Flood risk
Flooding is predominantly a natural process
which becomes a natural hazard when it has an impact on
man. All watercourses (large or small) will, periodically,
flood and it should be no surprise when this occurs. However, man
can exert some influence on flooding and the different means by
which it can occur, as described below. SEPA supports and
works to existing guidelines outlined within:
Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act
2009 - Some key questions answered
What is it designed to achieve?
To reduce adverse consequences of flooding for human health, the
environment, cultural heritage and economic activity.
When did it come into being?
It was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 13 May 2009 and came
into force on 26 November 2009.
How does it relate to other legislation?
The Act transposes the EU Floods Directive 2007/60/EC into Scots
Law; amends the Reservoirs Act 1975 and repeals the Flood
Prevention (1961) Act.
What are SEPA’s responsibilities under the
Act?
The main elements of SEPA’s role can be split into:
- national coordination and facilitation (flood
risk assessment, mapping and management plans; setting standards,
providing high quality information and advice, acting as a national
repository for flooding information and data)
- sustainability (ensuring measures within plans
are the most sustainable
- prioritisation (e.g. measures across regions
and planning cycles)
- public participation and stakeholder
engagement (leading on a strategy to achieve best possible
consultation and participation)
What are the main initiatives for SEPA as the national
lead authority for flood risk management planning?
- Setting up national and regional advisory
groups on the production of assessments, maps and plans
- Preparation of a national flood risk
assessment by 2011
- Flood risk and hazard maps by 2013
- National assessment of the scope for reducing
flood risk by working with natural processes across catchments by
2013
- National flood risk management plans by 2015,
including setting objectives and measures, and prioritising work
across planning cycles
What other measures designed to reduce
overall flood risk does SEPA have a responsibility for
delivering?
- Providing advice to planning authorities and
others on flood risk, including potential impacts on human health,
the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity
- A statutory duty to provide flood
warning
- Acting as the enforcement authority under the
Reservoirs Act 1975
- Ensuring activities regulated through the
Water
Environment Controlled Activities regulations (CAR) do not
increase flood risk
- Ensuring other work, to deliver objectives
for the water environment through River
Basin Management Plans, for example restoring degraded habitat,
also contributes to reducing overall flood risk
- Raising
awareness of flood risk so that members of the public and
businesses are better prepared to take action to reduce and
minimise impacts
Additional information on
timescales
The overall aim of the Act is to introduce a framework for the
assessment and sustainable management of flood risk.
We are starting a long-term process for reducing overall flood risk
in a coordinated and sustainable manner. The first stages for this
are developing our understanding of where the greatest risks are,
so that we can begin to plan measures and take action in the most
effective way possible.
The public and other stakeholders will start to see the benefits of
this approach in 2011 as we begin to publish, for the first time, a
national assessment of flood risk, and identify those areas that
are most vulnerable to floods. This will then trigger further
action from 2011 onwards designed to reduce the severity of impacts
when floods occur.
Contact us
for more information