Natural Flood Management

Natural Flood Management (NFM), sometimes also known as Natural Water Retention Measures (NWRM) or Nature-based Catchment Management (NbCM), uses natural processes and techniques to reduce flood risk.

NFM implements natural techniques to restore or mimic the natural functioning of rivers, floodplains and the wider catchment to reduce flood risk downstream. Watercourses have the opportunity to restore natural flow and sediment regimes and wildlife habitats can be created. As well as lessening flood risk, NFM can also help boost water retention and make land more resilient to drought by slowing the flow of water.

What types of techniques are there?

• Leaky dams
• Swales
• Offline ponds
• Remeandering
• Land management practices
• Soil management
• Beavers

RRC offer two back-to-back 1-day courses on Mapping Natural Flood Management. Find out more

Projects:

• Belford NFM Scheme, Northumberland
• Oughtershaw NFM
• Lowdham NFM
• Craigton Riparian and NFM Orchard Planting
• Eddleston Water Project

From Manual of River Restoration Techniques:

• Cole - New meandering channel either side of existing
• Darent
• Dearne
• Alt
• Highland Water
• Rottal Burn
• Skerne - New meanders to one side of existing channel
• Ogwen - Restoring and stabilising over-deepened river bed levels
• Rother - Shopham Loop

• NFM: A land manager's perspective - webinar blog

• Natural Flood Management Measures: A Practical Guide for Farmers
• NFM - part of the nation's flood resilience
• Trent Rivers Trust NFM leaflet
• Environment Agency Working with Natural Processes Evidence Directory