FLOOD MANAGEMENT:THE COASTWATCH non- governmental organisation has called for "natural, cost-effective flood management schemes", similar to those pursued now in the Netherlands and Britain.
Engineering “barriers” and construction on flood plains leads to a “higher flood risk somewhere else”, Coastwatch warns.
A review of the current flood policy should take place, with more emphasis on wetland restoration to accommodate flood waters. Channelled rivers through arterial drainage results in faster flowing waters, carrying silt loads and heavy objects which cause more damage. The law should also be changed to ensure wetland drainage requires planning permission, it says.
“The terrible damage and loss caused by the floods has led to an understandable call for immediate flood defence.
“However, water needs to go somewhere. Every pond or flood plain filled with earth, waste, buildings, every new barrier to flood waters leads to a higher flood risk somewhere else.
“Other countries such as the Netherlands and Britain have embarked on major setback and wetland restoration for more natural, cost-effective flood management. The same schemes also improve water quality and ecology,” Coastwatch says.
“It is most urgent that we review our policy, change our laws and carry out individual action to make us more flood resilient.”
It points out that Ireland signed the Ramsar world wetland convention to prevent more wetland loss and says the EU rural development money and Reps 4 funds which have been “axed” should be targeted at wetland restoration and development of “natural” flood retention features.