect a floodplain
1995 / Profiling of land between meanders – River Cole
Moderate Working with natural processes
Low working with natural processes
Moderate Energy <1% slope
High working with natural processes
2008 / Breaching a flood bank to reconnect active floodplain processes
Moderate Working with natural processes
Low working with natural processes
High Energy >1% slope
High working with natural processes
Moderate Working with natural processes
Low working with natural processes