Topic: Rivers & Coasts Case Study:MEDC Flood Management Location: Boscastle, Cornwall Geographical Keywords • Flash flood • Canalisation • Saturated ground • Urbanisation • Interception • Surface runoff Case Study Detail Background In August 2004 the small coastal village of Boscastle in Cornwall was devastated by a flash flood. Within minutes, river levels rose and the 3 rivers that flow through Boscastle burst their banks, creating a mph tide of water through the village. The flood was caused because of a number of factors 1. Saturated ground from a very wet summer 2. A single August storm releasing 1.400 million litres in 2 hours 3. Urbanisation in Boscastle and the small river channel. Damage included • 25 business properties destroyed • 50 buildings flood damaged • 4 footbridges washed away • Visitor centre destroyed • Cars and vans washed away • £20 billion repair bill Management Since the flood a £4.6 million flood defence scheme was put in place which included • A widened river channel • Lower riverbed by an average m • New flood defence walls • Raise car parks • Remove dead trees and vegetation riverbanks Wider river channel upstream to create slow flow and allow deposition of larger sediment • Encourage landowners to maintain vegetation cover on valley sides to increase interception and reduce surface runoff.
