FRM02 Broad Scale Ecosystem Impact Modelling (BSEIM) Scotland Trevor Wade Cascade Consulting

1. FRM02 Broad Scale Ecosystem Impact Modelling (BSEIM) Scotland Trevor Wade Cascade Consulting

2. Background to BSEIM Defra/EA joint R&D programme on flood and coastal defence: • FD2108 (2002) Scoping Study outlining future research and development to support Broad Scale Ecosystem Impact Modelling (BSEIM) • FD2112 (ongoing) BSEIM Toolbox 1 • Consolidated guidance for practitioners in sustainable flood management • Systems and evidence-based approach for ecosystem assessment • Establish and demonstrate a ‘toolbox’ containing best practice procedures in data collation and ecosystem impact prediction using currently available data/ techniques at the broad scale • Fluvial and estuarine/coastal systems

3. BSEIM ScotlandOverview BSEIM Scotland provides a framework and methodological “tools” for assessing ecosystem impacts from flood management (and potentially other policy) decisions at a catchment and coastal/ estuarine cell scale.

4. BSEIM ScotlandIncludes: • Broad-scale • Existing datasets • Established, emerging and novel methods • Identification and collation of existing ecosystem objectives • Evidence-based with expert interpretation • Appropriate consultation on data interpretation and ecosystem objectives • Targeted to study objectives

5. BSEIM ScotlandDoes not: • Provide new data • Interpret at reach or scheme level • Focus on species or designations • Identify flood risk areas

6. Methodology Stages Identify study area Develop understanding of broad habitat & ecosystem drivers Identify biodiversity opportunities & constraints Map & tabulate Broad-scale Ecosystem Assessment Criteria (EcoAC) Consultation/review through stakeholder forum Use EcoAC to develop/assess activities

7. Broad Habitat & Ecosystem Drivers

8. Case Study of BSEIM for Flood Management Policy Development in the River Dee Catchment

9. 1. River Dee Catchment 0 20 km Aboyne Tarland Burn Banchory Tarland Ballater River Dee Braemar Aberdeen River Dee Geldie Burn River Muick Water of Feugh Ordnance Survey 1:250.000 used under license from SEGIS

10. 2. Channel Condition Basedata

11. 2D. Landscape Sediment Sources 0 20 km • Landscape sediment index: • Unmanaged/ managed pasture Coniferous woodland River channels • Tilled land Mixed woodland • Urban areas Commercial forestry CEH Land Cover Map 2000 used under license from SEGIS; CEH River Channel Network used under license from SEPA; Forestry Commission owned land provided by Forestry Commission and used with permission.

12. Sediment sources:Tilled land Sediment sources: Forestry

13. Tarland Burn, middle catchment Lower Tarland Burn, looking upstream in Aboyne

14. 2E. Channel Modification 0 20 km • Habitat Modification Class: Other: • Pristine River channels • Semi-natural • Predominantly unmodified • Obviously modified • Significantly modified • 134 Pristine • 33 Semi-natural • 8 Predominantly unmodified • 17 Obviously modified • 1 Significantly modified River Habitat Survey data provided by SEPA

15. River Dee mainsteam bank protection, looking upstream near Aboyne Water of Tanar/ River Dee confluence, looking upstream from Aboyne Bar vegetated by trees, River Dee mainstem, looking upstream from Aboyne

16. 3. Floodplain Continuity Basedata

17. 3A. Floodplain Areas andExisting Defences Middle Tarland Burn 0 20 km • Flood risk Other: • Indicative River channels • flood outline • Existing flood defences Flood outlines provided by Aberdeenshire Council from digitised aerial photography of 11/2002 floods; Scottish costal defence and asset database used with permission of Scottish Executive

18. 3A. Floodplain Areas in the middle Tarland Flood risk Indicative flood outline Ordnance Survey 1:50.000 used under license from SEGIS

19. 3A. Floodplain Areas in the middle Tarland Elevation: 120 130 140 150 160 170m AOD NextMap DTM used under license from SEGIS

20. 3A. Floodplain Areas in the middle Tarland

21. 3A. Floodplain Areas in the middle Tarland

22. 3C. Land Cover in the middle Tarland • Land cover index: Semi-natural Agricultural Water dependent habitats Scrub/ heath/ woodland Arable Fen/ marsh/ swamp • Grassland Grassland Bog • Montane habitats Standing open water

23. 4. Channel Continuity Basedata

24. 5. Designations and Targets • Catchment Targets • NE Scotland Local BAP Action Plan • River Dee Catchment Management Plan • Natural Heritage Futures • Fisheries targets • Hydromorphology improvement targets

25. Constraints & Opportunities Protection • Maintain geomorphologically active features • Maintain lack of flow regulation in catchment • Maintain suitable coarse sediment delivery • Maintain velocities for coarse sediment transport on mainstem • Maintain floodplain connectivity where ecologically sound • Prevent construction of barriers to migration Enhancement • Take opportunities to reduce fine sediment imbalance • Take opportunities to attenuate run-off • Increase floodplain connectivity and enhance biodiversity benefit

26. Map & tabulate Ecosystem Assessment Criteria CEH River Channel Network used under license from Environment Agency

27. Potential Applications • Appraisal of the wider catchment/ coastal cell implications associated with individual flood management schemes • Assessment of the ecosystem implications of sustainable flood management policy at the catchment/ coastal cell scale • Provides an evidence base for the development of programmes of measures for activities (including flood management) included in the Water Framework Directive, and a framework for their relative assessment

28. Summary of Project Output • Project report: • Methodology development • River Dee catchment case study • Methodological guidance • Presentation pack The final outputs will be published on SNIFFER’s website at www.sniffer.org.uk during November 2005