FLOODING OF PROPERTY BY RUNOFF FROM AGRICULTURAL LAND IN WESTERN EUROPE: RISK AND MITIGATION

J. Boardman (Environmental Change Unit and School of Geography, University of Oxford, 5 South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3TB, UK)

In recent years the threat of flooding of property by runoff from agricultural land has greatly increased in western Europe (Boardman et al., 1994; Boardman, 1995). The costs of damage have been borne by individual property owners, local authorities, the water industry and insurers. Damage is due to the increase in area of arable farming especially high-risk crops such as maize, sugar beet and winter cereals; the creation of larger fields, the cultivation of steeper slopes , the deterioration in soil quality; and the expansion of urban areas into flood-risk zones. The importance of these factors varies from region to region. Areas that have been particularly affected by flooding problems include the Pays de Caux (northern France) , the loessic belt of central Belgium, the province of South Limburg (Netherlands) and the South Downs (UK). Response to the threat of flooding has been varied. Some areas have relied on emergency engineering works, usually the building of dams and diversion trenches: these have not always been successful. In other areas flood protection measures consist of local bylaws which restrict certain agricultural activities. The key to protection would seem to be land-use change targetted on at-risk sites. These can be identified relatively easily e.g. using GIS approaches. More difficult is to institute economic incentives to encourage farmers to carry our land use change. Policy mechanisms such as Set Aside could be used to reduce the risk of flooding.

Boardman, J. (1995). Damage to property by runoff from agricultural land , South Downs, southern England 1976-93. Geographical Journal 161, 177-191.

Boardman, J., Ligneau, L., de Roo, A. and Vandaele, K. (1994). Flooding of property by runoff from agricultural land in northwestern Europe. Geomorphology 10, 183-196.