Name: _________________________________ Group______
SDME January 2012
‘Preparation Booklet’
Why are some strategies for flood management
more sustainable than others?
Record your answers in this booklet.
Questions refer to the ‘resource booklet’ but there is also extra
information to help give you a broader knowledge of the issues.
You can write on your photocopy of the original resource
booklet.
Page 2
Resource 1: Complete the table below
Drainage Basin A
Peak rainfall mm
Time of Peak rainfall
Peak discharge cumecs
Time of Peak discharge
Lagtime
Description of rising and
falling limbs
Description of land use
and size of the river from
the photograph.
Description of drainage
basin from OS map.
Height of land and
gradient of slopes.
Of these two basins
which is most likely to
flood
Explain your answer :
Refer to interception,
storage, infiltration,
surface run-off, rising
limb, peak discharge and
river channel capacity.
Drainage Basin B
Page 3
Impacts of flooding.
Resource 2a.
Risk: What factors may increase the probability or risk of a flood happening?
Hazard: In what specific ways can a flood threaten life and property?
Disaster: What impacts of flooding would make it a disaster?
RISK
Probability and Impact
Resource 2b
A
Increasing
Impact
DISASTER
HAZARD
C
B
D
Task.
Study the 8 flood events on page 4. Consider the impact of these events and the
probability or risk of the events happening. Place one event in each of the quadrats A,
B, C and D.
Page 4.
A.Low Probability + High Impact
B.High Probability + High Impact
C.Low Probability + Low Impact
D.High Probability + Low Impact
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Landlocked inside Botswana
(Southern Africa) the Okavango River
annually floods to create an inland
delta. Whilst animals rely on this to
provide water for grass to grow, very
few humans live there
River Avon, Bath
If the River Avon were to flood it
would only affect the river
meadows at Batheaston, as there
are flood-protection measures in
place within the city
Boscastle Floods, Cornwall, UK
This small village on the North Coast of
Cornwall was flooded after a sudden
thunderstorm in the summer of 2004
Bangladesh Floods
Bangladesh is the location for the
confluence of 3 massive rivers, all draining
the Himalayas. Annual snow melt,
monsoon rains and cyclones all contribute
to flooding
Page 5.
Resource 3: Areas which could be affected by flooding.
The two different areas have different features, some increase flood risk others decrease
flood risk. Refer to precipitation, urbanisation, dams, deforestation, forestry, industry, size of
catchment, relief or shape of land. Complete the table :
Question
Area 1
1
Describe and explain any
features within the area
which decrease the chance
of flooding.
Dam/reservoir – water can be
stored and released when risk
of flooding is past.
2
Describe and explain any
features within the area that
will increase the chance of
flooding.
3
What exists with the area
that may need protecting
from flooding?
4
Does the area appear to
need additional flood
management?
5
Why? Justify your answer to
question 4.
YES/NO
Area 2
YES/NO
Page 6
Resource 4: Floodplain Hazard Zones
4a. What does the expression flood return period mean?
4b. What features may be affected by:
i)
A 1 in 25 year flood________________________________________
ii)
A 1 in 50 year flood________________________________________
iii)
A 1 in 100 year flood_______________________________________
iv)
A 1 in 500 year flood_______________________________________
4c. Explain the following:
i.
The golf course has been located in this area because:
ii.
The factory has been located in this area because:
iii.
The school and town centre are located where they are because:
Page 7
Resource 5: Human Use of Floodplains.
5a. Complete the table below by describing how each floodplain is used and suggesting a
reason(s) for its use in this way.
2.Cuckmere, UK
3.Warsaw, Poland.
4.Uttar Pradesh, India
5. Shanghai, China
6. Thailand, SE Asia
7. St Katherine’s Dock,
8. Boppard, Germany
9. Olkiluoto3, Finland
REASON
USE
REASON
USE
REASON
USE
1.Worcester, UK
Page 8
Resource 5: Human Use of Floodplains.(continued)
5b. Identify the 2 uses which you think are the most appropriate ways of using
the floodplain.
Use: _____________________
Explain your reasons:
Use: ______________________
Explain your reasons:
5c.Identify the 2 uses which you think will be in most need of flood protection.
Use: ______________________
Explain your reasons:
Use: ______________________
Explain your reasons:
Page 9
Flood Management Strategies: Background Information.
SOFT ENGINEERING =
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
HARD ENGINEERING =
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Flood Defences)
Hazard Resistant
design
Behavioural
Response
Flood
abatement
Flood Protection
Flood Management strategies







Channel Management:
Modification to banks, artificial levees, dykes or embankments. Levees may be set
back from main river channel to provide spreading grounds,
Modification to channel, deepening, dredging (Derwent) and use of artificial channel
linings, channelisation, Straightening sinuous rivers, removal of debris dams.
Construction of:
Flood relief channels
Dams and reservoirs. Multipurpose. (eg.Mphanda Nkuma, Zambia)
Detention ponds, storage basins,






Tackles problem at source by reducing surface run-off. Achieved by:
Afforestation or reforestation of upper catchment slopes. (Derwent, Cumbria)
Comprehensive protection of forest vegetation and marshlands.
Terracing of farmland and Contour ploughing. Slows down the flow of water.
Use of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS)
SUDS include use of permeable parking areas. Rain water can be diverted to
soakaways rather than drains to encourage infiltration and reduce surface run-off.

Accepting the loss – fatalism often only option in countries like Haiti or Bangladesh

Emergency Aid – short term emergency responses to hazard events are funded by
charities and aid agencies including the UN, NGOs and governments.
Funding pays for medical supplies, food, tents, mosquito nets, materials, technical
support, rebuilding. Long Term projects include the Zambezi River Basin Initiative.




Flood insurance – is a standard response in flood prone communities in MEDC’s
Forecasting and broadcasting warnings, Community preparedness.
Responses: evacuation and removal of valuables to higher levels.


Temporary Measures to protect against flooding, eg. sandbags.
Permanent design features, houses on stilts, raised thresholds, basements and low
floors water proofed, ground floors used as garage areas.
Floodwalls can be built around settlements with Floodgates in walls.
Catchment Flood Management Plans (CFMP) assess the level of flood risk in the
future, Create flood risk maps, .promote Integrated water resource Management.
Land use planning / development Control. Floodplain zoning.
Development is restricted and parts of the floodplain are allowed to flood ie.
Washlands.
Floodplain areas are used on a temporary basis, summer camp sites, temporary
grazing land, sports playing fields. Land use is tolerant of flooding.





Page 10
Resource 6
Flood Management Strategies: For each strategy say how will it work and describe its
advantages and disadvantages.
SOFT ENGINEERING
Monitoring
SOFT ENGINEERING
Zoning
How it works
How it works
Advantages
Advantages
Disadvantages
Disadvantages
Hard engineering (drainage basin)
Hard engineering (local level)
How it works
How it works
Advantages
Advantages
Disadvantages
Disadvantages
Page 11
Resource 7 : Map and photographs.
Task 7a.
Using the information on the map describe the location of Brisbane.
_______________________________________________________________
Task 7B.
Add captions to the images to highlight some of the impacts of the flooding and one example
of successful management. Write the captions in the place of the image.
Here are some clues: raised level ,roads cut, pollution source, flood resistant design, petrol,
homes and gardens. stilts.
C
Page 12
Resource 7:
Brisbane Newspaper article
Task 7c Complete the factfile below.
No of Homes with serious flood damage:__________________
No of Homes partially damaged:_________________________
No of Businesses partially flooded:_______________________
Death toll:________________
Cost of rebuild £__________________________
Reason the crisis presented an unprecedented challenge:
Task 7d. Brisbane river flood map.
Use the map on page 15 of the resource book to complete this passage of writing.
Use the words and numbers from the table below to fill the gaps 1 to 15.
Brisbane
easterly
East
Lake
north
south
Airport
30
mouth
Wivenhoe
NE
Pacific
Wivenhoe
easterly
25
The Brisbane river flows from west to __1 ____ across Queensland. The River is joined by a
tributary from the north called the River Wivenhoe. This tributary has been damned just
above its confluence with the Brisbane River to form a large reservoir called _____2 ___
____3_____. Water from the Wivenhoe Dam flows downstream to join the Brisbane River
near ________4_______ Rocks. From here the Brisbane River generally flows in a
_____5_____ ____6____ direction for about 40 kilometres until it reaches Bundamba.
Although its general direction is South east the river meanders in large loops so at one point
you may be travelling north and at another south. From Bundamba the river turns to generally
flow in a _____7_____ _____8____ direction for about ___9__ kilometres where it reaches
the City of Brisbane. From the city the river continues to flow in a __10__ direction for
another ___11__ kms until it drains into the ______12______ Ocean. The Port of Brisbane is
located at the _____13____ of the River. ______14_____ ______15____ is located to the
north and west of the river estuary.
Page 13
Resource 7: The Causes of the Brisbane flood.
Task 7e)
Use the information at the bottom of page 14 in the resource booklet to
complete the flow diagram below:
La Nina
Tasha hits Queensland 24th
December 2010.
Wivenhoe dam.
(allowed to Fill)
December 2010
Brisbane River
received large
amounts of
surface run-off.
River discharge
was at a very high
level.
January 2011
Brisbane River overtops its banks
In January 2011 the Brisbane
River floods its floodplain and the
floodplains of its tributary rivers.
Wivenhoe dam
(water released)
Page 14
Resource 7: Brisbane River Flood Map
Task 7f. How large was the area affected by flooding? Tick the correct box.
800km2
1600km2
3200km2
Task 7g. Describe which areas appear to be the worst affected by flooding?
__________________________________________________________________________
Task 7h. Considering the amount of flood damage in 2011 and the causes of the flooding, do
you believe that flood management strategies need to be put in place.
Explain your answer:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Task7i
What flood management strategies could the Queensland Government consider for the area?
Think about those strategies in resource 6 in the’ resource booklet’ and consider other
strategies on page 9 of the ‘preparation booklet’.
Complete the table below to name your top 6 strategies and briefly describe what each
involves.
Flood management Strategy
1
2
3
4
5
6
What it involves
Page 15
Task 7j Recommended Strategies.
Which are the best flood management strategies?
To answer this question it is a good idea to consider their costs and benefits.
Study the table below and add some more ideas if you can.
Some of the potential costs and benefits of Flood Management Strategies.
BENEFITS
COSTS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Disruption to local communities
Damage to ecosystems
Amount of land required
Building costs
Running costs
Knock-on-effects
Visual pollution
Noise pollution
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Flood control
Value of the property protected
Potential water supply
Electricity generated
New wildlife habitats
Recreational opportunities
Sustainability
Compatability with other strategies
Value of business/industry protected.
Value of crops and livestock protected.
Task 7k. Considering a range of costs and benefits:
i)
Describe which flood management strategies you would recommend for the area.
and explain your choice.
ii)
Describe which flood management strategies you would not recommend and
explain your choice.
Task 7m. Stakeholders.
i) Identify 2 stakeholders who would support your recommendation.
ii) Identify 2 stakeholders who would support your non- recommendation.
If you have completed all the task above. Well done!
Now practise some mock examination questions.
Then…..Book yourself a flight to Queensland, Australia and go
snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef!!
Best of luck in the exams. The Geogers.
Page 16
NOTES: