Technical Services Department Secondment (Client: Middle Level Commissioners, 2019- date)
I am seconded to the Middle Level Commissioners providing support and advisory services to their Technical Services Department. My work involves support to the planning and consenting process reviewing planning submissions and consent applications for surface water drainage relating to developments and other works within the IDB catchments. I also produced the Outline Business Case for the Commissioners’ main river scheme which is considering options for improving the river channels and the standard of flood risk management service provided by the system. This business case was approved by the Environment Agency in December 2021 and I am now supporting the project team with the development of the project which is programmed to be delivered over the next 5 years as part of the FCERM Capital Delivery Programme (2021 to 2026/27).
FCERM Advisor (Client: Environment Agency EAN (Gt Ouse) & Lincs & Northants (W&N) PSO Team; (2015- date)
I am currently seconded to the FCERM Partnership and Strategic Overview Teams in two catchment areas providing specialist advisory services in flood risk management. As part of my role I have been supporting the teams with the development of a major flood risk management strategy for the Fens lowlands area in East Anglia.
The FENS2100+ strategy is an emerging adaptive pathways flood risk management strategy which covers the whole of the low lying Fens area in East Anglia covering large parts of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire around the Wash. I have been providing technical support and advice to help develop the strategy. Particular tasks include development of the Fens Tactical Plans to provide a short term asset management programme for the Great Ouse flood risk assets to maintain standards of flood risk management in the short term whilst the strategy is developed.
I am currently expanding this work to the other Environment Agency areas in Lincolnshire, Welland & Nene and Lower Witham, to ensure a consistent approach to asset management under the FENS2100+ emerging strategy. As part of this role I have developed and maintain key relationships with other stakeholder Risk Management Authorities including Anglian Water, LLFA’s and Internal Drainage Boards.
Great Ouse Tidal River, Senior User and Project Manager (Environment Agency)
As part of my secondment to the EAN (Gt Ouse) PSO team I am the project manager and senior user for the Great Ouse Tidal River Management project. This project is progressing a programme of maintenance work, including detailed asset inspection of the Gt Ouse Tidal River flood defences including large raised tidal embankments, surge walls and river channel erosion protection measures. The work is also investigating channel conveyance challenges through ongoing siltation of the tidal river and whether this is causing flood risk management issues. The investigation includes detailed bathymetric surveys of the river to monitor channel profiles and the use of modelling consultants to run scenarios to confirm impacts on flood risk standards of protection.
Cranbrook and Counter Drain Flood Risk Management Strategy, Technical Advisor (Environment Agency)
I am currently providing technical support to the project team with the review and update of the Cranbrook and Counter Drain FRM Strategy. This strategy is seeking to maximise opportunities for flood storage through the use of former sand and gravel extractions within the catchment. This presents the opportunity to reduce the reliance on pumping surplus water from the catchment creating a more sustainable flood risk management system. The strategy is looking to understand the multiple economic benefits from both flood risk management and water resources as well as environmental and sustainable sources to develop a holistic catchment based management approach.
Structures of the Navigable River Nene Asset Management Strategy, Technical Advisor (Environment Agency, Welland & Nene)
As part of my secondment to the Welland & Nene area I have been providing technical advisory support with the development of an asset management strategy for water level management structures along the River Nene Navigation. There are a total of 38 sluice gates and 63 weirs along the River Nene which manage water levels for flood risk, navigation, water resources and environmental purposes.
Historically, justification for investment and maintenance of structures has relied on flood risk management benefits which is becoming harder and harder to justify under current FCERM Partnership Funding guidelines. This strategy is seeking to develop a holistic management approach for these multi-functional and multi-benefit assets for the next 50 years.
Keadby Terminal Assisted Outfall (Client: Environment Agency; £50m; 2015-18) – Project Manager.
I was the Project Manager for the delivery of the appraisal and preparation of subsequent business case for the refurbishment of a 32 cumecs pumping stations in the Isle of Axholme owned by the Environment Agency. The scheme comprised the assessment of the flood mechanics in the area, the calculation of the damages deriving from flood events, the carbon footprint generated by the pumping station in its current status and for each of the shortlisted options, the Whole Life Cost of the scheme etc.
Of particular relevance was the assessment of economic benefits and the Partnership Funding score which would determine the public contribution to the scheme and the environmental impacts and obligations deriving from the implementation of the scheme, such as fish and eel regulations, and their resulting impact on cost and on the viability of the schemes. I produced the Business Case, using the Treasury 5 Case Business Model, which was successfully approved by the Environment Agency’s Large Project Review Group (LPRG) in December 2018.