1. FRM02 (BSEIM) Scotland Broad Scale Ecosystem Impact Modelling
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 Scotland Overview
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 Scotland Includes:
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 Scotland Does 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
Freshwater systems
Coastal/ estuarine systems
Channel condition
In-channel habitats and ecology
Catchment hydrology/hydrogeology
Geomorphology:
Sediment supply, transport and deposition
Channel modification
Baseline habitats
Sedimentary habitats
Hard substrate habitats
Inland habitats (especially freshwater/ brackish habitats)
Shoreline migration
Coastline erodability
Barriers to coastal erosion
In-shore habitats affected by erosion
Floodplain connectivity
Extent of riparian zone
Active ecological riparian habitat
Potential areas for riparian habitat enhancement
Tidal inundation and coastal flooding
Extent of littoral and super-littoral zones
Extent of flooding influence on habitat quality
Channel continuity
Barriers to river continuity
Mobile sediment availability
Mobile sediment type
Sediment budget
Barriers to sediment mobility

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

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

10. 2. Channel Condition Basedata
Map
Title
Dataset
Scottish toolbox resource A
Hydrogeology
BGS hydrogeology
NRFA B
Substrate erodability
BGS drift geology C
Channel gradient
Channel gradient index
FEH or NextMap D
Landscape sediment sources
Landscape sediment index
CEH LCM2000 E
Channel modification
Habitat modification index
RHS F
On-line flow constraining features
In-channel structures
Asset register, OS
Standing water G
Surface run-off potential
Run-off potential index
CEH flow grid

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

16. 3. Floodplain Continuity Basedata
Map
Title
Dataset
Scottish toolbox resource A
Floodplain areas and existing defences
Indicative floodplain maps
Mapped aerial photography, SEPA indicative flood outlines
Flood embankments (major/minor)
Scottish coastal defence and asset database
Embankments and other constraints OS B
Active ecological floodplain
Habitats in the riparian zone
Aerial photography
Wetland surveys C
Landcover in potential floodplain areas
Land cover index
CEH LCM20000

17. 3A. Floodplain Areas and Existing 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. Ordnance Survey 1:50.000 used under license from SEGIS
3A. Floodplain Areas in the middle Tarland
Flood risk Indicative flood outline
Ordnance Survey 1: used under license from SEGIS

19. 3A. Floodplain Areas in the middle Tarland
Elevation:
m 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
Map
Topic
Dataset
Scottish toolbox resource A
Features potentially constraining ecological movement
Dams, weirs, locks, gates OS
Standing water
CEH LCM2000

24. 5. Designations and Targets
Map
Topic
Dataset A
European nature conservation designations
Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Special Protection Area (SPA)
RAMSAR convention site
National nature conservation designations
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
National Nature Reserve (NNR)
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
during November 2005