Flooding in the British Isles has worsened in recent years and the Environment Agency estimates that as many as one hundred thousand properties in the South West are at risk from flooding.
Flooding is exacerbated by intensive development on flood plains which by definition are liable to periodic inundation and, having been neglected for many decades, planning guidance is starting to be produced to help establish a more holistic approach to development in an attempt avoid the devastation cuased by flooding.
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A �100-Year� Flood Event
A serious flood which has a chance of happening once every century has been calculated by the Environment Agency (2001) as actually having a 25% chance of happening at least once in 30 years and a 50% chance of happening at least once in 70 years.
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Rises in sea levels in the South-West could have a major impact upon communities in low-lying coastal and estuarine areas.
Sea level measurements recorded in Newlyn in Cornwall since 1915 show a rise of around 17cm per century and, taking into account natural rates of subsidence of the land, there still remains an unexplained net sea-level rise amounting to between 3 and 10cm per century.
In order to stabilise carbon dioxide concentration levels, UKCIP states that global emissions would need to be reduced from present levels by 60 to 70%. However as carbon dioxide has an effective lifetime of 100 years and the effects of climate change (surface temperature and sea level rise) would continue to increase for a considerable time due to the lag in response time. Sea levels could continue to rise for several centuries before the changes level off.
Wetlands not only provide unique habitats for resident species and particularly migrating birds, but also play a great part in controlling water by storing it and releasing it slowly to prevent flooding of rivers downstream. Much neglected, vast areas of wetland seen as "unproductive" have been drained, particularly under the pressure of an ever increasing human population.
The Environment Agency recognises the role of wetlands in reducing flood risks and aims to maximise all the environmental benefits from natural floods.
Although Cornwall was the least affected area in the South-West during the widespread flooding of 2000-2001, its first flood occurred in the middle of October. Around 63 homes were flooded in Sladesbridge, Ladock and Polmorla and major and minor roads were badly affected along the Tamar Valley.
Sea level measurements recorded in Newlyn in Cornwall since 1915 show a rise of around 17cm per century and, taking into account natural rates of subsidence of the land, there still remains an unexplained net sea-level rise amounting to between 3 and 10cm per century. Climate change scenarios produced by Dr David Watkins of the Camborne School of Mines and C-CLIF, illustrate predictions for the geographical implications of sea level rise in Cornwall.
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In the worst flooding in the area for fifty years, parts of Bude were reported to be submerged in up to six feet of water as a normal month's rainfall fell in only two hours. Nearby Boscastle was devastated as up to three feet of water rushed through the coombe at up to 40 miles per hour and the Bude and Port Isaac lifeboats were called out to assist in the recue which involved seven helicopters. The village of Tintagel, legendary birthplace of King Arthur, and Camelford were also inundated by torrential rain.
The floods hit Boscastle almost exactly 52 years to the day after floods swept through Lynmouth, in Devon, killing 12 people.
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The county of Cornwall contains twenty-seven flood warning areas designated by the Environment Agency which aims to address the issue of increased risk of flooding through issuing effective flood warnings and sustainable defences to prevent injury and death and minimise property damage and distress from flooding.
The Environment Agency�s total flood defence budget across Devon and Cornwall for the 2002/3 was �12.5 million. These funds are used to improve the flood forecasting and warning service, maintain existing flood schemes and for investigations into the feasibility of future flood defences.
The Environment Agency�s total flood defence budget across Devon and Cornwall for the 2002/3 was �12.5 million. These funds are used to improve the flood forecasting and warning service, maintain existing flood schemes and for investigations into the feasibility of future flood defences.
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